The gang had decided that it was time to end the series. They did not want to limp out and be cancelled by the network - the show probably would have run for at least three more seasons.
This episode is absurdist perfection. The expected ending is Mary leaving WJM and Minneapolis to take a job at a network news department in NYC or Mary finds the perfect guy and get married and retire to start a family. But what they did is something totally unexpected and gut wrenchingly funny.
WJM gets bought out and the new owner decided to revamp the entire station. So he decides to get rid of the dead wood and keep the star performers. So that means get rid of Lou, Murray, Mary and Sue Anne and keep the great Ted Baxter.
This devistates Mary and decides to cheer her up by flying in her two best friends Rhoda and Phyliss. This scene will have you laughing and crying at the same time. The final scene with the cast leaving the newsroom for the final time is the best scene, you just don't know what to do!
As I said this episode set the standard for Series Finales and even Final Seasons.moreless
AIRED:
Personnel changes occur in the executive department and when they want WJM News to be the highest-ranked in Minneapolis, everyone except Ted Baxter is fired.
 Mary Tyler Moore |
Mary Richards |
 Edward Asner |
Lou Grant |
 Gavin MacLeod |
Murray Slaughter |
Ted Knight |
Ted Baxter |
Georgia Engel |
Georgette Franklin Baxter |
 Betty White |
Sue Ann Nivens |
 Valerie Harper |
Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard |
Guest Star |
 Cloris Leachman |
Phyllis Lindstrom |
Guest Star |
Robbie Rist |
David Baxter |
Guest Star |
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (2)
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Lou Grant: I treasure you people.
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Mary: I just wanted you to know that sometimes I get concerned about being a career woman. I get to thinking my job is too important to me, and I tell myself that the people I work with are just the people I work with. And not my family. And last night, I thought, 'what is a family, anyway?' They're just people who make you feel less alone...and really loved. And that's what you've done for me. Thank you for being my family.
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NOTES (4)
ADD NOTES-
Rhoda, Phyllis and Mary are together again for the first time in 3 years.
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The song at the end was "It's a Long Way to Tipperary". (Consequently, the distance between Minneapolis, MN and Tipperary, Ireland is 3,685 miles.)
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The original airing of this episode featured a curtain call before the closing credits. It has not been seen in syndication, nor on home video since.
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This episode won the 1977 Emmy for Best Writing in a Comedy Series, the show's fourth in a row and fifth in seven years.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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Sue Ann Nivens -Maybe I am a little crazy for asking but...
04/19/123
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Theme Song
01/18/1211
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Character with Whom You Most Identify
10/05/116
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Season 7 DVD Announced - Final Curtain Call Will Be Included!
11/07/102
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Season 6 now on DVD.
02/03/101
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Last Show
S 7 : Ep 24
Aired 3/19/77 (26:00)
-
Lou Dates Mary
S 7 : Ep 23
Aired 3/12/77 (26:00)
-
Mary's Big Party
S 7 : Ep 22
Aired 3/5/77 (26:00)
-
Mary's Three Husbands
S 7 : Ep 21
Aired 2/26/77 (26:00)
Season 7 Episodes
See AllEp 24
The Last Show
Ep 24
Last Show
Ep 23
Lou Dates Mary
Ep 22
Mary's Big Party
Ep 21
Mary's Three Husbands
Ep 20
Murray Ghosts for Ted
Ep 19
Mary and the Sexagenarian
Ep 18
Hail the Conquering Gordy
Ep 17
Sue Ann Gets the Ax
Ep 16
The Ted and Georgette Show
Ep 15
Lou's Army Reunion
Ep 14
The Critic
Ep 13
Look at Us, We're Walking
Ep 12
Ted's Temptation
Ep 11
Mary's Insomnia
Ep 10
Murray Can't Lose
Ep 9
Lou Proposes
Ep 8
Mary Gets a Lawyer
Ep 7
My Son, the Genius
Ep 6
One Producer Too Many
Ep 5
Ted's Change of Heart
Ep 4
What's Wrong with Swimm...
Ep 3
Sue Ann's Sister
Ep 2
Mary the Writer
Ep 1
Mary Midwife
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