The tribute originally appeared inEntertainment Weeklylast January.
Hats flew at half-mast on Jan. 25.
They became a punchline-perfect duo, and their friendship evolved into the shows emotional center.
Credit: Everett Collection
After an audition with the producers, Asner was brought back to read opposite Moore.
Americas sweetheartthat was my first impression.
Automatically, her beauty took hold.
I dont blame her for asking the question that way, because it was a meshuggeneh reading.
The producers then said to her, Thats your Lou Grant.
I like to think the Mary-Lou relationship was special.
It did not go well.
The audience did not laugh to any degree.
Mary was in horrendous tears.
Supposedly, Grant said to the producers, Fix it.
At the Friday filming, the producers said, Just play the hell out of it.
We went out there and we kicked the s out of it.
I got to the You know what?
Youve got spunk scene, and I had a devilish grin on my face.
And her character basked in that credit I was giving her.
I immediately turned on her and said, I hate spunk.
We just felt that the whole scene was a great jumping-off place for the show.
It flew like the wind and collected all kinds of huzzahs.
From that point on, the show just floated on clouds.
Mary responds with a logical, eloquent argument for equal pay that rings relevant today.
All of this was cloaked in the shows humor and charm.
I couldnt believe that everybody tended to think of this as such a big deal.
Women certainly regarded it that way.
I never saw any reaction [from Moore] except a pleased-as-punch smile.
She didnt comment on it, nobody else did.
I didnt comment on it either.
If thats what they think, fine, well forge ahead and amass more sympathetic votes.
Rights advancements come about many times by quietly instituting it rather than blazing it across the front page.
Moore kept her humor character-based rather than clownish.
Although, in one famous episode, a clown becomes Mary Richards undoing.
Its terrible what youre doing!
She ends the scene crying.
There wasnt a person she was unkind to in her glory days.
There wasnt an animal that she didnt love.
She was willing to bask in their reflected light.
Mary gave us brilliant moments for seven years.
She was one of the greats.
She was unique in terms of beauty and wita nonpareil.
I think the others in the show felt the same way.
There would be no show without Mary Tyler Moore.
She was the show, and we were damn grateful she was there.
Thank God fortune dealt us that hand.
