The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete Third Season (1972) Reviews

• 24 More Merry Mary T. Moore Masterpieces! .... (This Review Was Updated Following This DVD's Release)

  
  By A1FDW1SPYKB354 on 2005-10-13
  ******** UPDATED REVIEW ********
  **** EDITED ON JANUARY 19, 2006 ****
  
  The sensational and laugh-filled third season of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" hit DVD in an attractive 3-Disc set from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on January 17th, 2006, only six months after Season 2 was released (not bad at all, especially when compared to the 34-month wait MTM fans had between the Season-One and Season-Two DVD releases).
  
  Season 3 of TMTMS (originally seen on CBS-TV during the 1972-1973 television campaign) has so many highly-memorable episodes amongst its 24-show roster -- such as: "My Brother's Keeper", "Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis To New York", "Operation: Lou", "You've Got A Friend", and the hilarious "Put On A Happy Face".
  
  The "Happy Face" episode has Mary suffering from a variety of ailments, injuries, and afflictions just prior to having to go to the annual "Teddy Awards" banquet. It's one of my all-time favorite MTM installments. I'd recommend freeze-framing that episode at the 9:36 point in the program for a funny "Mary In Mid-Air" moment. I only wish I were Lou Grant in that particular scene. :)
  
  I never fail to be amazed at how well this TV series holds up over time. Every single one of these third-year episodes, in my opinion, seems utterly perfect (both script-wise and picture quality-wise on these DVDs...gorgeous color and overall video quality).
  
  Just a few sample episodes from Season 3 reveal the exquisite storylines, characters, relationships, and friendships that I'm literally envious of with each viewing -- "You've Got A Friend" and "The Courtship Of Mary's Father's Daughter" (both co-starring the great Bill Quinn as Mary's dad) are two such examples. Beautiful shows. Wonderfully written and brilliantly acted, with just the right dose of sentiment mixed in with the humor. Like when Mary's dad bandages the wrong finger after Mary cuts herself in "You've Got A Friend". One of the best scenes ever done in the whole series.
  
  And "Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis To New York" is another winner from Disc #2 of this collection, exemplifying what the word "friendship" really means.
  
  I want to watch them all again. And will...very soon, thanks to this excellent DVD set from Fox Home Entertainment.
  
  And also remember to keep your ears perked for "The MTM Honker" (aka, show executive James L. Brooks). Brooks likes to occasionally let loose from behind the cameras with the funniest doggone laugh I've ever heard (which sounds more like a "honk" to me). I love it when he lets fly with one unexpectedly. He gets off one or two in the "Happy Face" episode, and many other eps. as well. (And if you have any videos of Mary's spin-off series, "Rhoda", you can hear James honkin' up a storm throughout many of those shows too. He's a riot all by himself, IMO.)
  
  Also in the "Happy Face" show, listen for another of the great lines of dialogue that the MTM writers regularly give to Rhoda (played to a tee by Valerie Harper):
  
  MARY -- "Rhoda, chocolate solves nothing."
  RHODA -- "No, no -- cottage cheese solves nothing; chocolate can do it all."
  
  ~ Honk, honk! ~ :-)
  
  Like the first two full-season DVD sets of this always-delightful TV series, the complete third-season collection sparkles brightly in the A/V departments. The video looks crisp and clean, with warm colors, and the Dolby Digital (mono) audio sounds just fine. No complaints from this writer whatsoever.
  
  The bright, bold colors that can be found in this TV series are really brought to the forefront during the scenes which take place in Rhoda's apartment. That lady lives in a veritable rainbow of color up above Mary's place on "North Weatherly" in Minneapolis. And those many hues look fabulous on these Digital Discs too. As does the show's star, Mary Tyler Moore. Mary looks positively stunning throughout this third season. Wow! :-)
  
  But unlike the two earlier MTM DVD boxed sets, this third installment lacks any special bonus supplements. But I kind of figured that would be the case many months ago even before it came out. The first two seasonal sets contained quite a lot of extra material, and there just might not be a whole lot left to dig up in the "bonus" department. (Although a few of the original CBS-TV promo clips would have been nice. But even without a single bonus item, this set is a required purchase for fans of TMTMS and fans of Mary Tyler Moore herself.)
  
  The twenty-four shows (8 per disc) in this boxed set, as far as I can determine, are all complete and uncut episodes. I've performed a running-time check for each of the eight programs on Disc 1, and those shows have an average run time of 25:35. That stat certainly favors the use of the word "uncut" for sure! Here are the exact run times for those eight shows (you'll note a consistent trend):
  
  "The Good-Time News" -- 25:34.
  "What Is Mary Richards Really Like?" -- 25:31.
  "Who's In Charge Here?" -- 25:36.
  "Enter Rhoda's Parents" -- 25:35.
  "It's Whether You Win Or Lose" -- 25:35.
  "Rhoda The Beautiful" -- 25:36.
  "Just Around The Corner" -- 25:36.
  "But Seriously, Folks" -- 25:36.
  
  A nice addition to this collection that many DVD buyers will appreciate is the inclusion of a "Play All" option on each of the three discs. Seasons 1 and 2 have no such marathon-playing choice. (Good job, Fox!)
  
