Join or Sign In
Sign in to customize your TV listings
By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 2 Episodes
Season 2 Episode Guide
23 Episodes 1971 - 1972
Episode 1
The Birds and...Um...Bees
Sat, Sep 18, 1971 30 mins
Mary's documentary on "sexual IQs" convinces Phyllis that her friend is the ideal person to explain the facts of life to Bess (Lisa Gerritsen). This episode kicked off the series' second season. Gordy: John Amos. Phyllis: Cloris Leachman.
Episode 2
I Am Curious Cooper
Sat, Sep 25, 1971 30 mins
Lou plays Cupid when he arranges a blind date between Mary and a wealthy, middle-aged bachelor pal (Michael Constantine), and is upset when the romance doesn't catch fire. Mama Moto: Shizuko Iwamatsu. Lou: Edward Asner.
Episode 3
He's No Heavy, He's My Brother
Sat, Oct 2, 1971 30 mins
Mary and Rhoda's Mexican vacation leaves them at the mercy of a waiter, who asks them for a strange favor in return for reservations. Jerry Paris, who played Jerry Helper on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," directed this episode. Gustavo: Frank Ramirez. Jackie: Annette Molen. Gordy: John Amos.
Episode 4
Room 223
Sat, Oct 9, 1971 30 mins
To improve her skills in the newsroom, Mary enrolls in a journalism class, where she is romanced by the instructor (MichaelTolan). Mrs. Marshall: Florida Friebus. Mr. DeForest: Val Bisoglio.
Episode 5
A Girl's Best Mother Is Not Her Friend
Sat, Oct 16, 1971 30 mins
Ida Morgenstern (Nancy Walker) tries to win Rhoda's favor, but her efforts to befriend her daughter backfire. Lorenzo Music and David Davis, who penned this episode, would later produce the "Rhoda" spin-off series. Bess: Lisa Gerritsen.
Episode 6
Cover Boy
Sat, Oct 23, 1971 30 mins
Ted tries to impress his preening brother Hal (Jack Cassidy) by pretending that Mary is his sweetheart. Cassidy, the father of David and Shaun, was one of the stars of "He and She," a series that employed much of Moore's creative staff, including director Jay Sandrich and the writer of this episode, Treva Silverman. Ted: Ted Knight.
Episode 7
Didn't You Used to Be...Wait...Don't Tell Me
Sat, Oct 30, 1971 30 mins
Mary attends her high-school reunion, but her lack of enthusiasm is palpable, especially when her old boyfriend shows up. Jack Riley, who plays Eldon, later appeared as Mr. Carlin in the MTM-produced "The Bob Newhart Show." Ed: Ron Masak. Howard: Richard Schaal. Estelle: Pippa Scott. Vandermast: Kermit Murdock.
Episode 8
Thoroughly Unmilitant Mary
Sat, Nov 6, 1971 30 mins
A union strike leaves Mary and Lou alone in the newsroom, and between the two of them, they have to find a way to get the news on the air. Al: Dick Balduzzi. Herb: Larry Gelman. Waiter: Paul Micale.
Episode 9
And Now, Sitting In for Ted Baxter
Sat, Nov 13, 1971 30 mins
Ted thinks his anchor job is in jeopardy when he finds that his vacation replacement is a handsome, competent professional. Rod Porter: Jed Allan. Big Voiced Man: Bill Woodson.
Episode 10
Don't Break the Chain
Sat, Nov 20, 1971 30 mins
Lou sends a chain letter to Mary, who reluctantly continues the chain and is "rewarded" with replies from a tiresome Romeo and a salesman who just won't quit. Armand: Jack De Mave. Roy: Gino Conforti. Rhoda: Valerie Harper.
Episode 11
...Is a Friend in Need
Sat, Dec 4, 1971 30 mins
Rhoda loses her job, but she is in no hurry to find a new one. Mary knows of a job opening at WJM, but she is in no hurry to hire Rhoda, who is biding her time in Mary's apartment. Waitress: Beverly Sanders. Lou: Edward Asner.
Episode 12
Square Shaped Room
Sat, Dec 11, 1971 30 mins
Lou hires Rhoda to redecorate his home, but her flamboyant taste is at odds with both his personality and his checkbook. Edward Asner (Lou) and Valerie Harper (Rhoda) both won Emmys for their work in the second season. Phyllis: Cloris Leachman. Murray: Gavin MacLeod.
