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Posted on Jan 26, 2017

13 Times 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' Revolutionized Television

Following Mary Tyler Moore's death on Jan. 25, look back on the important strides she helped make in television.

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The Scene @SCENE

This was *1974*
Wed Jan 25 20:43:57 UTC+0000 2017
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Even in 1974, Mary made it clear that she wasn't here for men dictating what women did with their bodies. If a woman didn't want a kid, that was her prerogative, and damn if a man was going to question that.

The gender wage gap has been a hot topic in Hollywood as of late, but Mary was an OG when it came to asking for her rightful cut. Upon discovering her male co-worker had been making $50 more than her per week, she marched right into her boss's office to confront him. Skip to the 3:50 mark to watch her stand up for her work. — Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

The gender wage gap has been a hot topic in Hollywood as of late, but Mary was an OG when it came to asking for her rightful cut. Upon discovering her male co-worker had been making $50 more than her per week, she marched right into her boss's office to confront him. Skip to the 3:50 mark to watch her stand up for her work.

Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

The gender wage gap has been a hot topic in Hollywood as of late, but Mary was an OG when it came to asking for her rightful cut. Upon discovering her male co-worker had been making $50 more than her per week, she marched right into her boss's office to confront him. Skip to the 3:50 mark to watch her stand up for her work.

When Mary's co-worker tried to tell her she may not be "experienced" enough to mentor young women, she wasn't shy about her sexual history. "I’m hardly innocent. I’ve been around. Well, all right I might not have been around. But I’ve been nearby," she said, showing women don't have to be married to have a sex life. Scroll to the 3:30 mark to watch. — mtmepisodes / Via youtube.com

When Mary's co-worker tried to tell her she may not be "experienced" enough to mentor young women, she wasn't shy about her sexual history. "I’m hardly innocent. I’ve been around. Well, all right I might not have been around. But I’ve been nearby," she said, showing women don't have to be married to have a sex life. Scroll to the 3:30 mark to watch.

mtmepisodes / Via youtube.com

When Mary's co-worker tried to tell her she may not be "experienced" enough to mentor young women, she wasn't shy about her sexual history. "I’m hardly innocent. I’ve been around. Well, all right I might not have been around. But I’ve been nearby," she said, showing women don't have to be married to have a sex life. Scroll to the 3:30 mark to watch.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show slipped a casual remark about birth control into a season three episode. As Mary's mother was heading out the door, she called back, "Don't forget to take your pill," to which both Mary and her father both shouted, "I won't!" It's a subtle mention, but it proved the series was willing to bring up issues many others weren't. Catch it around 18:38. — Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

The Mary Tyler Moore Show slipped a casual remark about birth control into a season three episode. As Mary's mother was heading out the door, she called back, "Don't forget to take your pill," to which both Mary and her father both shouted, "I won't!" It's a subtle mention, but it proved the series was willing to bring up issues many others weren't. Catch it around 18:38.

Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

The Mary Tyler Moore Show slipped a casual remark about birth control into a season three episode. As Mary's mother was heading out the door, she called back, "Don't forget to take your pill," to which both Mary and her father both shouted, "I won't!" It's a subtle mention, but it proved the series was willing to bring up issues many others weren't. Catch it around 18:38.

One day, Mr. Grant (Ed Asner) came into the office feeling ashamed about a one night stand, but Mary wasn't phased. "I think you're really being much too hard on yourself. So you were with someone, so what? What's done is done," she said. That may be par for the course on modern television, but it was a big deal in the '70s, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show helped demonstrate there was nothing wrong with two consenting adults sharing an overnight fling. — mtmepisodes / Via youtube.com

One day, Mr. Grant (Ed Asner) came into the office feeling ashamed about a one night stand, but Mary wasn't phased. "I think you're really being much too hard on yourself. So you were with someone, so what? What's done is done," she said. That may be par for the course on modern television, but it was a big deal in the '70s, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show helped demonstrate there was nothing wrong with two consenting adults sharing an overnight fling.

mtmepisodes / Via youtube.com

One day, Mr. Grant (Ed Asner) came into the office feeling ashamed about a one night stand, but Mary wasn't phased. "I think you're really being much too hard on yourself. So you were with someone, so what? What's done is done," she said. That may be par for the course on modern television, but it was a big deal in the '70s, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show helped demonstrate there was nothing wrong with two consenting adults sharing an overnight fling.

When Moore starred on The Dick Van Dyke Show, she and her TV husband had been made to sleep in separate beds. But the Mary writers made sure to squash the outdated notion that women — especially single women — had to be chaste. In a season six episode, Mary went out on a date and returned home the next morning in the same clothes. Check it out at 15:30. — Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

When Moore starred on The Dick Van Dyke Show, she and her TV husband had been made to sleep in separate beds. But the Mary writers made sure to squash the outdated notion that women — especially single women — had to be chaste. In a season six episode, Mary went out on a date and returned home the next morning in the same clothes. Check it out at 15:30.

Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

When Moore starred on The Dick Van Dyke Show, she and her TV husband had been made to sleep in separate beds. But the Mary writers made sure to squash the outdated notion that women — especially single women — had to be chaste. In a season six episode, Mary went out on a date and returned home the next morning in the same clothes. Check it out at 15:30.

After her potential employer inappropriately hounded her with personal questions like her age and marital status, Mary didn't hesitate to challenge him, and you best believe she got the job. Watch her stand her ground at 5:30. — Todd Peterson / Via youtube.com

After her potential employer inappropriately hounded her with personal questions like her age and marital status, Mary didn't hesitate to challenge him, and you best believe she got the job. Watch her stand her ground at 5:30.

Todd Peterson / Via youtube.com

After her potential employer inappropriately hounded her with personal questions like her age and marital status, Mary didn't hesitate to challenge him, and you best believe she got the job. Watch her stand her ground at 5:30.

Adding to the show's inclusion of then-taboo characters, Rhoda (Valerie Harper) once went out with Phyllis' (Cloris Leachman) gay brother (Robert Moore), and they were both totally fine with it. Watch their exchange around 23:30. — Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

Adding to the show's inclusion of then-taboo characters, Rhoda (Valerie Harper) once went out with Phyllis' (Cloris Leachman) gay brother (Robert Moore), and they were both totally fine with it. Watch their exchange around 23:30.

Willie Nelsen / Via youtube.com

Adding to the show's inclusion of then-taboo characters, Rhoda (Valerie Harper) once went out with Phyllis' (Cloris Leachman) gay brother (Robert Moore), and they were both totally fine with it. Watch their exchange around 23:30.

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