MARY TYLER MOORE HOUR, THE {BEA ARTHUR} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy/variety programs about Mary McKinnon, the host of a weekly television variety show.
In this episode, Mary greets the week's guest star, Bea Arthur, who quickly convinces Mary to accept her as a "roomie" in her large dressing room. Elsewhere, Harry scolds Kenny for relentlessly flirting with attractive female guests during set tours, and Mary rehearses "I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man" onstage. Bea strong-arms her into signing a petition regarding the rights of the elderly, and they are soon joined by Benny Baxter, a former vaudeville star desperate to make a comeback. They begin to rehearse a "classic other-woman" scene, in which Bea portrays Benny's "aging wife" and Mary his younger mistress, but Benny begins ad-libbing corny jokes and slapstick comedy, greatly annoying both women.
Later, Bea declares that Benny should be fired, though Iris states that Mary is "too nice" to let the elderly performer go. Kenny continues flirting with every woman on the set as Bea rehearses "Everything Happens to Me." Benny offers to perform some goofy humor during the song, further aggravating the actress. Harry agrees that Benny has to go, but he pressures Mary into breaking the bad news herself. Mary regretfully tells Benny that his performance style does not work within the show, but her guilt soon gets the better of her; she offers him a smaller part in a different sketch and begs him to go along with the director's decisions. Mary and Bea rehearse the scene, in which Bea plays a tough warden and Mary a prisoner in a Southern women's jail. Benny, playing a guard, cannot stop himself from returning to his old ways.
At home, Mary asks Crystal if she is indeed "too nice," but Crystal points out that she fired Benny with appropriate ruthlessness. Bea then arrives unexpectedly with a tour group of senior citizens in tow. Mary, exasperated with the early-morning visit, finally puts her foot down and orders them to leave her home. During the show, Mary and Bea resolve their dispute as they sing "You're the Top," though Mary finds that a familiar face has landed a role on Crystal's favorite soap opera. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: March 11, 1979 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 113647
- GENRE: Comedy; Musical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Musical
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Perry Lafferty … Producer
- Allan Baumrucker … Associate Producer
- Robert Scheerer … Director
- Arnie Kogen … Writer
- David Axlerod … Writer
- Stan Burns … Writer
- Peter Gallay … Writer
- Carol Gary … Writer
- Gary Jacobs … Writer
- Coslough Johnson … Writer
- Patricia Jones … Writer
- Donald Reiker … Writer
- Pat Proft … Writer
- Aubrey Tadman … Writer
- Garry Ferrier … Writer
- Sonny Curtis … Theme Music by
- Tony Stevens … Choreographer
- Mary Tyler Moore … Cast, Mary McKinnon
- Michael Keaton … Cast, Kenny Christy
- Michael Lombard … Cast, Harry Sinclair
- Ron Rifkin … Cast, Artie Miller
- Doris Roberts … Cast, Crystal
- Joyce Van Patten … Cast, Iris Chapman
- Howard Morris … Cast, Benny Baxter
- Bea Arthur … Cast, Herself