  The static and music-free DVD Menus have a different look to them vs. the previous two MTM sets, with Season Three featuring a faster response time when a Menu selection is made too. The previous sets have a short built-in "delay" when moving around the Menu system. There is a slight delay when accessing exactly half of the episodes in this third-season set (the last 4 episodes on each disc to be precise, which I imagine represents the shows on Layer #2 of each DVD), but it seems to me as though it's less of a delay that the earlier seasons.
  
  I like the Menus very much; there are Sub-Menus for "Language Selection" and "Scene Selection" (with all text written out in the familiar "MTM" type font, featuring that unique mix of both lower-case and capital letters).
  
  I cannot figure out, however, why Fox made these Season-Three Menus all "anamorphic" in nature. But they did. Which is a bit odd, because the episodes themselves, of course, are not anamorphically-enhanced (because they don't need to be, being Full-Frame 4x3 material in the first place). This is not an uncommon occurrence amongst DVD products though. But it is slightly irritating, because IMO a DVD for a Full-Frame program should maintain a Full-Frame (i.e., non-anamorphic) profile throughout its presentation, including the Menu structure.
  
  The DVD packaging here is identical in style to that of the Season-Two set, with three plastic thin/slim cases utilized to hold the three single-sided discs. The three plastic cases slide into an open-ended outer cardboard carton (a slipcase box). Nothing fancy here; it's very simple and utilitarian, but it's a nice-looking and classy package just the same. (Although the lack of any official "DVD-Video" logo on the spine of the outer box seems a tad odd to me. The Season-Two set doesn't have any such "DVD" logo on its spine either. But the first-season set does have the logo. No big deal, of course. It's just something I always expect to see on the spines of virtually all DVD packages. Oh well.)
  
  When I first saw the box-cover photo of Mary for this set I wasn't too thrilled with the look of it. It seems a bit awkward and unnatural-looking, with Mary seemingly sitting on thin air. But when I got the boxed set in my hands, the cover art started to grow on me. Now I kind of like it. (Heck, it's the lovely MTM after all, so it can't possibly be that bad.) ;)
  
  The same front-of-the-box picture of Mary also adorns each of the three plastic inner cases as well. And there's a terrific (and funny) photo of Mary and Ted Knight ("Ted Baxter") on the back of the box.
  
  Overall, I'm very impressed with this third-year Mary set, despite no bonus stuff being included. What especially pleases me about this particular collection is the fact that 20th Century Fox didn't just give up on the MTM Show following what I heard were disappointing sales for the first-season set. Since Fox already had Season #2 "in the can" (or close to it) when they released Season 1 in September 2002, it seemed logical to assume that that second set would also hit the market eventually too (which it did, albeit after a very long wait).
  
  But Season Three was a different matter. I suppose Fox could have just tossed aside any thoughts of future MTM releases following those poor S.1 profits. But they didn't abandon Mary, and I, for one, am grateful for that decision. And not only didn't they abandon this classic TV series, they didn't cut corners on video quality for S.3 either. The PQ is every bit as good as the first two season sets. Plus, Fox even saw fit to improve some things over the previous DVD sets -- such as adding the Play-All feature and revising the Menu system to make it a bit more user-friendly (and faster). Hats off to the Fox folks!
  
  
  A few more stats and loose ends re. this MTM-3 set:
  
  VIDEO -- Standard TV ratio of 1.33:1 (as originally aired).
  AUDIO -- Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English only). No Spanish tracks provided this time 'round.
  SUBTITLES -- In English and Spanish.
  CHAPTER BREAKS? -- Yes. 10 Chapters per episode.
  "PLAY ALL" INCLUDED? -- Yes.
  INSERTS? -- No Episode Guide booklet is included. A multi-page ad for other Fox DVDs is in here though. (Some good series in there too.)
  REGION CODE -- Region 1 (NTSC).
  
  -----------------
  
  EDIT (Jan. 22, 2006) --- I took note of a very sharp-eyed reviewer's comments re. a small edit that Fox has made to the last episode of this 3rd-Season DVD set ("Mary Richards And The Incredible Plant Lady"). And that reviewer certainly is correct (although I must confess I had not noticed the edit at all until reading that review about it).
  
  Ted Baxter's words (as he hums a song to himself) have most certainly been dubbed over with other nondescript humming. That must certainly indicate that the rights to the song that Ted is mumbling weren't acquired (or couldn't be acquired) by Fox Home Entertainment for this DVD release. That's a shame, indeed, but not Earth-shaking either, IMO. The same thing occurred in the first-season DVD set during the excellent Christmas episode, when portions of "White Christmas" were edited off the DVD soundtrack. Again, that's not a good thing either...but not nearly calamitous enough to keep me from enjoying these ever-so-slightly altered episodes of this superb TV series.
  
  BTW -- There is a disclaimer (of sorts) re. that "Plant Lady" episode printed on the back of the Disc #3 DVD case. Although it doesn't specifically mention anything about that episode being "edited" in any manner, it does give the impression that the show is subpar in some way. The exact words read: "This episode has been restored to the best quality possible given the vintage source material".
  
  Obviously, via those words, they don't seem to be warning the public that the episode has been altered in some way. It's probably a reference to the slightly-wobbly video quality that occurs during a small portion of the final (epilogue) scene. The PQ isn't rock-solid during that scene, which might have prompted that disclaimer.
  
