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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 9.4/10

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 4 Episode 7 - Son of But Seriously Folks
    6.4/10(199 votes)

    S4:E7

    Mary's former boyfriend, Wes Callison, gets a job in the newsroom but his affection for Mary gets in the way of his work.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. 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

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  3. 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

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  4. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 15 - Howard's Girl
    6.8/10(272 votes)

    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

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  5. 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

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  6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 13 - He's All Yours
    6.9/10(281 votes)

    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

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  7. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 24 - His Two Right Arms
    6.9/10(223 votes)

    S2:E24

    Mary gets city councilman Pete Peterson to appear on Face the People and discovers that he is completely incompetent. She and his aides try to bring him up to speed on current events so he can make a good impression on the show.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Arnold Margolin

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  8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 6 Episode 11 - Mary Richards Falls in Love
    7.0/10(191 votes)

    S6:E11

    Mary is convinced she has really fallen in love, but her boyfriend seems reluctant in saying those three magic words, 'I love you'.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 5 - Keep Your Guard Up
    7.1/10(335 votes)

    S1:E5

    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:Steven Pritzker

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  10. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 2 - I Am Curious Cooper
    7.1/10(230 votes)

    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

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  11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 20 - The Care and Feeding of Parents
    7.1/10(196 votes)

    S2:E20

    Bess gets top marks for a report she wrote for school, and Phyllis pressures her to write a book based on it, calling on Mary for help.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Dick Clair

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  12. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3 Episode 10 - Have I Found a Guy for You
    7.1/10(210 votes)

    S3:E10

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. 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

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  14. 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

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  15. 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

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  16. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 6 Episode 4 - Murray In Love
    7.1/10(188 votes)

    S6:E4

    Murray realizes that he's always been in love with Mary and wants desperately to tell her.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:David Lloyd

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  17. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 6 Episode 14 - One Boyfriend Too Many
    7.1/10(190 votes)

    S6:E14

    Mary's old flame Dan Whitfield, who once proposed to her, returns to Minneapolis and she's forced to choose between him and her current boyfriend.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:David Lloyd

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  18. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 10 - Don't Break the Chain
    7.2/10(220 votes)

    S2:E10

    Mary gets a chain letter from Lou, and she is persuaded to send it on. To her surprise, one of the recipients comes for a visit, giving Mary a less than pleasant time dealing with him.

    Director:Jerry Paris
    Writer:Lorenzo Music

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  19. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episode 15 - The Five-Minute Dress
    7.2/10(201 votes)

    S2:E15

    After volunteering some of her spare time for a worthy cause, Mary begins dating the Governor's aide. Unfortunately, the aide's duties cause him to break every date.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. 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

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  21. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 7 Episode 7 - My Son, the Genius
    7.2/10(164 votes)

    S7:E7

    Ted and Georgette are initially disturbed to find that their son, David, is not doing well at school, but a psychiatrist's test shows that he is a genius. Unfortunately, David lets this go to his head and takes advantage of Ted.

    Director:Joan Darling
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 23 - Smokey the Bear Wants You
    7.3/10(251 votes)

    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

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  23. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 Episode 24 - The 45-Year-Old Man
    7.3/10(240 votes)

    S1:E24

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

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:George Kirgo

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  24. 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

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  25. 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

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Son of But Seriously Folks" is the worst rated episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". It scored 6.4/10 based on 199 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/27/1973. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Romeo and Mary".