This ‘show within a show’ focused on the home and working life of television performer Mary McKinnon (Mary Tyler Moore), star of the weekly TV variety series, The Mary McKinnon Show.
The premise of the variety show provided a vehicle for guests to perform, while Mary’s off-camera life and interactions with her colleagues and friends provided the backdrop for the comedy.
Regular characters included Mary McKinnon Show producer Harry (Michael Lombard); writer-director Artie (Ron Rifkin); head writer Mort (Bobby Ramsen); Mary’s secretary, Iris (Joyce Van Patten); her housekeeper Ruby (Dody Goodman); and Ken the usher (Michael Keaton).
Guests on the show included Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, Nancy Walker, Gene Kelly, Johnny Mathis, Hal Linden, Mike Douglas, Linda Lavin, Paul Williams and David Letterman.
The theme tune was an instrumental version of the Mary Tyler Moore Showtheme, Love Is All Around.
Mary McKinnon
Mary Tyler Moore Harry Sinclair
Michael Lombard Iris Chapman
Joyce Van Patten Ken Christy
Michael Keaton Artie Miller
Ron Rifkin Ruby Bell
Dody Goodman Mort Zimmick
Bobby Ramsen
Video
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The premise of the variety show provided a vehicle for guests to perform, while Mary’s off-camera life and interactions with her colleagues and friends provided the backdrop for the comedy.
