The Mary Tyler Moore Show backdrop
Comedy

The Best Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5

Every episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5!

Binge this in 10h 49m•Peaking at 8.8/10

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 5 Episode 1 - Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?
    8.8/10(257 votes)

    S5:E1

    Mary refuses to reveal a news source for a story she produced and has to spend a night in jail.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 7 - A New Sue Ann
    8.7/10(243 votes)

    S5:E7

    A young fan, Gloria, persuades Sue Ann to hire her for The Happy Homemaker. Sue Ann is less than pleased when Gloria plays up to the station manager and gets a larger role on the show at the expense of her own.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 23 - Ted Baxter's Famous Broadcasters' School
    8.7/10(237 votes)

    S5:E23

    A con-man tricks Ted into setting up a broadcasters' academy. When he finds out he's been had, he asks Lou, Mary and Murray to be the faculty and give the semester's opening lectures.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Michael Zinberg

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 9 - Not a Christmas Story
    8.4/10(246 votes)

    S5:E9

    The entire newsroom staff is arguing with each other, and when they are trapped at the office due to bad weather, Sue Ann decides to serve her Christmas dinner early.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 4 - Lou and That Woman
    8.2/10(207 votes)

    S5:E4

    Lou begins seeing a cocktail lounge singer but becomes uncomfortable about her past.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 14 - A Girl Like Mary
    8.2/10(195 votes)

    S5:E14

    Lou wants to hire a female newscaster 'like Mary', so Mary decides to audition for the job herself.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    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 5 Episode 21 - You Try To Be a Nice Guy
    8.2/10(215 votes)

    S5:E21

    Mary agrees to help a troubled crime prone girl go straight and find a job.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 16 - Mary Richards: Producer
    8.0/10(189 votes)

    S5:E16

    Mary doesn't feel she deserves the title of producer and asks Lou that she be given the chance to produce The Six O'clock News alone.

    Director:Norman Campbell
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 18 - Phyllis Whips Inflation
    7.9/10(193 votes)

    S5:E18

    Phyllis and Lars have a dispute and she finds her credit cards cut off. She looks for a job but finds that she has no relevant skills.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 22 - You Can't Lose 'em All
    7.9/10(187 votes)

    S5:E22

    Lou wins the Albert Mason Award, which he had once said was for broadcasting veterans who couldn't chew their own food.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 10 - What Are Friends For?
    7.8/10(197 votes)

    S5:E10

    Mary and Sue Ann go to a convention in Chicago and Mary finds out that Sue Ann leads a lonely life.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 17 - The System
    7.8/10(194 votes)

    S5:E17

    When Ted's formula for betting on football games works, Lou goes into partnership with him. He winds up betting all of the season's winnings on the Super Bowl without telling Ted.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 8 - Menage-a-Phyllis
    7.7/10(201 votes)

    S5:E8

    Phyllis dates a man on a platonic basis, but he is attracted more to Mary and begins seeing her.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 2 - Not Just Another Pretty Face
    7.6/10(212 votes)

    S5:E2

    Mary dates a man with whom she has nothing in common and becomes concerned that their relationship is superficial.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 5 - The Outsider
    7.6/10(189 votes)

    S5:E5

    WJM-TV hires a young business consultant, who demands certain changes for The Six O'clock News, offending every member of the news team.

    Director:Peter Bonerz
    Writer:Jack Winter

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 11 - A Boy's Best Friend
    7.6/10(182 votes)

    S5:E11

    Ted is shocked when he finds out his mother does not intend to marry her boyfriend, but will live with him.

    Director:Mary Tyler Moore
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 3 - You Sometimes Hurt the One You Hate
    7.5/10(189 votes)

    S5:E3

    Lou finally loses his temper with Ted when he endorses a political candidate on The Six O'clock News and throws him through the office doors. Lou feels guilty, and Ted takes advantage of him.

    Director:Jackie Cooper
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 19 - The Shame of the Cities
    7.5/10(190 votes)

    S5:E19

    Lou wants to research his own news story now that Mary's producer and decides to launch a major investigation on a city councilor only to discover that he is completely honest.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 12 - A Son for Murray
    7.4/10(192 votes)

    S5:E12

    Murray, who has three daughters, wants a son, but his wife Marie doesn't want to have another child. The couple decide to adopt instead.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 13 - Neighbors
    7.4/10(179 votes)

    S5:E13

    Lou wants a smaller place and moves in to Rhoda's old apartment but can't help interfering in Mary's private life.

    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 20 - Marriage Minneapolis Style
    7.3/10(177 votes)

    S5:E20

    Ted pops the question to Georgette at Murray's 20th wedding anniversary party and then gets cold feet.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 24 - Anyone Who Hates Kids and Dogs
    7.3/10(199 votes)

    S5:E24

    Mary likes her new boyfriend but finds his son absolutely intolerable.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Jerry Mayer

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 6 - I Love a Piano
    7.2/10(189 votes)

    S5:E6

    Murray meets an attractive woman at one of Mary's parties and considers having an affair. On the pretext of buying her old piano, he goes to see her.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 5 Episode 15 - An Affair to Forget
    7.1/10(193 votes)

    S5:E15

    Now that Mary is producer, Ted thinks that he can make his move on her. He convinces the rest of the newsroom that they are having an affair.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?" is the best rated episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" season 5. It scored 8.8/10 based on 257 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/14/1974. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "A New Sue Ann".