James L. Brooks, co-creator The Mary Tyler Moore Show« , recently opened up about what surprised him most about working with Mary Tyler Moore and admitted that she once got angry with him.
On Sunday, May 31, Brooks received the Industry Icon Award at the Peabody Awards in Beverly Hills, California. The legendary television producer, director, and screenwriter spoke with People magazine on the red carpet before heading to the event at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Brooks, 86, creator The Mary Tyler Moore Show« along with Allan Burns, he shared one thing that surprised him about Moore, who died in 2017 at the age of 80. "She never abused her position," he shared. "Never. Never." Instead, Moore always acted like "a member of the cast.".
However, Brooks did recount one instance where Moore was dissatisfied with him—and it occurred during the final episode, titled "The Late Show." As the title suggests, the entire WJM-TV newsroom staff was fired (except Ted Baxter, played by Ted Knight) when the station was taken over by new owners. The episode ended with everyone in the newsroom saying goodbye, but initially, only Moore's farewell was heard.
«"We had a lot of events where people were saying goodbye, and we completely forgot about her," Brooks admitted.
«"I don't know what happened to us. We just worked so hard," Brooks explained, noting that it was "the only time she came into the office." He added that coming up with the perfect farewell for Moore was "a challenge," but they "managed to get it right.".
At the crucial moment, Moore delivered a short monologue that perfectly summed up the show.
«"I just wanted you to know that sometimes I worry about my job. I feel like my job is too important to me. And I tell myself that the people I work with are just that, the people I work with, not my family," she told her colleagues. "And last night I thought: What is family anyway? It's just people who make you feel less alone and truly loved. And that's exactly what you've done for me. Thank you for being my family.".
The Mary Tyler Moore Show« aired for seven seasons, from 1970 to 1977. In addition to Moore and Knight, the sitcom starred Ed Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Georgia Engel, and Betty White.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show« Available for viewing on Philo.
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