The Mary Tyler Moore Show backdrop
Comedy

The Best Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3

Every episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3!

Binge this in 10h 0m•Peaking at 8.9/10

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 room, and meets her upstairs neighbor and new best friend

Airs on
CBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons7

All1234567

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 23 - Put On a Happy Face
    8.9/10(320 votes)

    S3:E23

    Everything goes right for Rhoda and everything goes wrong for Mary on a disastrous day when she is due to go to the Teddies.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 6 - Rhoda the Beautiful
    8.4/10(254 votes)

    S3:E6

    After losing 20 pounds, Rhoda enters a beauty contest at work, but continues to put herself down.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 13 - Operation: Lou
    8.4/10(229 votes)

    S3:E13

    Lou goes to hospital to have a piece of World War II shrapnel removed and, surprisingly, he and Ted become best friends.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writers:David Pollock, Elias Davis

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 17 - My Brother's Keeper
    8.4/10(271 votes)

    S3:E17

    Phyllis wants to set up her visiting brother with Mary, but instead he hits it off with Rhoda and begins spending time with her to Phyllis's disapproval.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Dick Clair

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 9 - Farmer Ted and the News
    8.3/10(238 votes)

    S3:E9

    Ted refuses to sign his contract renewal until Lou agrees to let him pursue other ventures, a decision he soon regrets when Ted begins appearing in commercials.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 1 - The Good-Time News
    8.2/10(250 votes)

    S3:E1

    Mary is given the task of making The Six O'clock News more upbeat, and her plans are on target to succeed until they're frustrated by Ted.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:James L. Brooks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    READ
  7. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 18 - The Georgette Story
    8.2/10(214 votes)

    S3:E18

    Mary and Rhoda try to encourage Georgette to take a stand for herself after seeing how Ted takes advantage of her.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 4 - Enter Rhoda's Parents
    8.1/10(230 votes)

    S3:E4

    Ida Morgenstern, Rhoda's mother, mistakenly believes that her husband is seeing other women, so Rhoda and Mary try to clear things up between them.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 5 - It's Whether You Win or Lose
    7.9/10(219 votes)

    S3:E5

    When Lou's trip to Las Vegas is cancelled, Mary organizes a poker game at the office where Murray loses a substantial amount to Ted.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 14 - Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis to New York
    7.9/10(228 votes)

    S3:E14

    Rhoda decides to move back to New York but Mary is taking the whole thing with a grain of salt.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 24 - Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady
    7.7/10(213 votes)

    S3:E24

    Mary lends Rhoda almost $1,200 to start a new venture and worries she may never see her money again, after Rhoda postpones repayment, hires Georgette full-time and begins expanding her business.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 3 - Who's in Charge Here?
    7.6/10(199 votes)

    S3:E3

    Lou is promoted to the position of program director but has to decide to whom his old job should go. Meanwhile, The Six O'clock News begins falling apart without him.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 11 - You've Got a Friend
    7.6/10(196 votes)

    S3:E11

    Mary becomes concerned when her father, newly retired, appears to have no friends or hobbies in Minneapolis, and tries to take on the role herself.

    Director:Jerry Belson
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 15 - The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter
    7.6/10(212 votes)

    S3:E15

    Mary runs into her former boyfriend Dan Whitfield in an elevator by chance. Subsequently, Dan realizes he still has feelings for Mary, breaks off his engagement, and begins dating her again.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writers:David Pollock, Elias Davis

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 16 - Lou's Place
    7.5/10(216 votes)

    S3:E16

    Lou spots an opportunity to buy a bar after realizing a lifelong dream. However, he is short of several thousand dollars and Ted is the only one who can come to his aid.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 20 - What Do You Do When the Boss Says, I Love You?
    7.5/10(205 votes)

    S3:E20

    The new station manager, an attractive woman, falls for Lou.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writers:David Pollock, Elias Davis

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 2 - What is Mary Richards Really Like?
    7.4/10(201 votes)

    S3:E2

    Mary is interviewed by a newspaper columnist and ends up telling a little too much.

    Director:Jerry Belson
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 7 - Just Around the Corner
    7.4/10(217 votes)

    S3:E7

    Mary is worried that her parents, who have moved to the Twin Cities to be close to her, may pry into her life too much.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 10 - Have I Found a Guy for You
    7.1/10(209 votes)

    S3:E10

    Two of Mary's friends separate and Mary accepts a date from the husband.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 12 - It Was Fascination, I Know
    7.1/10(208 votes)

    S3:E12

    Bess's 15-year-old boyfriend falls in love with Mary and begins to surprise her with visits to her apartment and her work.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 21 - Murray Faces Life
    7.1/10(192 votes)

    S3:E21

    Murray becomes depressed when he realizes that the years are passing him by, after he learns that a contemporary has won a Pulitzer Prize.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 8 - But Seriously, Folks
    6.8/10(217 votes)

    S3:E8

    Mary begins dating the writer of the Chuckles the Clown show, whose real ambition is to become a stand-up comedian.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 19 - Romeo and Mary
    6.7/10(230 votes)

    S3:E19

    Rhoda introduces Mary to a very irritating Warren Sturges, who tries everything including a giant billboard across the road from the WJM-TV offices to get her to accept his marriage proposal.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Jim Mulholland

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 22 - Remembrance of Things Past
    6.7/10(198 votes)

    S3:E22

    A former boyfriend visiting Minneapolis calls Mary who, deep down, wants to see him again but she has been hurt by him too many times before.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Dick Clair

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Put On a Happy Face" is the best rated episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" season 3. It scored 8.9/10 based on 320 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/24/1973. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Rhoda the Beautiful".