The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete First Season

Rating:
Summary: WHERE THE HELL IS SEASON TWO???????
Review: Have you seen the disposeable junk that's coming out in elaborate DVD box sets, but Fox won't release
Season Two of one of the greatest sitcoms ever made? I don't believe sales were that bad for Season One, so something else is up -- maybe a shakeup behind the executive scene. Regardless, write Fox and tell them what jerks they are for not releasing the best sitcom ever made! They don't listen to nice letters -- trust me; I worked for them. They only listen to the "squeeky wheel" letters, so tell them exactly what you think of them!
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
PO Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900

also,

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2500
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Telephone: [phone]
International Callers: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Rating:
Summary: Love at First Sight
Review: I had never seen MTM when I bought Season 1, and as a result I discovered a wonderful show. Lou Grant is such a funny character, and the scenes he shares with Mary represent my favorite moments in the show. I thoroughly enjoyed the "making of" feature, which was very interesting and informative. I certainly hope that Fox WILL NOT cancel the release of the subsequent seasons. That would be incredibly disappointing. I love Classic TV, and I would like a great number of shows to be released on DVD. I hope something can be worked out.

Rating:
Summary: True Gem From the Golden Age of TV!
Review: The 1960's and 1970's truly were the golden age of television. The Mary Tyler Moore Show is certainly a shining emblem of the era. Premiering in 1970, I do remember some of the original airings as a 3 year old child. Of course, not many 3 year olds can understand or appreciate the comedic qualities of this show! Now, as an adult, I am thrilled to own the first season, and hope the second season follows soon!
Moore stars as Mary Richards, a young woman who relocates to Minneapolis following a broken engagement. Richards moves into a one-room apartment in a building with some interesting neighbors, feisty Rhoda Morganstern, played by Valerie Harper, and daffy Phyllis Lindstrom, played by the very sexy Cloris Leachman.
Richards gains employment as an associate news producer at WJM-TV, working for the grouchy but likable Lou Grant, played by Ed Asner, who is simply perfect in his role.
The comedy pool draws from the everyday work experiences of the characters, and the hopeless love lives of the single female characters. Oh, yes, let's not forget Mary's dull house parties!
Some of the episodes have commentary from production personnel in a separate audio track. As one of the producers points out, Moore is such a talented and generous actress that she does not attempt to corner all the laughs and attention. Indeed, the MTM show bred three spinoffs of moderate success: "Rhoda," "Phyllis," and "Lou Grant." Moore's ability and willingness to allow the other actors to strongly develop their roles certainly contributed to this.
Gavin MacLeod, who played newswriter Murray Slaughter, went on to a successful role on "The Love Boat." Ted Knight, who played the inept anchorman, Ted Baxter, is fabulous, despite having had a limited acting career, mostly as a TV character actor.
Most of the minor actors on the show turn out a quality performance. John Amos appears fairly regularly as Gordy Howard, WJM's meteorologist.
All in all, this is 100% a top quality, funny, entertaining program. The DVD picture and sound quality are excellent, too.

Rating:
Summary: Just a "Softie"...
Review: CBS's comedy lineup in the late 60's was doing well in the ratings, led by rural based programs like The Beverly Hillbillies. But the winds of change were blowing, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (MTM) was part of CBS's bid to gain a younger audience. Surrounded by a relatively unknown cast, Mary Tyler Moore returned to TV in 1970, after previously staring in the Dick Van Dyke Show. Her new program, like Van Dyke's, was low-key, warm, and built on solid writing, and character development.

Mary Richards was an unmarried, independent woman, making her way in the world. Fortunately, as the song says, "love is all around", and Mary finds a new home in Minneapolis, as a producer at WJM TV. Rather than being hard, and fiercely independent, Mary was just a big hearted "softie", often too willing to sacrifice herself for others. In doing so, she and the rest of the cast, found a place in the hearts of millions of viewers.