  -----------------
  
  It's a pretty safe bet that if you've got the first couple of seasons of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" on DVD, you shall desire to own this third-season pack too. It's filled with 24 great episodes from a TV series that earned its reputation as one of the best television programs of its era.
  
  So, why not ask Mary (Season Three) for a date tonight? She can't possibly say no -- because you've got the Season-Three DVDs (and the remote control too). ;)
  
  

• Moore Quality Television

  
  By A22VO3FZ8WVN9K on 2005-10-18
  What good news! The Mary Tyler Moore show was one of the highest quality sitcoms produced during the past 34 years, and it has astonished me that it has taken so long for these shows (barring Season 1) to be released on DVD. With all of the absolute junk out there being released (I guess it's a matter of taste, which doesn't speak too highly of our culture :-)), I simply can't believe all of the MTM seasons aren't out yet. Both Seasons 1 and 2 contain such good material, and Season 3 promises to be just as enjoyable. If you like The MTM Show, buy all three seasons (great discounts on Seasons 1 & 2 at Amazon). Let's get Season 4 out before too long!
  
  

• KEEP EM COMING!

  
  By A3165255PFGM4Y on 2005-11-24
  At long last "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" gets its third season pumping. Hopefully Fox will keep cranking them out, because ironically (unlike most shows), "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" got better each season vs. worse. By the time the fourth season hit, more laughs and one-liners were being thrown at us. And thank God for Betty White, who immortalized Sue Ann Nivens as the bitchy, happy homemaker. This is one of the best comedies of all time. And truly deservant of its 29 Emmy wins. Season 3 includes "Its Whether You Win or Lose" which sadly, didn't earn Gavin MaCleuad an Emmy nomination- and he's the only principal cast member never to win or be nominated. It also includes "Put on a Happy Face", one of Mary Tyler Moore's five best performances on the show.
  
  

• The MTM Show Finds Its Voice in Season 3

  
  By A23PAG8365OEKJ on 2006-01-05
  Its great to see that Season 3 has made it to DVD. This is the year
  that MTM truly established its own identity and moved beyond the more
  conventional first two seasons. Mary is now a consciously liberated
  woman no longer worried about being over thirty and single. While
  avoiding overt political messages the writers embraced this change and
  helped create what is in some ways the strongest season.
  
  Though most of the "classic" episodes occur later in the series, season
  3 is perhaps the most consistently excellent week to week.
  There are many episodes that should not be overlooked, from the season opener,
  "The Good Time News", where Mary and Ted spar during an on-air editorial,
  to "Lou's Place", which explores Lou's ill-fated attempt to own a favorite local bar.
  "The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter" reunites Mary with an old flame, only
  now she's an unintentionally disruptive guest at his engagement party (watch
  for their initial meeting in the elevator to see a great example of Mary Tyler Moore's
  gift for understated physical comedy).
  
  In Season 3 the characters begin to function as a family and, without delving into
  hot-button "issues" like All in the Family or Maude, demonstrate a realism
  of another kind in personal relationships. See Mary criticize Rhoda for
  maintaining her poor self image even as she runs in and wins a department store beauty contest in "Rhoda the Beautiful", an episode both touching and very funny.
  Mary's attempts to buck up a despondent coworker in "Murray Faces Life" likewise
  highlight the unique genius of the MTM series in deftly combining humor with
  genuine emotional moments that never turn sappy or maudlin.
  
  Its wonderful that Fox is continuing to release seasons of MTM after the initial
  dispiriting sales of Season 1. I never expected we would get past the second
  year (the work of which was apparently mostly completed about the time the
  first season DVDs went on sale and yet still was not issued for nearly 3 years).
  Even if there are no more "extras" or special features the important thing is that
  all the complete unedited shows make it to video. Especially at a time when
  so many other shows of much lesser quality get released in their entirety its
  a must for MTM fans to purchase these first three seasons to help Mary survive
  in the marketplace. It would be a shame if the following seasons, especially
  4, 5 and 6, and to a lesser extent 7, were never issued. I think Season 3
  represents a great second chance for us.
  
  

• A Third Season of Smiles

  
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2006-03-31
  By the third season, the cast and crew of The Mary Tyler Moore Show knew what they were doing and how to do it. It shows in this wonderful three disc collection.
  
  Little has changed in Mary Richard's (Mary Tyler Moore) world. She works in the news room of WJM-TV in Minneapolis along with her boss Lou Grant (Ed Asner), anchor Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), and news writer Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod). At home, she's got best friends Rhoda (Valerie Harper) and Phyllis (Cloris Leachman). Whether it's the trials of serial dating (Mary and Rhoda's guys never last more then an episode) or trying to bring up the ratings at work, these characters are sure to face life with a joke to keep us laughing.
  
  The big change to the show is the introduction of Georgia Engel as Ted's girlfriend Georgette. I had forgotten, but she was originally Rhoda's co-worker introduced in "Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis to New York." She only gets four episodes here, but it's a start.
  
  Unfortunately, Phyllis only has four episodes as well this season. I always enjoy her appearances since she's so over the top funny. I'm sure we all know someone who is convinced they know best no matter what the situation.
  
