Mary Tyler Moore Spinoffs

Rhoda was played by Valerie Harper as the close friend of Mary Tyler Moore, a transplanted New Yorker in Minneapolis, and was spun off as a separate show when Rhoda decides to return to New York. Valerie Harper was a good comedianne on her own, as a more street-wise, in-your-face character than Mary. Unlike Mary Tyler Moore, Rhoda was given a love interest, who then becomes her husband, played well by actor David Groh.

Rhoda was surrounded by a good supporting cast including her sister Brenda, played by Julie Kavner, and her intrusive overbearing mother Ida Morgenstern, a great performance by Nancy Walker, who is constantly hovering over her two daughters. Rhoda was a success, even getting higher ratings than Mary Tyler Moore herself for a couple of years while earning two Emmy and two Golden Globe awards.

Phillys was written into the cast as Mary Tyler Moore's sophisticated neighbor in the latter years of that show, played well by actress Cloris Leachman in the title role as an uppity stay-at-home mother with a high school daughter named Bess and a husband named Lars, who was never seen on the show.

Phyllis appeared now and then with MTM, notably when her husband Lars had an affair with Mary's co worker Sue Ann Nivens, played by popular actress Betty White. Phyllis was spun off into her own show when hubby died suddenly, leaving her a widow with no savings and no skills who must somehow find her way in the world, and decides on a move to San Francisco. Fine acting by Leachman.

Lou Grant continued his MTM stint as Mary's boss with his own series, which featured Lou Grant now as a newspaper editor, well acted on both shows by Ed Asner. Although the character name was continued, the show was a drama series instead of comedy at MTM. Running from 1977 when MTM closed to 1982, Lou Grant was cast as editor at the Los Angeles Tribune, where he often clashed with his lady boss who owned the Tribune, played by Nancy Marchand. Both Ed Asner and the show won many awards, including outstanding actor in a drama series.