8.3/10535 votes#1 - Love is All Around
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1970
The classic series begins its classic 7-year run in Mary's apartment. Mary Richards, a 30-year-old single woman, has left her long-time boyfriend, Bill, to be with her old friend, Phyllis Lindstrom, in Minneapolis. (Mary originally lived in Roseburg, MN.) Why did Mary leave Bill? After promising to her that he would marry her right after his internship at the hospital, he said, ""Why rush into things???"" Meanwhile, she's already having troubles with her new apartment--a bitter upstairs neightbor, Rhoda Morgenstern, insists that she owns Mary's apartment!
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: James L. Brooks
7.7/10377 votes#2 - Today I Am a Ma'am
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/26/1970
Mary is worried now that she's outside the 15-29 demographic group which the station classifies as 'young', and the mailboy has called her 'Ma'am'. Rhoda persuades her into calling an old boyfriend for a get-together.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Treva Silverman
7.4/10325 votes#3 - Bess, You is My Daughter Now
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/1970
When Phyllis's husband Lars takes ill, she asks Mary to babysit Bess for a few days. Bess decides she wants to stay permanently with Mary, to Phyllis's dismay.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.5/10324 votes#4 - Divorce Isn't Everything
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/1970
Mary and Rhoda find out that divorcees at the Better Luck Next Time club can get group rates on cruises and decide to join. However, Mary proves a hit with the club's members and gets elected to its board.
Director: Alan Rafkin
Writer: Treva Silverman
7.0/10293 votes#5 - Keep Your Guard Up
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/17/1970
A football player turned insurance salesman applies for a job as a sportscaster and attaches himself to Mary. Mary and Rhoda discover that he hasn't had much success at anything and encourage him to pursue his dreams.
Director: Alan Rafkin
Writer: N/A
8.1/10297 votes#6 - Support Your Local Mother
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/24/1970
Rhoda's mother, Ida, comes visiting and Rhoda refuses to see her. Ida stays with Mary but drives her crazy.
Director: Alan Rafkin
Writer: James L. Brooks
8.1/10295 votes#7 - Toulouse-Lautrec is One of My Favorite Artists
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/31/1970
Mary begins seeing an author who appeared as a guest on WJM-TV's Scrutiny, and becomes extremely self-conscious after discovering he is several inches shorter than her.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Lloyd Turner, Gordon Mitchell
7.8/10291 votes#8 - The Snow Must Go On
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/1970
A snowstorm leaves Mary producing her first program, broadcasting the results of the local elections. The show has to remain on until a winner is declared and no word is received at the newsroom.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Lorenzo Music
7.5/10252 votes#9 - Bob & Rhoda & Teddy & Mary
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/14/1970
Mary is nominated for her first Television Editors' Award (the ""Teddies""), but at home Rhoda's boyfriend Bob takes more of an interest in Mary than in Rhoda.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Bob Rodgers
7.5/10245 votes#10 - Assistant Wanted, Female
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/21/1970
Mary's workload gets too much so Lou allows her to hire an assistant. She chooses Phyllis who hinders more than she helps.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Treva Silverman
7.8/10274 votes#11 - 1040 or Fight
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/28/1970
Mary is audited by the IRS, and the shy auditor takes an interest in her. Unfortunately, he has great difficulty telling her how he feels.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Lorenzo Music
7.6/10234 votes#12 - Anchorman Overboard
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/5/1970
Ted loses his self-confidence after speaking at Phyllis's club and Mary has to find a way to get Ted back on a high.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Lorenzo Music
7.0/10248 votes#13 - He's All Yours
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/12/1970
After Mary invites Lou's nephew home for dinner, she must confront false rumors in the newsroom the following day.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Bob Rodgers
8.1/10294 votes#14 - Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid II
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/19/1970
Feeling sympathetic for a co-worker who hasn't spent Christmas with his family for years, Mary is forced to stay alone at WJM-TV on Christmas Eve.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: James L. Brooks
6.8/10238 votes#15 - Howard's Girl
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/2/1971
Mary begins seeing Paul Arnell, the brother of her former boyfriend Howard Arnell, and is shocked to discover that the brothers' parents still believe that she and Howard are an item.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Treva Silverman
7.5/10225 votes#16 - Party is Such Sweet Sorrow
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/9/1971
Mary gets a tempting offer from a rival television station, but becomes reluctant to leave when her WJM-TV colleagues throw a farewell party for her.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.7/10233 votes#17 - Just a Lunch
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/16/1971
Mary reluctantly finds herself romantically involved with a married man.
Director: Bruce Bilson
Writer: James L. Brooks
7.9/10250 votes#18 - Second Story Story
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1/23/1971
Mary's apartment is burgled, with only her clothes, stereo and television taken but then next night the whole apartment is cleaned out.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.5/10228 votes#19 - We Closed in Minneapolis
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 1/30/1971
Murray's play, All Work and No Play, is finally produced but his happiness is short-lived when he discovers that the leading role will be played by Ted.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Gail Parent
7.7/10231 votes#20 - Hi!
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/6/1971
Mary is admitted into the hospital to have her tonsils removed, and shares a room with a grouchy woman who refuses to get along with anyone.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Treva Silverman
7.6/10217 votes#21 - The Boss Isn't Coming to Dinner
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/13/1971
Lou and his wife Edie separate and Mary becomes involved when she is asked for advice.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Lorenzo Music
7.5/10235 votes#22 - A Friend in Deed
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 2/20/1971
An irritating childhood friend drops by Mary's apartment, making use of her connection as Mary's former camp mate to introduce herself to the newsroom's staff.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.2/10222 votes#23 - Smokey the Bear Wants You
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 2/27/1971
Rhoda falls in love with a top executive, and is shocked to find that he wants to give up the high-flying lifestyle to become a forest ranger.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.2/10213 votes#24 - The 45-Year-Old Man
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/6/1971
When Lou is fired, Mary goes to confront the station owner, Wild Jack Munroe.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Writer: George Kirgo
The Best Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1
Every episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1!
30-year-old single Mary Richards moves to Minneapolis to start a new life after a romantic break-up. There she reacquaints with Phyllis who rents her a...
Genre:Comedy
Network:CBS
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Love is All Around" is the best rated episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 535 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by James L. Brooks, it aired on 9/19/1970. This episode is rated 0.6 points higher than the second-best, "Today I Am a Ma'am".