  This season also features several appearances of Mary's parents after they move to Minneapolis. Watching a loving relationship work through the issues this creates is nice.
  
  Highlights of this season include:
  "The Good Time News," which finds Mary trying to create a fun news show.
  "It's Whether You Win or Lose" finds gambling addict Murray in trouble when Mary sets up a poker night for the guys in the office. Even a serious topic like this gets lots of laughs.
  In "Farmer Ted and the News," Ted begins doing commercials to make extra money, causing quite a problem when they air during the news.
  Lou sees a more human side of Ted in "Operation: Lou."
  Rhoda considers moving back to New York in "Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis to New York." Fortunately, she doesn't leave until the end of next season.
  Phyllis feels like "My Brother's Keeper" when her brother starts hanging out with Rhoda instead of Mary like Phyllis had originally planned. This episode features the first of Mary's truly horrid parties.
  When "Romeo and Mary" go out and he won't take no for an answer about a second date, Mary really lets him have it. Yet she winds up being the one that's embarrassed.
  
  All told, there are twenty-four more episodes to make you laugh along with Mary and her friends. There are no extras in the set this time around. While I always love behind the scenes stuff, for the price, I won't complain about just getting the shows themselves. The episodes look sharp with hardly any flaws in the picture and the sound, while mono, fits the show and sounds great.
  
  I love this show. Just thinking about the characters brings a smile to my face. If you enjoy classic comedy, this set is for you.
  
  
• MTM hits her stride in Season 3
  By A3DP8A1NKS6GM9 on 2005-12-12
  The Mary Tyler Moore Show hit it's stride in the 3rd season. Although season 1 was was good, and Season 2 was better, Mary hit her stride in Season 3 and maintained it throughout the run of the series... This really was one show that got better and better. Yeah... Mary really can turn the world on with her smile. What a treasure this collection is.
  
  
• Decent set, but some editing is present!
  By A2IJKC3QH8XLSB on 2006-01-22
  I was thrilled to hear that Mary Tyler Moore's third season is finally available. This is what I feel was the first really good season of the series. I'm looking forward to the Fourth Season to come out, which has to be one of the, if not THE very best season of the show.
  
  The first thing I noticed upon getting this set, is that it's a pretty barebones release. There are no extras whatsoever, unlike the previous two sets which had quite a few. I was hoping that there would be at least some more of the Emmy clips, as there were in the two other sets. I really enjoyed those. It would also have been nice to hear some commentaries for a couple of the best episodes of the series, "It's Whether You Win or Lose" and "Put On a Happy Face". A commentary by Valerie Harper for "Rhoda the Beautiful" would have made it especially nice.
  
  As it is, what we have is just the shows themselves, which, thankfully look and sound as nicely as they did in the previous sets. I did notice a couple of minor picture jitters, such as in the tag of "Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady", but nothing too bad. What I DID notice that was rather disappointing, was that a scene in the aforementioned episode had been edited. At the 17 minute mark, Ted walks into the newsroom singing to himself. In the original version (as well as the versions I have seen in syndication), he was singing "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)", from "Annie Get Your Gun". It was a brief, but funny moment, and memorable Ted Baxter. Instead, on this DVD, the sound has been dubbed over so that he is simply mumbling nonsense ("do do do"). I'm assuming this has something to do with rights. Maybe Fox could not get them, or did not want to pay for them, but still, the result is a version that has been tampered with, from the original.
  
  Eagle-eye fans who got the First Season set, will probably remember that the episode, "Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid" had a few seconds when Mary sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" cut. At the time I thought that was an innocent mistake (bad print used), but now I fear it may have been an intentional cut. Nowhere on the packaging does it say that any of these shows have been altered, but then, it also does not say that they HAVE been altered. The least that Fox could do is make mention of this, and after the fiasco of their "In Living Color" season sets, where all the memorable music paradies were cut out...I am concerned that more music bits of MTM are going to be left off. Let's hope not. I would hate to not see classic moments like Georgette's "Steam Heat" number in the 7th Season, not on DVD.
  
  All in all, a nice set. However, I still wish someone other then Fox had chosen to release these. I'm still bummed that it took them two and a half years to put out the Second Season. We could have had them all by now.
  
  
• No Extras
  By A2Z6R95EGYOU9L on 2006-02-14
  Although the episodes in this collection are superb, I was a bit dissappointed that no extras were given on this set. I loved the first two sets because they included video clips of Emmy Award acceptance speeches by the actors and writers. Stuff like that is hard to come by today. I also loved the documentaries in the first two sets, such as the making of the opening credits for the show. It's really neat to see the actors behind the scenes reacting to one another. And of course the commentary tracks were great. Unfortunately I see a bad pattern forming. Season 1 contained 4 discs and lots of extras, Season 2 contained only 3 discs and lots of extras, Season 3 contains 3 discs and no extras. I hope they don't go the Columbo route and start putting future seasons on double-sided discs to cut a few more pennies out of the cost.
  
  
• I Love Mary Tyler Moore
  By A2N532L92JO2CG on 2006-03-22
  I can't recall a series that I have enjoyed more. I am still enjoying each character in this series and I am still laughing.
  I find Mary a great role model. Her series appeared shortly after I began my career as a single person who married later than the average person.
  
