We are saddened by the news that the remarkably innovative American television idol Mary Tyler Moore has departed for Fabulon...
Surprisingly survived by all three of her major female co-stars: Cloris Leachman, Betty White and the ailing Valerie Harper - and even by the venerable Dick Van Dyke - hers was nevertheless the persona that provided all of them with the springboard they needed to launch (or re-launch) their own careers.
Much, much more than just a former-dancer-turned-actress (she was certainly memorable in Thoroughly Modern Millie - and was even nominated for an Oscar for her role in the weepie Ordinary People), Miss T-M turned out to be a shrewd businesswoman when (with her ex) she established her MTM Enterprises (which, in addition to Mary's own "spin-off" series Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant, was responsible for producing top shows such as Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele and St. Elsewhere ).
She was born for showbiz! And proved it often in the most unexpected way...
RIP Mary Tyler Moore (29th December 1936 – 25th January 2017)
Fond memories of her seminal TV series with Rhoda and the others, and we love her as Miss Dorothy in MILLIE, and indeed we have a lot to thank MTM Enterprises for.
ReplyDeleteI think that Rhoda made more of an impact over here than MTM's own show ever did - I certainly remember it far better. Jx
DeleteSigh.
ReplyDeleteHas Betty White spoken about Mary's departure, that you know of?
"Too upset", apparently. And it was only on reading that article that I realised that Ed Asner is still alive, too! Good grief. Jx
DeleteIt would be nice if that website had bothered to get Betty White's age correct. They need to hire you.
DeleteIf you ever flicked through a copy of Closer, you'd know they have difficulty spelling their own name, let alone getting "facts" right. It's a cellulite-obsessed "dentist's waiting-room" rag that follows the National Enquirer model of "post-truth" writing... Jx
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