The Mary Tyler Moore SHOW

From That Girl in the 1960s to Ally McBeal in the 1990s to Sex and the City in the 2000s, television has long reflected the shifting image of independent women. Yet the true game-changer came in 1970, when The Mary Tyler Moore Show introduced Mary Richards—30, single, stylish and making her way in a newsroom full of men. Rather than being someone’s wife or daughter, she was the star, and she changed television forever. Join us for a look back at rare behind-the-scenes photos of the groundbreaking show as we celebrate its 55th anniversary.

- by ED GROSS

REDEFINING COMEDY

Mary Tyler Moore smiles alongside some of the writers (pictured together in the photo on the far left) who helped shape her groundbreaking sitcom: Allan Burns, Ed Weinberger and James L. Brooks. Together, this team redefined what a television comedy could be, centering on a thirtysomething single woman who made it on her own. The chemistry between Moore and her collaborators sparked storylines that felt fresh, funny and most importantly, real— changing the way audiences saw women on TV and leaving a legacy still celebrated more than five and a half decades later.

REPRESENTING REAL LIFE