TVSquad

As Bob mentioned in his DVD post this week, The Mary Tyler Moore Show: The Complete Fifth Season was released in a 3-disc set on Tuesday. I have fond memories of watching this show as a kid, and the clips after the jump confirm once again that it featured one of the best casts in TV history.

Not only was each actor perfect for their role, but their timing and delivery of lines was second to none. I also love all of the 1970s-era props, clothes and decor, because of course, the show was made in the 1970s.

(S01E09) Okay, we're really into swinging tonight. Everybody seems to get into the action, including the kids. Frankly, the summer of '76 is making everyone in Swingtown hot and horny and just a touch too adventurous. It makes for interesting viewing, but I'm not sure how realistic all this is supposed to be. What is the difference between swinging and cheating?

Brad and Sylvia are back. It's yet another dinner party at the Deckers! The writers really have to find other ways to get these people together. Anyway, after Bruce's admission of his overt flirtation with Melinda -- a couple of kisses and a trip to her apartment -- the Millers accept an invitation to the Pendulum Club. That's an erotic cabaret according to Trina, and yes, the Deckers decide to go along at Susan's behest.

The Emmy nominations won't be announced until July 17, but we can tell you right now without a doubt that Ugly Betty's Rebecca Romijn will not be among the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy category at the Emmys. No, we're not psychic. It's just that her spokesman has confirmed that her name was never actually submitted. DOH! And why was that, you wonder. No good reason, said her rep, "It was an oversight."

According to L.A. Times' Tom O'Neil, this isn't really that far-fetched an occurrence. Tim Allen, at the height of his Home Improvement success, missed a chance for an Emmy nomination when somebody fumbled the ball. The next year, his paperwork was hand-delivered, accompanied by the University of Southern California marching band.

Romijn's omission -- on the surface -- looks like a mistake. Yes, it's true that her status on the show is going from series regular to recurring, but I don't believe she purposely kept her name out of the running to in some way act out in protest against the show. It makes no sense? How is she hurting Ugly Betty by not getting an Emmy nomination? No, this was a screw up, nothing more.

Have you ever wondered if Mary Tyler Moore can still turn the world on with her smile? You'll be able to find out this Monday on Oprah.

The daytime talk show host will host a reunion of the show. Not only will she get all of the surviving cast members together (Moore, Valerie Harper, Ed Asner, Betty White, Gavin MacLeod, Cloris Leachman, and Georgia Engel), they will also have duplicates of the WJM set and the set for Mary's apartment on the stage (the link above includes a preview of the show - no idea why Oprah is crying).

Actor David Groh is probably best known for his role as Rhoda's husband Joe Gerard on Rhoda. He was also a regular on General Hospital and guest starred on several shows, including Police Story, Law and Order, Girlfriends, The X-Files, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, JAG, Baywatch, Melrose Place, Sisters, Murder, She Wrote, Spenser: For Hire, L.A. Law, Kate & Allie, Hunter, Simon & Simon, and many other shows. He was also a veteran stage actor, appearing in Chapter Two, as well as movies like Two Minute Warning, Crazylove, and Get Shorty.

Groh died of kidney cancer in Los Angeles at age 68.

His wedding to Rhoda was a major TV event back in the 70s. Of course, with ratings slipping, they had to go ahead and divorce the couple in the third season of the show. That left a bad taste with viewers, I think.

A classic sitcom with have a reunion of sorts when cast members of The Mary Tyler Moore Show gather at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards this Sunday night.

Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, Betty White, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, and Georgia Engel will give out the Best Ensemble In A Comedy Series award. Ted Knight died in 1986. Chuckles the Clown died in 1975.

The show airs on TNT at 8pm. Julie Andrews will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the show, and Dick Van Dyke will be a presenter as well.

[via TV Tattle]

Now if they would just bring back Silver Spoons and It's Your Move we could complete the Jason Bateman 80s TV Trinity. For now, however, we'll have to settle with the fact that ABC Family plans to air reruns of The Hogan Family, the series that was originally called Valerie and Valerie's Family before Valerie Harper left the show and was replaced by Sandy Duncan. In fact, don't expect to see Valerie Harper at all, as the network only plans to show episodes from the third season on. The show will return on April 3.

Update: The Valerie Harper seasons will air after all, but not until after the first rotation.