Episode 13
Ted Over Heels
Sat, Dec 18, 1971 30 mins
Ted develops a crush on the pretty daughter (Arlene Golonka) of Chuckles the Clown and struggles to keep his feelings under wraps. Golonka, a regular on "Mayberry, R.F.D.," was a popular sitcom actress in the 1960s and '70s. Ted: Ted Knight. Murray: Gavin MacLeod.
Episode 14
Five-Minute Dress
Fri, Jan 1, 1971 30 mins
Mary becomes frustrated with her new boyfriend, a handsome politician who keeps breaking their dates. This episode was written by Pat Nardo and Gloria Banta, whose surnames were used for characters played by Marilu Henner and Tony Danza on "Taxi," a show created by members of Moore's creative team. Lou: Edward Asner. Ted: Ted Knight. Rhoda: Valerie Harper. Phyllis: Cloris Leachman.
Episode 15
Feeb
Sat, Jan 8, 1972 30 mins
Mary hires an incompetent waitress (Barbara Sharma) as a secretary at WJM, but she still can't cut the mustard. Variety-show trivia alert: Sharma was a member of the "Laugh-In" cast, while the writers of this episode, Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon, also wrote skits for Carol Burnett. Sharma would later have a recurring role on "Rhoda." Maitre d': Jack Manning. Doreen Skinner: Barbara Barnett.
Episode 16
The Slaughter Affair
Sat, Jan 15, 1972 30 mins
Murray moonlights as a cab driver to surprise his wife with a car, but Marie (Joyce Bulifant) suspects he's cheating on her---with Mary. Murray: Gavin MacLeod. Lou: Edward Asner. Rhoda: Valerie Harper. Ted: Ted Knight.
Episode 17
Baby Sit-Com
Sat, Jan 22, 1972 30 mins
Mary agrees to baby-sit Bess (Lisa Gerritsen) as a favor to Phyllis, but when she has to back out, Lou grudgingly fills in for her. Edward Asner won his second consecutive Emmy this season for his portrayal of Lou Grant. Sandy: Joshua Bryant. DeeDee: Leslie Graves. Phyllis: Cloris Leachman.
Episode 18
More than Neighbors
Sat, Jan 29, 1972 30 mins
Aghast at the prospect of Ted Baxter moving into their building, Mary and Rhoda team up to keep him out. Director Jay Sandrich also helmed most of the episodes of "The Cosby Show." Michael Lee: Jack Bender. Ted: Ted Knight.
Episode 19
The Care and Feeding of Parents
Sat, Feb 5, 1972 30 mins
After Mary compliments Bess's school essay, pushy Phyllis insists that Mary help her turn it into a book so she can get it published. Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon, who wrote this episode, later created the sitcom "The Facts of Life." Turner: Jon Locke. Mitchell: Brad Trumbull. Bess: Lisa Gerritsen. Phyllis: Cloris Leachman.
Episode 20
Where There's Smoke, There's Rhoda
Sat, Feb 12, 1972 30 mins
Rhoda's apartment is gutted by a fire, so she stays with Mary until the damage is repaired, but the two begin to grate on each other. Peter Baldwin, who directed this episode, worked with Moore on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Fireman: Michael Bell. Gordy: John Amos. Rhoda: Valerie Harper. Phyllis: Cloris Leachman.
Episode 21
You Certainly Are a Big Boy
Sat, Feb 19, 1972 30 mins
Mary begins dating a handsome architect (Bradford Dillman), but is startled to discover that his son is almost as old as she is. Dillman's acting credits include the films "The Way We Were" and "Compulsion." John Rubinstein, who plays Dillman's son, is an actor/composer whose credits include stints on the TV series "Family" and "Crazy Like a Fox." Waitress: Beverly Sanders.
Episode 22
Some of My Best Friends Are Rhoda
Sat, Feb 26, 1972 30 mins
Mary runs into a new friend when their cars collide in a fender bender, but their friendship puts a strain on Rhoda, who feels left out. Mary Frann, who plays Joanne, later starred on "Newhart." Rhoda: Valerie Harper.
Episode 23
His Two Right Arms
Sat, Mar 4, 1972 30 mins
Mary has to tutor both Ted and an inept councilman (Bill Daily) on current events to prepare them for a talk show. Sitcom trivia alert: Daily played Howard Borden on "The Bob Newhart Show," which was created by Moore's production company. Isabel Sanford, who appears as Mrs. Wilson, later starred on "The Jeffersons." Sherry: Janet MacLachlan. Jennifer: Carol Androsky. Walter: Wally Taylor.
