Mary Tyler Moore Tackles Antisemitism

Some of My Best Friends Are Rhoda
Season 2, Episode 23 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

[@ddmck1972]

At 1:15, Mary wasn't stupid and figured out how Joanne was doing all that she could to prevent Rhoda from playing tennis with them. Then it was brilliant thinking on Mary's part when she lied to Joanne about being Jewish, and finally when she stopped Joanne from leaving without paying her. If I were Mary, I would hurry to the bank before Joanne closes the account, especially after trying to lowball her on the amount.

[@leonoranicolaysen2784]

I love how Mary was just seamless in defending Rhoda and standing on principle. This is one of my favorite episodes ever.

[@radamik]

Well maybe. But it was obvious that Joann was not brimming with hatred. Mary was very all or nothing and ready to pounce. And the game playing was in bad taste. On the other hand: acknowledging the flaws in human nature is a form of defeatism.

[@wotan10950]

This was a fascinating episode, especially back then. MTM herself had doubts about the subject matter - she didn’t think that that’s what her show was about, and political topics belonged on shows like All in the Family. But after all these decades, it’s appropriate to show that beneath the surface camaraderie was a pernicious hate. And it’s worse now.

[@greeneyedwarlock882]

You COULD NOT BE MORE RIGHT!!!

[@matthewguilliom6933]

Not only is it worse now, it's more dangerous. As in harder to detect or prove! 1:28

[@unowen-nh9ov]

MTM did lots of issue episodes, free speech (she went to jail), birth control, equal pay, single woman news producer living alone was feminist every episode, her co. changed network television as much as Lear's did.

[@19ccj65]

One of my favorite MTM episodes.

[@1959Parker]

I never understood the feeble mindset of people who are afraid of a religion or people.

[@RogersGirl88]

And yet everybody can slam christians and get away with it. Hypocrisy is funny like that.

[@joeblow4353]

The lesson of this video is that MTM looks amazing in that outfit.

[@Tanji20251]

Lol

[@unowen-nh9ov]

When she vamps Mr. Grant in the green wedding gown? Hilarious.

[@leonoranicolaysen2784]

What an idiot.

[@leonoranicolaysen2784]

You totally missed the lesson.

[@GaryM-d6i]

I didn't realize until I heard her voice that that is Mary Frann who used to be on Newhart.

[@mslinda8456]

"You are the company you keep", Joann

[@robertjohnson1602]

So ahead of its time - who wouldn't want a friend like Mary. She dealt with that horrible person appropriately.

[@brandonallen3808]

Mary looks soooooo good in that tennis skirt.

[@Tanji20251]

She did

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Lifetime dancer, they did sight gag of her exercising with Rhoda & Phyllis.

[@alancorley6455]

Brilliant - nearly half a century ago

[@ponyclub3198]

I'm Jewish and never encountered antisemitism to my face. It's a strange feeling to see this videos. Not sure how I'd react personally to such a situation.

[@jeffreyclarke736]

It's anti Zionism not anti Jewish. It always has been. There's a difference. So stop gaslighting us.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

💩

[@davedaves3489]

@@jeffreyclarke736 u obviously dont know the difference u r just spouting nonsense youve heard. Just an uneducated ding dong.

[@style_icon997]

​​@@jeffreyclarke736stop being racist!

[@fashionofthechrist]

@@jeffreyclarke736hey look ponyclub3198, someone helped you experience your first antisemitic encounter!

[@donatoperl4841]

In one sense, since the sliminess has risen more to the surface, we have a better chance of calling it out for what it truly is. And we have an obligation to do that. To call it out!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Guess you don't read the News.

[@LuzMaria95]

this scene wasn’t as powerful as the one with Dorothy in the Golden Girls. i still liked it tho.

[@nassauguy48]

However, Dorothy's friend was not really anti-Semitic. She belonged to that club just for its amenities and prestige. She even offered to go to another restaurant with Sophia's Jewish date as part of the group. Mary's friend was sinister! She really showed her hatred toward Rhoda.

[@LuzMaria95]

@@nassauguy48 it’s wrong to be part of a club like that. that’s the whole point.

[@florinest]

b

[@unowen-nh9ov]

This is YEARS earlier.

[@adamcole4623]

It was more groundbreaking though, given how much earlier it aired.

[@musicizgood4830]

Mary Frann looks absolutely gorgeous here. I always liked her acting and looks. May she rest in peace 🙏

[@CrowsAreMurder]

Although her character is an awful person can we just appreciate how GEORGEOUS Mary Frann was?

