Mary-er Times

Ronna Ross Pennington

Join us to explore the culture of the 1970s through historical references and plot lines of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, a CBS sitcom staple from 1970 to 1977.

Episodes

  1. 04/07/2022

    Is Mary "Mrs. Robinson?"

    In this episode, we look at the older woman/younger man trope and its importance in early 1970s culture, sexual mores of the time, as well as a little type-casting for a guest star in S1/Ep.13 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Oh, and a little about Nancy Drew, too.

  2. 03/21/2022

    Anchorman Overboard...or Ethical?

    We review possible reasons Ted blunders through a speaking engagement, learn about the Nielsen Ratings, and glassware that everyone had back in the 1970s.

  3. 12/31/2021

    Gee, Her Hair Smelled Terrific

    What does the episode title "1040 or Fight!" reference? How much did things cost in 1970?

  4. 10/18/2021

    Mexican Civil War & Mary Tyler Moore

    What is Pancho Villa's tie to the Mary Tyler Moore Show? It's Episode 10! But that's not the only revolutionary aspect of this episode. It's also the first time we meet Gordy the Weatherman. Tune in to hear historical tidbits about war, politics, and race relations as they all relate to this one episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

  5. 02/03/2021

    Group Dates and Media Greats

    A third-wheel situation gives us reason to research dating norms of the 1950s to 1970s and we take a look at CBS media giants from the golden age of TV journalism...all stemming from Season 1, Episode 9 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

  6. 02/03/2021

    Lessons in Trust & Credibility

    Even though Mary Richards had only been working in the WJM newsroom for about 3 months, she demonstrates an understanding of journalism ethics on her first election night coverage. Do ethics change? How does this fictional election of 1970 compare to the 2020 US presidential election?

  7. 11/18/2020

    A "Short" Look at Art & Books

    Who was Toulouse-Latrec and were self-help books really all the rage in 1970? Episode 7 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show brings up these topics. You might be surprised at what we discovered!

  8. 10/11/2020

    Guilt & Pollution

    Behind the main story about a mother/daughter relationship, there's another story  to tell from Season 1 Episode 6 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show -- the cultural importance of air quality in 1970.

  9. 09/21/2020

    Dollars & Death

    Mary and Rhoda go to extreme lengths to get cheap airfare to Paris. Why? We'll examine her income and compare it to that of pro football players of the era, too. Also, we'll look at one of the hot topics of the day -- the death penalty debate.

  10. 09/10/2020

    Sex, Lies, and Child Rearing Books

    In this episode, we discuss how the sexual revolution changed the way mothers raised daughters. We'll also take a look at a little movie history, and war history.

  11. 08/08/2020

    Women of the 1970s: Youth and Body Image

    What magazines do you suppose Mary and Rhoda read? The answer is easy with a little deduction. Also, what were the societal norms for women of the era and what 12th Century saint ties into it? Check out this episode of Mary-er Times to find out!

  12. 08/01/2020

    There's Something about Mary (Tyler Moore): What We can Learn about the History and Culture of Working Women of the 1970s

    The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran for seven years and was one of the 1970s' most popular sitcoms. But for today's viewer, it provides a unique glimpse into the past and what it was like for young working women who were going against the housewife/motherhood grain to make it on their own. Here, we talk about the history and culture behind Episode 1 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

  • 12 Episodes

3.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Join us to explore the culture of the 1970s through historical references and plot lines of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, a CBS sitcom staple from 1970 to 1977.

Information

  • Creator
    Ronna Ross Pennington
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2022
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ronna Ross Pennington