The first season featured fine performances by guest stars like Monte Markum, John Shuck, Pat Carroll, Shelly Berman, Slim Pickens, and Nancy Walker as Rhoda's mother. You also get an interesting look at fashion in the 70's. Mary's wardrobe, is of course in the spotlight, but Rhoda, and Phyllis also provide some interesting looks as well. Though it's hard to top Mary's pink nightgown, in the episode entitled "Hi!".

The four DVD MTM set is a comprehensive package containing the 24 episodes arranged in broadcast order, with eight episodes per disc. Commentary tracks on a few more episodes would have been nice. The fourth disc contains extensive bonus material, primarily a comprehensive 87 minute retrospective feature that centers on the show's creative team of Allan Burns, and James L. Brooks. It has interviews with Mary, and the rest of the primary cast, and members of the production staff. The insight provided is tremendous, particularly the stories about how the various characters were cast. A feature like this, adds so much to the package, and brings the experience of the show, full circle. Produced by Ed Asner, it shows appreciation to the fans, and pays tribute to a classic program. Too bad we don't see a feature like this more often in boxed sets.

MTM occupies a special place in TV history, and provided a tremendous boost to the careers of so many of its cast, and launched several spin-offs as well. This set is essential for MTM fans, as well as those who appreciate classy, well-written comedy. Unfortunately the release of Season Two has failed to materialize as advertised.

Rating:
Summary: How Could You Give This Less Than a Perfect Score?
Review: It's one of the finest examples of funny in sitcom history--how can you go wrong with this? The only thing that would make this season one set better would be to include seasons two, three, etc, etc...and I hope they do.

Great DVD extras, too. I would have loved to hear more from the original cast, but what's there is wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Classy Comedy Needs To Have More Seasons ON DVD!
Review: I love this show, I loved watching it on TV Land and I watched the season 1 DVD set and loved it and want to get the 2nd season on DVD but I'm very disappointed to read that Fox is maybe not going to release MTM or any other classic show to DVD and I think it's a really sad reflection on society that people would rather buy trashy reality shows on DVD then classic TV shows especially a show like The Mary Tyler Moore Show that has a lot of class and style with intelligent writing!

Rating:
Summary: One of the ALL-TIME Greatest TV Comedies! WHERE IS SEASON 2?
Review: The first season set of THE MARY TYLER MOORE show is a MUST-OWN for ANY serious fan of television comedy. Watching these incredibly funny, heartfelt first-season shows reminds the viewer of the remarkable influence this show has had on virtually every comedy program that followed. One of the most important shows in the history of Television, without question.
But we are still waiting for Season 2 after nearly a YEAR! I have hear unpleasant rumors that FOX, in their infinite wisdom (?) are "rethinking" their position on releasing classic TV on DVD, and that MTM may be one of the casualties. This would be a TERRIBLE mistake, not to mention an insult to the fans who plunked down the money for the first set. This show improved with every season--the second is one of the greatest, and the third--it achieves perfection. C'mon, FOX--make it happen!

Rating:
Summary: Where's the 2nd Season...I'm Waiting!!!
Review: I really, really, really enjoyed watching the 1st season boxset. But the question remains...where's the 2nd season. I purchased the 1st over a year ago, and watch it just about every week. Alternating between MTM and That Girl!, the 2nd season is well overdo. Your loyal fan base is waiting!

Rating:
Summary: She can turn the world on with her smile...
Review: Hard to add anything more to what the other reviewers have said. I would like to second the statement by the reviewer from Pennsylvania: Where is Season 2 ?!?

I bought Season 1 as a gift for my girlfriend last year, and it made her so happy she cried. I have been waiting to get Season 2 for her (no I don't like to make my girlfriend cry, I just like to make her happy <grin>). Please release Season 2 now!!

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Be Better...
Review: A classy set all the way! After watching the original broadcasts, it was torture to sit through the horrible quality syndicated versions! But everything looks better than new here-I haven't seen seen the subtle facial expressions and interplay of the cast look like this since the 70's. Grab it while you can, and lets hope Fox gets around to season two!