[@nassauguy48]

The Golden Girls would later reprise this theme. The one big difference is that in The Golden Girls, Barbara Thorndike (Dorothy's friend) was just a hypocritical liberal writer who belonged to a restricted club for its amenities and its prestige. I don't think she was an anti-Semite, and she offered to go to another restaurant with Sophia's Jewish date as part of the group. THIS episode is disturbing. Mary's friend treated Rhoda like dirt, and she even grimaced just when hearing her name mentioned. She was probably even lying about the tennis club being restricted.

[@MrRJMGREEN]

That was one of their best episodes. Blanche really knew how to diagnose Barbara. She cared more about words than she did people. I loved that episode. I think we have all been in a situation where one of our buddies was left out. I loved that episode!!!

[@CornvilleConsigliere]

Just came from that short hahaha ✌️

[@Daniel-xg3ul]

Same

[@PhilMoskowitz]

I was telling someone the other day that liberals used to make fun of liberals in a way they don't do today. They take themselves so serious and self righteous these days.

[@starlite025]

That short brought me here as well because one of the comments mentioned this episode…I agree, I don’t think Barbara was antisemitic, she was just a bitch 😂 I do remember seeing this episode years ago as a teenager when it was on Nick At Nite

[@jackbeyda835]

Mary Tyler Mensch

[@nassauguy48]

LOL. Mary's friend said that she went to Northwestern, but with her attitude toward Jews, she sounded like she came out of Harvard or Yale.

[@christophertracy2807]

Mary never did this for a black friend because she didn't have one. Gordy passed through the newsroom a few times but that was about it in the MTM universe

[@westfieldartworks8188]

MTM tackles hotness in a tennis uniform, that's for damn sure.

[@wacmack]

Mary!

[@jlbaker2000]

Joanne had poor character across the board.

[@misterhot9163]

I always thought that The Golden Girls ripped off this episode somewhat, with Dorothy’s friend Barbara Thorndyke who was the same type as Joanne.

[@eduardodifarnecio2336]

Are there any Jewish ladies named Mary?

[@SR-ep1bf]

There are a few Jewish Mary's but not many.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Jesus's Mom.

[@eduardodifarnecio2336]

@@unowen-nh9ov nice try

[@drewsiegel7976]

Eduardo- Mary was Jewish. She was travelling to Nazareth for the census imposed by the Romans to count the Jewish population.

[@eduardodifarnecio2336]

@@drewsiegel7976there isn’t a single Mary in the Old Testament.

[@davidking8361]

This particular episode always makes me feel uncomfortable. It is more suited to 'All in the Family' than 'Mary Tyler Moore'. I never saw Mary as being some kind of warrior for cultural or religious justice. As a child, I never knew, nor would have cared, that Rhoda was Jewish. As an adult, I still could care less. Pegging Rhoda as Jewish has nothing to do with comedy; it is gratuitous drama. I do admire how Mary sticks up for her friend though, and she certainly does it with attitude, style and quick-thinking! But alas, this put me in mind of Fonzie ("pass the salt!") from 'Happy Days', who once tried to combat black racism, armed only with his own singular brute force and leather jacket. These types of episodes, for me, take on a sour and tawdry tone. ('All in the Family' excluded!) While I greatly admire the message portrayed here by MTM, I feel a greater statement could have been made. Allow Rhoda's background to remain under the radar for the entirety of the series...because Rhoda is certainly not different at all from the gang. She's quirky, funny, cynical and delightful...and if many fans couldn't tell she was Jewish, well, hooray! God Bless Rhoda.

[@MrSerpent60]

if it were up to me. this bit. annnd. 'I'm JEWISH.' mtm good on you.

[@stridedude]

Tackles ?

[@christophertracy2807]

Mary Frann has always been super hot

[@josephsarto689]

This episode was written by Steven pritzker who is the same type of person as Rhoda. The people running things, still claiming to be victims lol

[@popcultureclub951]

Fact is that Jewish people were still banned from a lot of country clubs in 1972, as well as other minorities. This was a good opportunity to shed light on an injustice to make a difference, and one of the first of its kind. Antisemitic judgement exists today (e.g. your comment). Just because they're "running things" doesn't mean the whole world accepts them. And it definitely doesn't mean they're immune to being victimized. A victim is someone who has been affected negatively by another's actions. Anyone could relate to that. “You may have the world at your feet, but that don’t stop the corns from hurting.”

[@jednick]

Aren't you late for the cross burning?

[@terriw919fyi]

You're clueless.