The Mary Tyler Moore Show backdrop
Comedy

The Worst Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Every episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show!

Binge this in 3d 2h•Peaking at 8.0/10

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 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 1 - Love is All Around
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Love is All Around

    S1:E1

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 8 - The Snow Must Go On
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - The Snow Must Go On

    S1:E8

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 9 - Bob & Rhoda & Teddy & Mary
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #3 - Bob & Rhoda & Teddy & Mary

    S1:E9

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 10 - Assistant Wanted, Female
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Assistant Wanted, Female

    S1:E10

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 11 - 1040 or Fight
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - 1040 or Fight

    S1:E11

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 12 - Anchorman Overboard
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Anchorman Overboard

    S1:E12

    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

    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 1 Episode 13 - He's All Yours
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - He's All Yours

    S1:E13

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 15 - Howard's Girl
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Howard's Girl

    S1:E15

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 16 - Party is Such Sweet Sorrow
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Party is Such Sweet Sorrow

    S1:E16

    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:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 17 - Just a Lunch
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Just a Lunch

    S1:E17

    Mary reluctantly finds herself romantically involved with a married man.

    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writer:James L. Brooks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 18 - Second Story Story
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Second Story Story

    S1:E18

    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:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 19 - We Closed in Minneapolis
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - We Closed in Minneapolis

    S1:E19

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 20 - Hi!
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Hi!

    S1:E20

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 21 - The Boss Isn't Coming to Dinner
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - The Boss Isn't Coming to Dinner

    S1:E21

    Lou and his wife Edie separate and Mary becomes involved when she is asked for advice.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Lorenzo Music

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 22 - A Friend in Deed
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - A Friend in Deed

    S1:E22

    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:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 23 - Smokey the Bear Wants You
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Smokey the Bear Wants You

    S1:E23

    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:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 24 - The 45-Year-Old Man
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - The 45-Year-Old Man

    S1:E24

    When Lou is fired, Mary goes to confront the station owner, Wild Jack Munroe.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:George Kirgo

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 1 - The Bird and ...Um ...Bess
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - The Bird and ...Um ...Bess

    S2:E1

    In the second-season premiere, after Mary Richards produces a ""What's Your Sexual IQ?"" documentary for the Six O'Clock News, Rhoda confesses to failing and Phyllis says that young Bess watched it. Phyllis calls on Mary to teach Bess the facts of life, but it turns out that Bess already had learned it from her friends. Meanwhile, the WJM-TV newsroom is shelled with phone calls responding to the documentary. According to Mary, more people are appalled by it than anything else.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 2 - I Am Curious Cooper
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - I Am Curious Cooper

    S2:E2

    Mary is intrigued by the voice of Lou Grant's friend, Mike Cooper, and asks to be set up with him. Lou breaks his policy of not matchmaking friends and colleagues.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Lorenzo Music

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 3 - He's No Heavy . . . He's My Brother
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - He's No Heavy . . . He's My Brother

    S2:E3

    Mary and Rhoda take an unplanned vacation to Mexico but have to do a strange favor for a Mexican restaurant owner for reservations.

    Director:Jerry Paris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 4 - Room 223
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Room 223

    S2:E4

    Mary and Rhoda enroll in a night school course in journalism and Mary begins dating the lecturer.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 5 - A Girl's Best Mother Is Not Her Friend
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - A Girl's Best Mother Is Not Her Friend

    S2:E5

    When Ida, Rhoda's mother, visits, she sees how well Phyllis and Bess get on, and how closely Mary appears to her mother when they chat on the telephone, that she tries to be Rhoda's ""friend"".

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Lorenzo Music

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 6 - Cover Boy
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Cover Boy

    S2:E6

    Jack Cassidy guest stars as professional model Hal Baxter, who comes to visit his brother Ted at WJM-TV. Immediately, the two engage in a heated battle of sibling rivalry about EVERYTHING -- salaries, cars, & even women. In an effort to size up his brother, Ted claims that Mary is his girlfriend. Ted & Hal decide to go on a double-date with Mary & Rhoda. At the restaurant, Ted doesn't know any etiquitte, and it shows. Back at Mary's apartment, Ted & Hal arm wrestle before Hal decides to go with Rhoda up to her apartment to look thru magazines for his picture. Ted stays with Mary to make Hal think that he spends more time with his girl than he does.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 7 - Didn't You Used to Be . . . Wait . . . Don't Tell Me
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Didn't You Used to Be . . . Wait . . . Don't Tell Me

    S2:E7

    Mary attends her high school reunion and meets up with her former boyfriend Howard Arnell, who continues to have feelings for Mary. Meanwhile, Rhoda tags along believing that people will ""remember"" her although she didn't attend Roseburg High.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 8 - Thoroughly Unmilitant Mary
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Thoroughly Unmilitant Mary

    S2:E8

    The writing and technical unions go on strike, leaving only Lou, Mary, and Ted in the newsroom. WJM-TV makes Lou be second cameraman on ""The Chuckles the Clown Show"". Because an upset Murray is on strike, Mary has to write the news stories. They are terrible, and when Lou criticizes them, she starts crying. Things take a turn for the worse: Ted's union strikes, and Lou has to fill in as anchorman! On his first brodcast, he has ""clammy hands"", and he bombs. At a local bar, Murray, Gordy, & Mary share a laugh over this. After drinking before his 2nd brodcast, he is ""as cool as a cucumber""--that is, until he falls asleep at breaktime. Herb fills in for Lou for the rest of the brodcast. The next day, the unions come to an agreement, and everything goes back to normal. Rhoda Morgenstern & Phyllis Lindstrom do not appear in this episode.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Love is All Around" is the worst rated episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by James L. Brooks, it aired on 9/19/1970. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Snow Must Go On".