The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Season 4
Season 4 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 3.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 4 Progress Shield
The Lars Affair
Sep 15, 1973
Phyllis finds out that Lars has been having an affair with Sue Ann Nivens, the star of WJM-TV's The Happy Homemaker show.
Angels in the Snow
Sep 22, 1973
Mary's boyfriend is younger than she is and she and Rhoda discover there is a generation gap when they go and visit his friends at a party.
Rhoda's Sister Gets Married
Sep 29, 1973
Rhoda and Mary fly to New York for Rhoda's younger sister's wedding. Rhoda's mother downplays the whole thing fearing that Rhoda is envious.
The Lou and Edie Story
Oct 6, 1973
On the advice of their marriage counselor, Lou's wife, Edie, decides to move out. Lou is heartbroken by the prospect.
Hi There, Sports Fans
Oct 13, 1973
In this episode Dick Gautier guest stars briefly as Ed Cavenaugh, a sleazy sportscaster. Have a look at his website at Dick Gautier.com. Gordon Jump, later of MTM Enterprises' ""WK
Son of But Seriously Folks
Oct 27, 1973
Mary's former boyfriend, Wes Callison, gets a job in the newsroom but his affection for Mary gets in the way of his work.
Lou's First Date
Nov 3, 1973
Lou gives Mary the task of finding him a date for an awards' ceremony. A name mix-up means that Lou winds up taking out an 80-year-old woman.
Love Blooms at Hemples
Nov 10, 1973
Rhoda begins dating the boss of Hemple's and falls deeply in love with him. She wants to tell him how she feels, but Mary warns her to take things slowly.
The Dinner Party
Nov 17, 1973
Mary invites Congresswoman Geddes to a fancy dinner at her home, trying hard to ensure that everything is perfect.
Just Friends
Nov 24, 1973
Lou is still heartbroken over Edie's departure and asks Mary to help them get back together.
We Want Baxter
Dec 1, 1973
Phyllis persuades Ted to stand for local government. Ted agrees and goes so far as to quit his job at WJM-TV.
I Gave at the Office
Dec 8, 1973
Murray's daughter, Bonnie, is looking for a job and Mary is persuaded into giving her one but Bonnie is not as efficient as everyone had hoped.
Almost a Nun's Story
Dec 15, 1973
Georgette finds Ted making out with a woman in his dressing room. She then decides to enter a nunnery, but the head nun talks her out of it.
Happy Birthday, Lou!
Dec 22, 1973
Lou is closing in on fifty and today is his birthday. Mary can't stand the thought of the now-separated Lou celebrating his birthday all alone, so she arranges a surprise party for
WJM Tries Harder
Jan 5, 1974
Mary begins dating the anchorman from Minneapolis's top news show and becomes ashamed of WJM-TV's smaller news operation.
Cottage for Sale
Jan 12, 1974
Phyllis, who has gotten her real estate license, persuades Lou to sell his house. However, Lou hasn't really made up his mind whether he wants to move.
The Co-Producers
Jan 19, 1974
Mary and Rhoda are given permission to develop a new show for WJM but their dreams begin to fade when they find out that the hosts will be Ted and Sue Ann, who both begin to interf
Best of Enemies
Jan 26, 1974
Rhoda tells the secret of Mary's that she never graduated from college, as she claimed on her job application, and their friendship is suddenly put at risk.
Better Late . . . That's a Pun . . . Than Never
Feb 2, 1974
To relieve her boredom, Mary jokingly writes a humorous obituary of one of the people in the WJM-TV file. Coincidentally, the same person dies the following day and the obituary is
Ted Baxter Meets Walter Cronkite
Feb 9, 1974
After a heavy self-promotion campaign, Ted wins his first Teddy Award. When Walter Cronkite comes to the newsroom, Ted assumes that he will be hired by the networks.
Lou's Second Date
Feb 16, 1974
Lou and Rhoda find they have a lot in common and begin seeing each other on a casual basis but everyone assumes that the romance is serious.
Two Wrongs Don't Make a Writer
Feb 23, 1974
Ted joins Mary at a night-school class in creative writing, and winds up plagiarizing her assignment.
I Was a Single for WJM
Mar 2, 1974
Mary goes to a singles bar to research a documentary, but on the night the crew arrives for filming, the same people who were willing to tell Mary everything don't want to be seen