  
• Vintage Television
  By A3EE0H0NWQ9QVL on 2006-05-06
  Perhaps the four-star rating is stingy, but "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" raised the bar on television itself, so we've come to expect nothing less than excellence from one of the very best shows ever and certainly from one of the best comedy ensembles ever put together. "All in the Family," "M*A*S*H," and "MTM" are among the best shows ever on television. Later seasons, and, perhaps earlier ones should certainly garner the show five-star ratings.
  
  Many of the episodes are indispensible. "Lou's Place," features Lou and Ted, who buy a local pub after the owner dies is vintage MTM. Similarly, for two episodes featuring Ted: One when he is loathe to compete with Gordy as co-anchor, and another when Ted hires an elderly woman agent who enables him to moonlight making money on obnoxious and unflattering commercials. When Rhoda enters a beauty contest in "Rhoda, the Beautiful," and when she takes her own business in "...The Plant Lady," we are given more than our money's worth. (The price of this collection at twenty-four episodes is a bargain, especially if one compares it to other DVD collectibles.) Perhaps the best one is when everything falls apart for Mary just before she goes to an awards' ceremony. Most of the other episodes are merely excellent. Despite some of the references, it is seldom dated, too.
  
  The collection is sometimes marred, however, by mere dramatization. Subjectively, the shows that have more drama than laughs don't quite hit the high bar that they have established for themselves. The big three CBS seventies comedies were classic at going from big laughs to tears, but without laughs, some episodes suffer in quality overall. Particularly the shows with Mary Richard's parents don't work as well.
  
  Despite the picky qualms with a few episodes, this DVD set is a great entertainment value. (The fourth season comes out in June, and it looks great!)
  
  
• It keeps getting better
  By A2XRZV63X79YSJ on 2006-02-10
  The third season of MTM got the audience ready for the changes of the forth season, including the Rhoda spinoff and addressed some social issues. The 24episodes are presented on three discs.
  
  This is the last season that the original cast is together. Mary Tyler Moore is perfection as Mary Richards. She is knows when to go for it or hold back. She was definitely underappreciated for this series. This is Valerie Harper's last season as Rhoda. This season Rhoda makes a transformation and Valerie handles it perfectly. Ed Asner is absolute perfection as Lou. You can see why Emmy loved him. Gavin McLeod takes a minor character and made it a central character. Ted Knight has his best season and gets a real girlfriend.
  
  This is the one of the best written and directed seasons.
  
  Disc One:
  The Good Time News - This episode tackles two issues. The first is Mary finds out the previous associate producer made $50 more a week (a lot at that time). The only reason that Lou gives is she is a woman. The second is the changing face of local news. Rather than being straight news, the local news was trying to be more accessible to the public. But many went too far to make it pure comedy instead of news. WJM decides to change their format. Mary has the idea to make Gordy the co-anchor. With Gordy as the personality and Ted as the straight man, it could work. It does until Ted finds out. This is an all out laugh fest.
  
  What is Mary Richards Really Like? - Mary is being interviewed by a hyper critical newspaper columnist, Mark Williams (Peter Haskell). But it's more than just an interview, Mark is also interested in Mary personally. But when the article comes out it makes Mary look wonderful and the rest terrible. (Note: Rhoda refers to her married sister)
  
  Who's in Charge Here? - Lou gets promoted and Mary doesn't want Lou's job until it's too late.
  
  Enter Rhoda's Parents - Ida (Nancy Walker) and Martin (Harold Gould) Morgenstern are visiting Rhoda but Ida has shocking news, Pop is having an affair. (Nancy Walker shows her golden magic and Harold Gould shows why he got the part for Rhoda)
  
  It's Whether You Win or Lose - This episode tackles compulsive gambling. Lou's trip to sunny Las Vegas is snowed out. Lou tells Mary to organize a poker game. Murray doesn't want to play until sucker Ted shows up. Marie (Joyce Bullifant) shows up at Mary's and tells her that Murray is a compulsive gambler. Mary goes to the game to get Murray without letting any know she knows Murray's secret. This is hilarious. But how Murray gets his losses back is even better.
  
  Rhoda the Beautiful - Rhoda loses 20 pounds! Then to make things worse, at work she is nominated for Ms. Hemples! The good news is Phyliss can no longer make her fat jokes. This is the show that signaled Rhoda's impending departure.
  
  Just Around the Corner - We finally get to meet Mary's parents (Nanette Fabray and Bill Quinn) and they are moving to Minneapolis. And they find the almost perfect apartment
  
  But Seriously, Folks - Mary is dating a writer (Jerry Van Dyke) for The Chuckles the Clown show. He quits the show and decides to become a stand up comic.
  
  Disc Two:
  Farmer Ted and the News - Ted gets an agent to negotiate his new contract. She only asks for one thing, remove the exclusivity clause. Lou agrees to his regret, as Ted appears in a series of really tacky commercials.
  
  Have I Found a Guy for You - Jack and Linda Foster (Bert Convey and Beth Howland) have the perfect marriage. That is until Jack shows up for dinner without Linda.
  
  You've Got a Friend - Mary's mom is handling the move, she has Mary, Phyllis and Rhoda but Mary's dad hasn't made any new friends. So Mary decides that Lou would be a good choice for a friend. When that doesn't workout, Mary decides that maybe she needs to be his friend. This leads to a beautiful scene where she and her father finally bond.
  
  It was Fascination, I Know - Bess' "boyfriend" falls for Aunt Mary.
  
  Operation: Lou - Lou goes into have some shrapnel removed and leaves Mary in charge. This causes a riff between Mary and Murray but Lou and Ted bond.
  
  Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis to New York - So long Rhoda! Rhoda accepts a job at Bloomingdales. This episode introduces Georgette as a workmate of Rhoda. (Oh, by the way, Rhoda doesn't leave.)
  
  The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter - Mary runs into Dan, the night school teacher from season 2. He's getting married. When Mary and Rhoda show up for the engagement party, it causes a fight. She and Dan start to date but she is not ready for a commitment.
  
  Lou's Place - McClusky's bar is for sale and Lou decides to buy it.
  
  Disc Three:
  My Brother's Keeper - Phyllis' brother (Robert Moore) has come for a visit and she can't wait to set him up with Mary. The only problem is that Ben likes Rhoda. This is also the first in what will become an annual disaster - Mary throws a party. This also is the second appearance of Georgette.
  
  The Georgette Story - Ted is taking advantage of Georgette's good nature. Mary decides to take thing into her own hands and sets up Georgette with someone else. It is revealed that Rhoda dated Ted. (Mary says that she introduced Ted and Georgette but they met a Rhoda's going away party and she worked with Rhoda.)
  
  Romeo and Mary - Rhoda and Mary double date but Mary's blind date (Stuart Margolin) will not leave her alone. (Great line Lou: Did I see Mary being taken out in handcuffs? Murray: Yes. Lou: They must be rounding up Protestants.)
  
  What Do You Say When the Boss Says, "I Love You" - Lou's new boss is a woman (Lois Nettleton). But things get complicated when Barbara tells Mary that she has a crush on Lou.
  
  Murray Faces Life - When a local journalist, Murray went to school with, wins the Pulitzer Prize, Murray gets depressed.
  
  Remembrance of Things Past - An old flame (Joseph Campenella) arrives in town. The problem is he is still neglectful of Mary.
  
  Put on a Happy Face - This is the episode that you wait for every year, The Teddy Awards. Mary is having a bad day. Her alarm did not go off, she got a flat tire, her boyfriend cancelled their date for the Teddy Awards and she accidentally tossed the obituary file. The next day is not much better, her hair is a mess, she sprains her ankle, soaking it has given her a cold and she cannot find a date for the Teddy's. The night of the Teddy's get worse, her dress is ruined, her hair dryer is broken, it's raining, her date is Ted Baxter but things look up when she wins!
  
  Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady - Rhoda opens a plant shop with money borrowed from Mary. When Rhoda shows up with a lot of shopping boxes, Mary wonders if she will get her money back. (Craig T Nelson makes an appearance as a car mechanic who has a crush on Mary)
  
  DVD EXTRAS: None
  
  
  
• mary tyler moore, complete 3rd season
  By A1PTQWKHRNRGYF on 2006-02-24
  If you liked mary tyler moore back in the 70's, you cant go wrong with this package. When you can recite lines in the show, that you haven't seen in 30 years, its a treat. What makes this a fun item to purchase, is the fact that "Mary" can not been seen on any tv channel, including TV land or Nickelodean. A must buy if you enjoy Rhoda, Phyllis, Lou, Ted, Murray, and Gordy.
  
  
• Still the best!
  By A20814B8F8GVY7 on 2006-02-27
  I'm so glad they keep releasing more seasons of MTM. Such a good show that really holds up over the years. Keep 'em coming!!
  
  
• It just gets better and better!
  By A1A535W556ROBQ on 2006-03-07
  Mary not only looks great on the cover, but the third season was perhaps the best season as it introduced the lovable Georgette to balance out Ted, as well as have Rhoda blossom into a major figure of her own. So many memorable moments such as Lou trying his hand at bartending, in a very questionable partnership with Ted; to Murray being suckered into an ill-advised poker game; to Mary trying to reconcile her parents moving to town. This was truly a great show because it never lost its momentum over the years and it was a shame to see it finally sign off in 1977. However, that means we still have 4 seasons to go on DVD!
  
  
• Only Ted Knight dished up the laughs on this show
  By A309B5ATXCW7S0 on 2006-01-26
  In one episode in this Season Three compilation, Mary tells Ted Baxter that he has absolutely no personality and needs a co-anchor for his revamped news program. Pretty ironic statement from Mary, since ONLY Ted Baxter has personality at WJM, at least the only funny one. MTM could be a pretty amusing show, but it was never laugh-out-loud funny like "The Honeymooners" or "All In The Family" except for the exceptional talents of Ted Knight. He delivered his lines like a true pro and was the only bona-fide comedian. Knight, who based his character on pompous L.A. newscasters George Putnam and Jerry Dunphy, outshined the rest of the cast--something I only really noticed after the passing of time and revisiting the show with this DVD. What's more, Ted Baxter emerges as a highly sympathetic and likeable character, politically incorrect before his time, with a pretty big heart under all that superficial bluster and self-promotion. And you know what, save his occasional bumbling, he's a good news reader as well. (Compare him to the dolts on YOUR local newscasts these days.) Meanwhile the rest of the characters on this show seem a lot more annoying and unappealing than I remembered them, especially with their ugly, mean-spirited attacks on newscaster Baxter. There's Mary, with that high-pitched voice, who sits at her desk but never seems to work or come up with any good ideas and always seems to be fussing over some nitpicking personal problem; no wonder the WJM News stinks so bad with such an associate producer on board. By the third season Mary was sliding into middle-age, losing the still-girlish appeal she had in the First Season, which makes her trivial obsessions all the more harder to take. There's Rhoda, with her whiny New York Jewishness, never happy about anything. A little bit of her goes a long way. Phyllis, the shrill busybody with every liberal fad in her head. Maury, smug, with his awful "jokes." Lou, with his phony tough-guy routine. No, it was only Ted Baxter who was really likeable and funny on this show--until Sue Ann Nivens came along a season later. Nevertheless, compared to the trash that passes as situation comedies these days (nothing but lame sex jokes), MTM is a winner and worth your time. (Mary does sport a great '70s wardrobe and Rhoda's apartment is out-of-sight kooky.) Look for Jerry Van Dyke--brother of Mary's husband in her first sitcom--playing her boyfriend in one of the better episodes.
  
  
• Classic television
  By A27VEVJ9UUA3L1 on 2006-02-22
  With so much drek on the tube these days, these classic episodes are fresh reminders of how great this show was. My wife and I have devoured the first three seasons of this show and we are parseling out the last few chapters, not wanting to use them up. Everything about this series is sharp, smart, witty, and fun. I am really impressed with the cleaned-up color and sound. In reruns, they had started to fade, but on DVD the colors are warm and vibrant and look brand-new. I am waiting with baited breath for the remaining seasons.
  
  
• Put on a Happy Face!
  By A2KSF5VM4JW5FO on 2006-03-09
  There will never be another like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and I think this set contains one of the very best episodes. "Put on a Happy Face" here we get to see our perky Mary Richards run though the ringer... it's nice to know we all have bad days...hilarious!
  Only complaint I have is there are NO special features on this set... I guess we can't have our cake and eat it too.
  
  
  
• one of the best shows ever made
  By A1CONQRNT4JXJN on 2006-03-13
  The thing about this show is that it is great for the whole family to watch. There are tons of classic moments in this season that make you laugh for days after. I have the first two seasons and can't wait for season four to come out.
  
  
• she turns the world on with her smile!!!!
  By A3KUK6LZ5VZE11 on 2005-12-16
  the mary tyler moore show is one of the best. you just never get tired of it. i have seasons 1 and 2 and can't wait to get 3 and the rest. i will buy all of the seasons. it is a show you can watch with the whole family. my son and my nieces love it. thank you amazon for giving us the chance to own this classic show, because all generations should have the chance to know and luv and experience mary and the gang. and you know .... mary really does turn the world on with her smile!
  
  
• Mary Richards and the incredible season three
  By A1OBPHRXHZF8P6 on 2006-01-19
  Season three of the Mary Tyler Moore Show provides yet more essential classic tv viewing.
  
  The 24-episode 1972-1973 Season opens with "The Good-Time News". To boost WJM-TV's sagging ratings, Mary has to make the six o'clock news more upbeat. Her plans seem to work---until Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) is involved. Mary also self-advocates for equitable associate producer pay.
  
  Mary works in the news business herself, but she is not yet the hard-nosed journalist. In "What Is Mary Richards Really Like" she is interviewed by newspaper columnist Mark Williams (Peter Haskell) and ends up telling more than she should-Mary did not second-guess the perils of disclosure for public figures such as herself, that interview ultimately comes back to haunt her. Meanwhile, Lou Grant (Ed Asner) gets a coveted promotion to program director and the corresponding task of deciding who is going to fill his now previous job-which he wants the right person in.
  
  However she is not adverse to networking with the boys as demonstrated in "It's Whether You Win or Loose". She organizes an office poster game after Lou's trip to Las Vegas is canceled. Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod) then looses a substantial amount of his money to Ted Baxter.
  
  Other great episodes include "Put On A Happy Face" simply because best friends have conflicting good/bad days ironically when Mary is supposed to go to the Teddies-the `tv world' version of the Emmys-for her production work. Then "My Brother's Keeper and "Just Around The Corner" explore how close families can get without good intentions backfiring and driving each other crazy. This one season alone has five episodes considered by fans to be the best among this entire series
  
  "You've Got A Friend" is a personal favorite of mine---the possibility that parents and adult children can become friends-if done right-- is a good theme. Finally, Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis to New York is important because this is the episode which launches Valerie Harper into her own successful show. The following year, `Rhoda' would debut and quickly establish itself as an equally successful but unique show.
  
  Mary Tyler Moore continues working with today audiences because it handles relevant social issues but does not nag viewers. Instead, we are supposed to be entertained. People even attempting to write `very special' episodes for today's series need to go back and study this sitcom to see how pros really do things.
  
  Again, the studios have their act together with the DVD production of this series--they are releasing them! Realizing that even the most dedicated fans have purchase limits, this season is reasonably priced. I use the term `reasonably' because there is a $20.99 price tag. I suspect the price is because there are NO bonus features included in this release.
  
