We Will Miss Mary Tyler Moore

In today's social media heavy world, words like "icon" are thrown around too much.  But today Mary Tyler Moore died at 80, and she was an American Icon.  To earn that, you can't simply be famous for a role or two.  You have to be something more -  as in Mary Tyler Moore.

She was on TV in its infancy, at least her legs were on 77 Sunset Strip as a young actress.  Then the break of her lifetime, cast opposite Dick Van Dyke on his incredible sitcom that dominated the 1960's. The first one ever on TV that showed a "real" suburban couple that was far more like real people. She was hilarious, fresh and beautiful.

Then her own show, The Mary Tyler Moore show that dominated the 1970's.  Where she played Mary Richards, a single, working woman in TV in Minneapolis (who thought of that location?) and we loved her.  The joke was seemingly always on Mary, and she embraced it.  This beautiful young woman, had the same challenges as the viewers.  Her own show was blueprinted from the Van Dyke Show with an amazing ensemble cast and brilliant writing. 

I know it's hard to believe now, but in 1970 a woman starring and being incredibly successful on TV in a sitcom was virtually unheard of.  I think she is the funniest woman that has ever been on television.  The way she did it was non threatening, with class and an unassuming charm that was palpable, and a wit so sharp you could shave with it. Not many can say they were on TV in virtually every home, every day for 25 years in one way or another. But she can.

Then it was MTM productions that developed a huge array of great TV shows over the years.  She even had a Country Music record label in the 1980's that had a ton of great artist at the time on it.  She got an Oscar nomination for Ordinary People, and appeared in a bunch of movies over the course of a few years.

But her real gift was the gift of a career to so many.  Edward Asner, Gavin MacCleod, Ted Knight, John Amos all went on to immense careers after the MTM show closed down on TV.  Even Bob Newhart got new life in his career when Mary developed the Bob Newhart Show.  Not to mention the hundreds of small stars that got a huge boost from appearing on the set of her show.

Betty White owes a ton to Mary, whose career was completely reborn on the MTM show after Mary cast White as the original "cougar" on TV,  Sue Ann Nivens.  Without that role, there more than likely is no Golden Girls, and more than likely no pop culture Betty White today.
Then diagnosed with diabetes, she became the face of campaign awareness for the disease world wide.  I remember seeing her on TV doing commercials for it just a few years ago, and I would stop just to hear what MTM had to say.  She took on animal welfare on the global scale as well.  She faced the shooting death of a son, and had a marriage or two. 

But Mary Tyler Moore not only did everything, she did everything with class, dignity and beauty. She did most every thing the right way, and not the sell out way. She surrounded herself with talented people, and climbed to heights most never dream of.  And she did most if it - first.

Most everything she did was first, and original. A brave thing to do in entertainment, especially then.  She carved out the trail so others could follow.

Mary Tyler Moore - She was an original  - and an icon.

MOVIE REVIEWS - In Theaters Now

January is here, and there are still some movies in theaters including some new ones that are pretty darn good.

Hidden Figures

This has a good cast, and this is a story worth telling.  And for me, that adds up to a good day at the movies.  Although, this does come up a bit short of what it could have been, this is still strong.

This is the true story of three African American women working at NASA in the heat of the space race in the nearly 1960's.  It chronicles very well the struggle and difficulty that these women faced even in the face of a nation consumed by fear, and the need to get a man into space and pass the Russians.  What this really does, is showcase the culture at NASA, that sadly did mirror regular society in the years just before the Civil Rights Act.

This is very well done, well acted and looks great as well. This could have been edited a bit tighter as it does belabor some points to death. This cold have been shortened down some, but it's not a deal breaker.

This is pretty darn good.


Live By Night

Been a while since we've had a good classic gangster movie, but the Ben Affleck written and starred in Live By Night delivers nicely.  This is a strong story of the gangsters of the late 1920's and 30's. The acting here is superb, and so are the sets and costumes. This is a period piece that really takes you to the time.

This has a nice cast, a great look and a lot of action. Yes, this is violent, but those were violent times.  Wonderfully written, acted and directed, as this is a very adult film.  I have a tendency to love a good time travel movie and this none places you in a time gone by, and place that does not exist anymore.

Well done!

scott@wqmx.com