The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) The Care and Feeding of Parents (1972) User Reviews

Bess the Journalist

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 5 February 2017]

This is another in the wishy-washy Mary series. Phyllis comes to Mary with a two paragraph paper that Bess received an A on. She pushes Mary into using connections at the studio to get the work published. Through a series of misunderstandings, the project turns into a book and Phyllis is again overdoing it. There are a couple funny bits. One is when Bess comes to talk to Mary and they use Lou's office. He is forced out and can't get any work done. The other is Rhoda, continually reminding Mary what a pushover she is-- how Phyllis can get her to do anything. A little below average for the series, but it's OK. Lisa Gerretsen is again quite a remarkable child actor.

Pushy Phyllis

[Rrrobert · 8/10 · 9 August 2019]

Funny episode focused on the pushy overzealous Phyllis.

Phyllis pressures Mary into presenting a "brilliant" story written by Bess, to publishers in Mary's building. Again Phyllis has all the bright ideas - just so long as someone else does all the grunt work. Soon Phyllis is pressuring Bess into expanding the story into a book - which Phyllis is writing herself anyway.

The scenes with Bess and Mary are well done. Overall it is a funny episode and I thought Mary's situation was well played and relatable.

Features another in the series of 'Lou arrives at his office and initially thinks he entered the wrong room when a bunch of unexpected people are holding court in there' comedy bits. He also has a funny scene with Bess.

Several scenes take place in the Lindstrom apartment.