The Mary Tyler Moore show premiered on this day in 1970 on CBS. Mary Tyler Moore, played the lead role on the series about Mary Richards, a single, 30-something woman trying to “make it on her own.”  At the beginning of the series, Mary relocates to Minneapolis, Minnesota, after breaking up with her fiancé. She finds work at WJM-TV in the city’s lowest-rated television newsroom. Her colleagues there become a workplace family that includes Lou Grant (played by Ed Asner), Mary’s boss; Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod), the copywriter; Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), the anchorman; and (from 1973 to 1977) Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White), the host of WJM’s “Happy Homemaker” segment. Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper), Mary’s best friend, and Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachmen), Mary’s landlord. The half-hour episodes chronicled the conflicts and shenanigans that occurred in the professional and personal lives of the characters.

This ground breaking series aired for seven seasons and won 29 daytime Emmys.  The show was noted for the depth of its characters, several of whom became their own successful spin-offs, including Rhoda (1974–78), Phyllis(1975–77), and Lou Grant (1977–82).

Have a great day everyone!