The Mary Tyler Moore Hour (1979)
The Mary Tyler Moore Hour is an American variety show broadcast by CBS in the spring of 1979. The series stars Mary Tyler Moore.
Seasons & Episode
Mary returns with a new format, a kind of show within a show. She plays Mary McKinnon, whose TV variety show provides a vehicle for weekly guests, and a frame for backstage comedy. On the curtain raiser, Mary's attempts to land Lucille Ball on her program land them both on ""The Mike Douglas Show,"" both in a state of advanced inebriation. Lucy and Mary sing ""Girl Friends of the Whirling Dervish.""-TV Guide March 3-9, 1979
Mary tries to cope with the eccentricities of her two guests: militant crusader Beatrice Arthur; and washed-up vaudevillian Benny Baxter(played by Howard Morris), who'll do anything for a cheap laugh.-TV Guide March 10-16, 1979
Mary's guests are Bonnie Franklin and Henny Youngman-but the show may not go on if Mary and Bonnie can't extricate themselves from a confusing session of night court. Meanwhile, Henny gets to regale a German impresario with a simultaneously translated monologue. Musical Highlights: ""I Won't Dance""...Bonnie and Tony Stevens; Disco Mother Goose medley...Bonnie and Mary-TV Guide March 17-23, 1979
Guest Dick Van Dyke haggles with writers over sketches while Mary worries about a brush fire that's edging dangerously close to her house. In fantasy bits, Dick and Mary reprise their Rob and Laura Petrie roles playing the couple in their later years; and do a ""walking"" medley.-TV Guide March 24-30, 1979
Mary is frankly in awe of guest star Gene Kelly, fearful that she won't be able to keep in step with him. Songs include a Gene Kelly medley (Mary) and ""Ballin' the Jack""(Gene, Mary).-TV Guide March 30-April 6, 1979
Mary welcomes Johnny Mathis and an uninvited guest-her goddaughter Mary Ellen(Claudia Lonow), a stagestruck 16-year-old who hopes to make it big in Hollywood(with a little help from Mary). Musical Highlights: ""Last Dance""...Johnny; ""There's a Place for Us""...Johnny and Mary.-TV Guide April 7-13, 1979
Housing problems beset Mary's circle: the house that guest Ken Howard rents at Mary's suggestion makes the House of Usher seem sturdy by comparison; and Iris leaves Mary's employ to pursue what she imagines to be a promising career selling real estate. Musical Highlights: ""All I Need is the Girl""...Ken; ""Sweet Georgia Brown""...Mary and dancers.-TV Guide April 14-20, 1979
Guest Hal Linden acts as peacemaker when Mary has a falling out with producer Harry(Michael Lombard) over a misquote in a gossip column. Musical Highlights: ""All by Myself""...Hal; ""Johnny One Note""...Hal and Mary.-TV Guide April 21-27, 1979
Mary and guest Linda Lavin are distracted during their performance by a televised awards ceremony-on which they are competing in the same category. Also: comic Morty Gunty does a routine. Musical Highlights: ""Magic to Do""...Mary; ""Someone to Watch Over Me""...Linda; ""At the Moving Picture Ball""...Linda and Mary.-TV Guide April 28-May 4, 1979
Mary becomes exasperated with guest Nancy Walker, whose preoccupation with union business is disrupting rehearsals. Also: Kenneth(Michael Keaton) escorts a star-struck ingenue to Mary's house, where a bedridden Ruby is recuperating from an unknown ailment. Musical Highlights: ""Friendship"" medley...Nancy and Mary; Flamenco dance...Nancy and dancers.-TV Guide May 5-11, 1979