Side-By-Side: Both "Mary Tyler Moore Show" Pilot Episodes

[@lindacreesy3909]

best tv comedy ever. we love and miss you Mary

[@stephaniestanley8041]

The difference between the promo and the CBS version is even though both filmed, the actual version was in front of a live audience so the pace, staging, camera shots, blocking and timing changed, making it an interaction between audience and actors.

[@crunchygods]

True! Asner actually smiles while saying "You've got spunk" on the series premiere, which suggests that he was being playfully gruff instead of angry gruff. Thanks for putting these together!

[@christopherlucas4620]

That angry gleam in his eye after he delivers the “I hate spunk” line was so much better than the pilot. I can see why they rewrote the pilot and changed the tone.

[@JM-zk9ou]

I bought an executive level viewing package for the Ed Asner Foundation's table reading of It's A Wonderful Life a few years back. One of the items I got was a T-shirt that had "You've got spunk" on the front with a picture of Lou. The back says "I hate spunk." I was about to put it on to go to the store one day when I realized that without context of the front of the shirt and for people who never saw the episode, it likely would be taken very differently. It's still in my closet, but I love it. I do wear my Bailey Brothers Building and Loan t-shirt that I also got with the ticket package every Christmas.

[@bentleymrk]

Ed Asner had not quite hit that delicate balance between gruff and lovable in the pilot. By the series premiere, he was closer to the Lou Grant that we got to know, but I imagine viewers in 1970 were leaning towards "wow, what a jerk of a boss." When he shows up, drunk, at Mary's apartment not long after, the perception was probably even more negative... until we find out it's because he misses his wife, and we start to think this character is actually more complex than it appears. Asner did a remarkable job with this role. He was an immensely talented actor.

[@roncarr333]

I saw the Valerie Harper interview where she said that Rhoda was too dislikeable, as well, in the original pilot.

[@richparsons4205]

Much of the reason the second one is far superior is the look of the office, the camera angles and that Lou stayed behind his desk, so he appeared less threatening. I read the reason why the test audience didn't think the scene was funny is because of Ed Asner, and the producers didn't like him either, until he went back for a second chance.

[@joksal9108]

You can see why the test audiences hated the pilot. Lou comes across too harsh towards the character the whole show is built around.

[@williamashton9235]

As it aired, Lou stayed seated until the "spunk" speech, which established the character as gruff but not threatening. He got out and walked around too much in the earlier version, emphasizing how big he was.

[@Canada-q6y]

Good

[@johnm3894]

So ABC ran with it first? CBS ran the MTM Show from start to finish. ABC must have kicked themselves for not picking it up.

[@petervance6777]

also missed out on “all in the family”😦

[@robcat2075]

This was probably just one of many bad-looking shows ABC had being pitched to them at the time.

[@jehobden]

I think that may be a typo. I've always thought CBS had this from the start, mainly from Mary's strong performance the previous year w/ her former co-star in "Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman", which CBS ran in place of Ed Sullivan's show on Sunday, Apr. 13, 1969.

[@tonyadamis4171]

@@jehobdenYou've got it right. CBS had it from the start, a 13-episode commitment without even a story premise or pilot. The Van Dyke special was such a hit that the execs at CBS thought a show with her would have a strong appeal.

[@jetuber]

I really prefer the original version. It seems more naturalistic (as far as comedy can be). And Mary's character seems more endearing here. Also the tighter physical interaction between the characters works to the scene's advantage.