Jay Sandrich Movies

Patte Finley, who later played Bob Hartley's sister, Ellen, on The Bob Newhart Show, guest stars as Twinks, an all-but-forgotten childhood pal of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore). Though the effervescent, syrupy-sweet Twinks ingratiates herself with the WJM newsroom staff, she quickly proves to be an obnoxious pest. The limit comes when she takes advantage of her past relationship with Mary by dragging her into being maid of honor at Twinks' wedding (Mary's "Little Bo Peep" ensemble is priceless). "A Friend in Deed" originally aired on February 20, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Evidently, when Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) had her tonsils removed as a child, it didn't "take"; the tonsils grew back, and the grown-up heroine winds up in the hospital for a belated second operation. An already embarrassing situation becomes downright uncomfortable when Mary shares her hospital room with Loretta Kuhne (Pat Carroll), a confirmed sourpuss who refuses to be friendly no matter how hard her perky roommate tries to win her over. In the end, the mean-spirited Loretta "wins" the battle of wills -- or does she? "Hi" was originally broadcast on February 6, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) has been stood up on dates before, but never with such consistency. That's the situation which prevails, when, while doing volunteer work for the government, Mary accepts a dinner invitation from a handsome Governor's aide. Trouble is, at the last moment, the aide finds himself too busy to take her out and remains too busy the next several times he asks her out. "The Five-minute Dress" first aired on January 1, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Though no big fans of John Wayne, Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) and Rhoda (Valerie Harper) agree to accompany Lou (Edward Asner) to a local screening of the Duke's latest picture. The ladies soon wish they had stayed at home; upon arriving at the theater, Lou sees his son-in-law sitting next to the proverbial "other woman." Instantly going into a deep blue funk over his son-in-law's presumed infidelity, Lou needs all the moral support that poor Mary and Rhoda can provide. "The Six-and-a-Half Year Itch" initially aired on November 27, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Another crisis hits the WJM newsroom when two TV unions go on strike at once. Boss Lou Grant (Edward Asner) is only mildly upset that troublesome anchorman Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) is on the picket line, but he really begins to worry when newswriter Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod) likewise refuses to show up for work. The result is, Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) is pressed into service writing copy -- and Lou is obliged to read the news on the air, a job he can only face up to when fortified with booze. "Thoroughly Unmilitant Mary" originally aired on November 6, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Vainglorious newscaster Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) refuses to go on his union-dictated vacation. The reason is, he is worried that he'll be replaced by whoever substitutes for him on "The Six O'Clock News." When he's forced to accept his first vacation in years, Ted's worst fears apparently come to pass when replacement anchorman Rod Porter (Jed Allen) sends the newscast's ratings soaring. Prolific cartoon voice-over artist William Woodson is appropriately cast as "The Big Voice Man." "And Now, Sitting in for Ted" was first telecast on November 13, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A typically heavy Minnesota snowstorm leaves Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) in charge of the WJM-TV newsroom during an election-night telecast. The rules stipulate that the show must remain on the air until a winner is declared; unfortunately, the blizzard has knocked out all telephone lines, so no one knows who's winning or losing. As anchorman Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) ad-libs hysterically and Mary's pal, Rhoda (Valerie Harper), "voluntarily" runs the tally board, Mary must not only contend with the disaster at hand, but also several WJM-TV personalities who are none too pleased that the election coverage has pre-empted their programs. "The Snow Must Go On" was originally broadcast on November 7, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Big-hearted Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) offers to substitute for the WJM-TV employee who normally mans the studio's newsroom on Christmas Eve. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but before long, she is desperately lonely for human companionship. Henry Corden, longtime voice of cartoon character Fred Flintstone, makes an appearance (sort of). "Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid" was originally broadcast on December 19, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Invited to deliver a speech at Phyllis' club, bombastic newscaster Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) tries to "wing it" without a script -- and, to no one's surprise, fails miserably. As a result, poor, pompous Ted loses all of his self-confidence. It falls to Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) to pull Ted back together before his next newscast. Bill Fiore, a familiar presence on TV commercials of the 1970s, appears as Dave Curson. "Anchorman Overboard" was first broadcast on December 5, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When a youthful WJM-TV employee refers to Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) as "ma'am," the unattached 30-year-old heroine suddenly feels like an old maid. Rhoda (Valerie Harper) likewise begins wondering if she'll ever escape single-hood. To make themselves feel better, Mary and Rhoda hold a party for two of their erstwhile boyfriends. Richard Schaal, the then husband of co-star Valerie Harper, makes the first of several Mary Tyler Moore Show guest appearances. "Today I am a Ma'am" was originally telecast on September 26, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) accepts a date from Eric Mathews (Hamilton Camp), a charming and personable young writer. There's only one hitch: Eric is several inches shorter than Mary. Will she go through with the date, or can it be that she is a closet "height bigot?" As a furtive, crouching Mary tries to "walk shorter" around her apartment, Rhoda (Valerie Harper) asks "Where are Harpo and Chico?" Jay Sandrich won an Emmy award for his direction of "Toulouse-Lautrec Is One of My Favorite Artists," which originally aired on October 31, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The pilot for the long-running CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show was seen on February 15, 1960, as an episode of The Danny Thomas Show, "Danny Meets Andy Griffith." As originally conceived, Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) was not only the sheriff of the sleepy North Carolina town of Mayberry, but he was also the mayor, justice of the peace, and newspaper editor. Child actor Ronny Howard (who, as Ron Howard, would in adulthood enjoy a spectacularly successful career as a film director) was seen in the pilot as the widowed Andy's son Opie, but Frances Bavier played an entirely different role than she would in the actual series, while Frank Cady rather than Hal Smith was cast as town drunk Otis Campbell. While there would be changes in concept and casting, the laid-back character of Andy Taylor "clicked" with TV audiences, ensuring that The Andy Griffith Show would join the Monday night CBS lineup come October 3, 1960. Introduced as regulars during season one were of course Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard, and Frances Bavier (now as Aunt Bee, housekeeper for Andy and Opie Taylor), with the significant and salutary addition of Don Knotts as Andy's tightly wound deputy Barney Fife. The rapport between Andy and Barney contributed mightily to the series' success during its shakedown season, with nominal leading character Andy often voluntarily taking a back seat to Barney's overzealous antics. Subsequent additions to the cast included Jim Nabors as bucolic gas station attendant Gomer Pyle (later spun off into his own series, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.); George Lindsey as Gomer's cousin, Goober Pyle; Howard McNear as dithery barber Floyd Lawson; and Hal Smith as the aforementioned Otis Campbell. Taking advantage of Andy Taylor's widower status, the series' writers tried to pair the character off with a number of eligible young ladies, beginning in the first season with Elinor Donahue as drugstore sales clerk Ellie Walker. But only when Aneta Corsaut joined the cast as Opie's schoolteacher Helen Crump did Andy find the "right" girl. Indeed, Andy and Helen would become engaged during the series' final season. Conversely, Barney Fife had but one steady girlfriend, Thelma Lou, played by Betty Lynn.
Don Knotts left the series at the outset of its sixth season (the show switched from black-and-white to color at the same time); it was explained that Barney had accepted a deputy position in Raleigh, permitting Knotts to make a handful of memorable return guest appearances. Barney was briefly replaced by Deputy Warren Ferguson, played by Jack Burns; later on, Goober Pyle became Andy's unofficial deputy. The post-Don Knotts episodes brought forth several other new recurring characters: Jack Dodson as town clerk Howard Sprague, Paul Hartman as handyman Emmet Clark, and Hope Summers as Aunt Bee's best friend, Clara. During the Emmy-winning series' eighth season, Andy Griffith decided to leave the show. At this point, Ken Berry was added to the cast as widowed farmer and later town councilman Sam Jones, with Buddy Foster as Sam's son Mike and Arlene Golonka as Sam's girlfriend, Millie Hutchins. After the final telecast of The Andy Griffith Show on September 16, 1968, the series continued for three additional seasons under the title Mayberry RFD, with Ken Berry taking over as star and with most of the familiar Andy Griffith Show supporting characters still in attendance. One of the most consistently popular sitcoms of all time, The Andy Griffith Show lasted 249 half-hour episodes, and also spawned the high-rated 1986 TV movie Return to Mayberry. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi