MARY TYLER MOORE HOUR, THE {GENE KELLY} (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 arrives in her dressing room and chats with Iris, who reveals that she worked all weekend on various projects of Mary's, wondering what "twist of fate" prevented her from being a star as well, as they'd planned. Harry arrives and asks if she is nervous about performing with her upcoming guest, Gene Kelly. Mary brushes it off, saying she has performed with prominent celebrities before, but Iris unhelpfully reminds her about a disastrous high-school event at which her dance skills proved less than graceful. Elsewhere, Kenny runs into some financial trouble with his car and attempts to borrow money from Mary, who is skeptical.
At the table read, Gene is late and Mary runs through her song-and-dance number with Tony as a stand-in; it goes well until Gene appears to watch, which makes Mary nervous. They read through their comedy scene and a flustered Mary blows her lines, revealing that she is indeed anxious about the dance. Kenny unsuccessfully attempts to weasel money out of Gene as well. At home, Ruby watches her soap operas and asks about Gene, and Mary admits she is nervous. Ruby makes matters worse by telling her about another star who bombed when paired with a famous dancer. Kenny comes by and tries to fleece Ruby, then asks to hide his ill-gotten car in Mary's home.
Mary rehearses her song, a medley of Gene's classic numbers including "Love is Here to Stay" and "Singin' in the Rain." On the set, Gene and Mary express doubts about their makeup for their comedy sketch, but Artie reassures them, overanalyzing Gene's doctor character. They rehearse the corny scene, in which Mary plays a patient with a comically large nose and Gene her incompetent surgeon; Artie gives notes and then says to move on to the song-and-dance number. Mary resists, and Gene notices her nervousness, kindly reassuring her that they will look out for one another. When they begin the dance, however, Mary puts her back out and is unable to move. Kenny takes advantage of the situation and tries to sell the "inside story" to the newspaper.
Harry tells Mary that her symptoms are psychosomatic and tries to snap her out of it. Iris laments that she caused Mary's fear by bringing up all of her musical inadequacies, to which Mary sadly agrees. Mary then talks to Gene and expresses her disappointment; he says he cannot do the dance without her and asks for her help, and as she "shows" him the steps, her back seems to heal and they rehearse normally. The performance goes off without a hitch with Mary and Gene in matching tuxedos. Everyone congratulates them backstage. Kenny then reveals that he managed to extract money from his parents, and Mary thanks Gene for his help and kindness. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: April 1, 1979 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:15
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:51051
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Perry Lafferty … Producer
- Allan Baumrucker … Associate Producer
- Robert Scheerer … Director
- 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
- Tony Stevens … Choreographer
- Sonny Curtis … Theme Music by
- Mary Tyler Moore … Cast, Mary McKinnon
- Dody Goodman … Cast, Ruby
- Michael Keaton … Cast, Kenny
- Michael Lombard … Cast, Harry
- Ron Rifkin … Cast, Artie
- Joyce Van Patten … Cast, Iris
- Gene Kelly … Cast, Himself