CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Comedy Series
Mary (1985-86)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
TV Guide /  Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com) /
UCLA Film and Television Archive  / Writers Guild of America (wga)
  ----
MARY
----
MTM Enterprises, Inc.
for
CBS
Created by Ken Levine and David Isaacs

US Situation Comedy series 1985-86 13 episodes x 30 min color (11Dec85-8Apr86)

starring
Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Brenner, consumer helpline columnist
with:
James Farentino as Frank De Marco, managing editor
John Astin as Ed La Salle, theater critic
Katey Sagal as Jo Tucker, chain-smoking author of "Mainline Chicago" column
David Byrd as Vincent Tully, legally blind copy editor
Carlene Watkins as Susan Wilcox, neighbor and city planner
James Tolkan as Lester Montz, Susan's fiancé and mobster

Premise/ Background:
Mary Tyler Moore stars as Mary Brenner, a stylish divorcee who loses her job with a high-fashion magazine and hires
on as consumer helpline columnist for the Chicago Post, a third rate scandal sheet.

A successor to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-77)

##################### Mary ###################
############## season 1985-86 ################
##############################################
CBS Wednesdays-then-Tuesdays (11Dec85-8Apr86)
  
[01] Mary: FROM PILLAR TO POST
11-Dec-85 CBS Wed
prod. no. 5601
co-producer, Gayle Maffeo
Script by Ken Levine & David Isaacs
Directed by Danny DeVito
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
with:
Katey Sagal ........ Jo Tucker
John Astin ......... Ed LaSalle
David Byrd ......... Tully
Carlene Watkins .... Susan
Synopsis:
In the opening episode, Mary is determined to prove to the skeptical managing editor (James Farentino)
that she's tough enough to handle the job.

[02] Mary: MAKE MY DAY
18-Dec-85 CBS Wed
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Synopsis:
Mary is chided for her soft approach in dealing with a shady businessman, so Jo harangues the man - using Mary's name.
Meanwhile, Susan accepts a date with Frank and hopes for a sign about her impending marriage to Les.  

[03] Mary: CHICAGO HI-LO
25-Dec-85 CBS Wed
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Guest Cast:
James Tolkan .... Les
Synopsis:
Feeling that she doesn't fit in at the Post, Mary accepts Jo's invitation to play in the weekly office poker game,
hoping she'll be accepted as one of the guys.

[04] Mary: EVERYONE'S A CRITIC
1-Jan-86 CBS Wed
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Guest Cast:
Ann Gillespie ..... Debbie
Kathryn Dowling ..... Kathye
Synopsis:
Mary's vague comments about a play she was supposed  to attend -- but didn't appear in Ed LaSalle's theater column
as the basis for his review.

[05] Mary: THE DEATH THREAT (title not listed on wga)
8-Jan-86 CBS Wed 
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Guest Cast:
Janet Carroll ...... Rachel
Synopsis:
Mary is shocked that Frank would laugh off a death threat and then, as a matter of tradition, invite everyone
out for a free lunch.

[06] Mary: FOREST FOR THE TREES
15-Jan-86 CBS Wed
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Synopsis:
Having a birthday the same day as her wedding anniversary has Mary down, until she receives a gift from "the guy she
would least suspect".

[07] Mary: SAME OLD SONG
22-Jan-86 CBS Wed
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Synopsis:
Jo's on - again, off - again boyfriend (Richard Gilliland) blows into town with his finally completed novel and wants
Mary to help get it published.

[08] Mary: BEANS
29-Jan-86 CBS Wed 
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Guest Cast:
Patrick Macnee ....... Burke
Synopsis:
Frank smugly encourages Mary to meet with the paper's owner after she threatens to go over Frank's head regarding
what she thinks is a bad editorial decision.

[--] 5-Feb-86 CBS Wed  [Rerun of Episode #3 from 25-Dec-85]

[09] Mary: TABLE FOR TWO
12-Feb-86 CBS Wed
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Guest Cast:
Tom Hallick ...... Clark
Synopsis:
Mary's dinner date calls to cancel after she's already left work, so Frank takes the message and then shows up at
the restaurant where Mary is waiting.

[10] Mary: MR. LUCKY
19-Feb-86 CBS Wed
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Guest Cast:
Derek McGrath ...... Ronny
Harold Sylvester ....... Harry
Synopsis:
Frank gets on one of his legendary hot streaks when the world is his oyster and everything goes his way -- so he invites
Mary to Monte Carlo.

[--] 26-Feb-86 CBS Wed  ["Mary" Unexpectedly pre-empted.]
    ["Fast Times" premieres in this slot next week; "Mary" moves to Tuesdays beginning March 25.]

[11] Mary: AND THE WINNER IS
25-Mar-86 CBS Tuesday [New day and time. This episode was postponed from an earlier date.]
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Guest:
Barbara Babcock ...... Paula
Synopsis:
Mary's article in the last issue o Woman's Digest is nominated  for an award, but she's even more excited about the
prospect of being with her old friends at the banquet. Meanwhile, a bad review by Ed LaSalle prompts a visit from athlete
- turned - actor Bubba Smith.
  
[12] Mary: LITTLE JO
1-Apr-86 CBS Tuesday
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
Synopsis:
When Jo makes a lot of excuses to avoid seeing her super-critical parents (Doris Belak, Dennis Patrick), Mary offers to
entertain them in her apartment and give Jo all the moral support she needs to get through the evening.

[13] Mary: STEPPIN' OUT WITH MARY (title not listed on wga)
8-Apr-86 CBS Tuesday
Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Brenner)
with:
John Astin ............ Ed La Salle
David Byrd ............ Tully
Katey Sagal ........... Jo Tucker
Harry Sylvester ....... Harry
Derek McGrath ......... Ronny
Chloe Webb ............ Cassie
Synopsis 1:
Mary draws the unenviable assignment of reviewing a play written, directed and produced by Ed LaSalle. Meanwhile
Tully runs for union president.
Synopsis 2:
Mary is placed in an awkward position when Frank assigns her to review Ed La Salle's original play.
(UK: repeat 19Dec88 ITV Granada Mon 11:30pm)

##################### Mary ###################
################### wga info ##################
##############################################

MARY #01 -(MTM) FROM PILLAR TO POST 1985
MARY #02 -(MTM) MAKE MY DAY 1985
MARY #03 -(MTM) CHICAGO HI-LO 1985
MARY #04 -(MTM) EVERYONE'S A CRITIC 1985
(#5 "The Death Threat" (not listed on wga)
MARY #06 -(MTM) FOREST FOR THE TREES 1986
MARY #07 -(MTM) SAME OLD SONG 1986
MARY #08 -(MTM) BEANS 1986
MARY #09 -(MTM) TABLE FOR TWO 1986
MARY #10 -(MTM) MR. LUCKY 1986
MARY #11 -(MTM) AND THE WINNER IS... 1986
MARY #12 -(MTM) LITTLE JO 1986
(#13 "Steppin' Out With Mary" (not listed on wga)
MARY -(MTM) WE GET LETTERS (possibly an aka for #5 or #13) 1985
 
##################### Mary ###################
################### the end ##################
##############################################

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