The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) And Now, Sitting in for Ted Baxter (1971) User Reviews

Vacation time

[kellielulu · 7/10 · 6 October 2022]

This is another episode I feel like Lou Grant isn't how I remembered . The lovable grouch is who I think of . The one that helped Mary kick sleeping pills or delivered Georgette and Ted's daughter. Cracks wise at Ted , Sue Ann and even Mary and Murray at times. Gruff but not mean spirited.

This time he's practically giddy he might be rid of Ted . Part of me gets it but I appreciate Murray's reaction . He's always giving Ted a hard time ( often deserved) but still he has basic humanity towards Ted in this situation.

It probably ends as well as it could with Ted's fill in getting a break and Ted returns to his job . Ted's insecure despite his ego or maybe because of it . Sometimes you gotta feel for the guy .

Someone May Be Gaining on You

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 3 February 2017]

Union rules require Ted Baxter to take a vacation every year. Ted never takes them because he fears that someone will do a better job than he can. Well, it turns out that he is right. A handsome, very competent guy comes in and does the news. The ratings rise and Lou is really happy. Of course, Mary and Murray are not happy. They feel sorry for Ted, even though Murray slams him every chance he gets. The rubber is going to hit the road. There are a couple of really good scenes. One is our chance to see Ted's dressing room. There are autographed photos of big news personalities like Walter Cronkite. There's even a phony picture of Ted with Nikita Khrushchev. Anyway, it is his inner sanctum.

Poor Ted

[Rrrobert · 8/10 · 23 July 2019]

A neat, well-done story focusing on Ted and his eccentricities (and vulnerabilities).

Ted is reluctant to take a vacation lest his replacement show him up. The replacement, Rod Porter (Jed Allan), is a hit and the ratings climb. Ted expects to be fired and Mary and Murray are sympathetic.

There are several well done and funny moments. Allan is great as the charismatic, proficient newsman. He is more interesting and attractive than many of Mary's love interests but, serving the story, remains in a subordinate role here.

"I Don't Want Your Pep Talk; I Want Your Pity"

[GaryPeterson67 · 12 January 2007]

Mary discovers Ted hasn't taken a vacation in four years and further discovers the reason is Ted knows it could lead to him being permanently replaced. And that possibility looks likely when WJM hires the glamorous Rod Porter to cover for Ted. Supposedly on vacation in Acapulco, Ted writes a postcard to the guys (postmarked Minneapolis) and a crank letter trashing Porter. When it really looks like Ted will be let go, Porter announces he has been offered a network position, so Ted's job is secure, and feeling secure once again, Ted reverts to character.

This episode has its funny moments, especially the scene with Mary in Ted's dressing room, surrounded by phony souvenirs (best of which is a doctored photo of Ted meeting Kruschev) and videotapes of his favorite newscasts ("all of them"). And the scene at Mary's when Ted turns up gives Rhoda a chance to shine. But the episode also has a depressing and ugly side to it: Ted knows he's third rate and is scared of getting kicked back down to the Rhode Island minor leagues from whence he came; and Lou comes off truly heartless in this episode, sincerely ready to throw Ted overboard for high ratings and the money it will bring him. That underlying pathos and mean-spiritedness rubbed me wrong and left me uneasy as the credits rolled.