  
  
• Bring on Season 4!!!!
  By A15YFYOVX3FA8Y on 2006-01-22
  Thank you Fox!!!!! Thank you MTM Productions!!! Thank you WJM!!!! This series got better and better with each season. Season III is when the cast really began to come into their own. From here through season 7 the shows just get funnier and funnier. I have watched every episode from each season at least a half a dozen times in my life and they still crack me up. What a treat to be able to see them again restored, uncut and unedited.
  Steve,
  Seattle, WA
  
  
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show DVD Season 3
  By A1LEJ6348CU275 on 2006-03-03
  "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" is a classic sitcom,that got better and better each season.
  Plucky Mary Richards(Mary Tyler Moore)holds her own at WJMTV,the TV news station with the lowest ratings but warmest people.
  Mary's best friend Rhoda(Valeire Harper)a year before she got her own spin-off smash,"Rhoda"has continual disastrous dates in this season but always has a quick wit to makes us smile,Lou Grant(Ed Asner) tough talking but caring,ends up in hopital in one episode and has a vist from the newsroom fool,Ted Baxter,the hilarious Ted Knight.
  Among all the laughs serious issues are handled like retirement,divorce,midlife crisis,poor Murray(Gavin MacLeod) feels life is passing him by,but its all done with great writing and performances,Chlors Leachman as the over bearing Phyllis only appears in about 4 episodes this season but is always a scene stealer!
  My favourite episode is "Put On A Happy Face" where Mary after a series of disasters,attends an award ceremony looking awful and in a borrowed dress which Lou says makes her look like "One of the Andrews Sisters"
  I love this show as its so real and considering its nearly 30 years since it finished,it certainly is as fresh as ever!
  Season 4 is coimg out very soon,I hope.
  Greg Shanley
  
  
• Mary Tyler Moore Show - Third Season
  By A3CXCW71KNAVK2 on 2006-03-11
  I am very happy with this DVD and it was also a great price. For anyone who is a fan of this show, they will be happy with the DVD.
  
  
  
  
• My favourite sitcom... ever.
  By A1ZOFK31NJB5K4 on 2006-08-05
  These shows don't date. They are as fresh as they were over 30 years ago. These shows deserved all the Emmys they received. A must-see series. I'm glad they are finally releasing them. I would prefer more extra features though. More show commentary would be nice as well.
  
  
• She Turns The World on With her smile,who can take an...
  By A2B215ZBXN382R on 2005-12-20
  I love The Romeo and Mary,and I also like the Awsomely funny Put On A Happy Face,where she goes to the awards show.
  
  
• Great to have season three!
  By A1VA0LVU4LX33B on 2006-01-18
  This morning I ran out and bought this box set. Although I've only watched four episodes so far, it appears that Fox did an excellent job in producing this set. The colors are bright, the picture is crisp and excellent along with clear sound.
  
  With season three, all 24 episodes are on three disks instead of the 4 disks season one and two contained, and there are no extra features. No problem here with the lack of special features since I usually only watch them once and forget they exist.
  
  The Mary Tyler Moore Show was the best situation conedy of the 1970's with an excellent cast & brilliant writing.
  
  Pristine, full episodes are what I look for in a season box set, and it appears that Fox did a great job. Please release MTM seasons 4 through 7 soon!
  
  
  matchbox
  
  
  
  
  
• Picture quality is as good as the first two DVD releases
  By A1T6R772Q80FW7 on 2006-01-19
  When I saw this season was being released without any bonus features, I worried that Fox had skimped on the quality of the re-mastering just so they could release it in a hurry.
  
  No worries! Each episode has the same vibrant colors and excellent sound as the Season 1 and 2 releases. Episodes are uncut and look beautiful.
  
  This season is special to me because it has my all-time favorite episode (sorry, "Chuckles" is #2) -- "Put on a Happy Face" -- worth watching anytime you're having a bad day.
  
  Here's to seasons 4 through 7, as soon as Fox can get them out.
  
  
  
• Mary Tyler Moore - Season 3
  By A22XJ01BUSNOY7 on 2006-02-24
  Mary Tyler Moore is an excellent tv series. Every episode that I have watched has been terrific. I would recommend everyone to buy this DVD.
  
  
• MTM - Season 3
  By A3LART1Q4VFC2F on 2006-03-03
  Like most fans, each season grew better than the last, as Mary and friends matured professionally and gracefully. It's irritating how Fox has produced the set, with few commentaries - no MTM, for example- and each episode reverts back to the main menu, just like the Bob Newhart season DVDs, which is irritating.
  The writing is - as always- clever and sensational , and fans grew to love Mary more with each season. It's very disturbing to see the diva now - after all the plastic surgery- looking nothing like the Mary we knew and loved; At least Valerie Harper aged gracefully and naturally, as did the rest of the cast, all but Ted Knight still with us.
  
  
• It's about time
  By A2TTUXO3ZEODEU on 2006-03-13
  Why is it taking so long to get the full run of this show. It is the one of the best things ever produced for television. I was sorry to see a lack of extras on this years set. It smells of legal rangling behind the DVD scene. Oh well, the episodes speak for themselves.
  
  

• The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete Fourth Season
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete Second Season (1971)
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete First Season
• The Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Second Season
• The Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Third Season