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Secrets to the Mary Tyler Moore Show Opening

The Media Download with John Ondo

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In this episode of 'The Media Download,' host John Ondo delves into the classic opening sequence of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, providing a shot-by-shot breakdown. Ando shares his extensive experience in media production, offering insights into how historical techniques can inform and improve contemporary production practices. He emphasizes the emotional and storytelling power of theme songs and opening sequences, advocating for their revival in modern media. The episode also includes technical details on the editing process and the contributions of director Reza Badiyi to other iconic TV show openings.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:51 Why Study the Mary Tyler Moore Opening?
01:49 Dissecting the Opening Sequence
03:40 The Importance of Music in TV Show Opens
04:17 Editing Techniques and Storytelling
09:04 Iconic Shots and Their Impact
14:16 The Legacy of TV Show Openings
15:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts #mediainfluencer #columbusohio

For more on director Rezi Badiyi: Reza Badiyi on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"...

Fair Use Disclaimer:
This video is presented for educational and commentary purposes only under fair use. I do not own the rights to The Mary Tyler Moore Show or its associated imagery and clips. The Mary Tyler Moore Show is the property of its respective rights holders, including CBS/Disney and MTM Productions. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their owners.

20 Comments

@SWright1978 3 months ago

It was such an optimistic show. As a kid it was magical.

@MitchellValentine-pr2lt 4 months ago

Make Minneapolis Mary Tyler Moore again!

@AmyFloren 3 months ago

I love this opening and oh how I wanted Mary's apartment even as seven year old!

@MrMojo271 3 months ago (edited)

As a resident of Minneapolis, it’s fun to see all the old stores that are no longer there, but I remember from childhood.

@flemingdh 3 months ago

It's be a while, and I may be wrong, but I think the visuals of Mary leaving her old job and driving on the highway to her new location are from season 1, but the lyrics are from seasons 2 - 7. Season 1 lyrics (available on youtube) start with, "How will you make it on your own, this world is awfully big, and girl this time you're all alone", and finishes with "You might just make it after all", instead of the more hopeful "You're gonna make it after all" used in all other seasons.

@TheOldTapeArchive 3 months ago

Hazel looked like a Hazel. She appeared to be 70 but was probably only 50 at the time.

@stevenwishnoff154 3 months ago

Great breakdown of this opening. I was a producer at TVLand when we had the MTM statue installed (yes, it's really there). At the installation we had hundreds of people with custom made replicas of her tam (the hat) all toss them at the same time (if I remember correctly one or two of Hazel's relatives was there too. Your information about Reza Badiyi was spot on. He created many show openings over the years and also directed a lot of iconic television. As the hat toss story was told to me, he was at an unusal loss for one final idea. And while out with 2nd unit on the very last day the hat toss idea was (please forgive the pun) almost a throw away. And as we know, it worked so well, and became so iconic, that no matter how many different versions of the opening were done, and when Curtis rewrote the lyrics, and orchestrations changed, the hat toss always remained.

@RaymondHng 3 months ago (edited)

I remember the ending credits with the MTM logo with the big ending chords and finishing it with the anti-climactic kitten meowing as a parody of the MGM lion roar.

@gloriouslove1 3 months ago

The mission impossible opening is really iconic

@quicktastic 3 months ago

Great opening. Mary's hat toss and the zoom in on Jack Lord as he turns his head around on the rooftop in that Hawaii 5-0 open are just so memorable and iconic.

@MrMikeTauber 3 months ago

She made it after all ! 🎉

@gradywilson9213 5 months ago

WKRP in Cincinnati...the one thing I loved about coming of age in the 70s was the sense of adventure. I moved to Memphis TN from upstate NY, I knew very little about the city, Elvis home that's about it. Here a 20 year old starting a new life, discovering new things, finding out new ways it was exciting.
Today one can Google everything, see everything with street view, even look inside the place where one is going to stay. The mystery is over.

@Tamfarka 3 months ago

12:19 In 1996 Mary referred to Hazel Frederick as her "costar" when bringing her out on stage at a book signing in the Twin Cities.

@sp2435 3 months ago

Never missed an episode

@truckermikemct1 3 months ago (edited)

The horns section is amazing. They gave the song intensity.
Also, looking at the St. Paul/Minneapolis sign, Mary must have been driving from north to south.

@karenchakey 4 months ago

My favorite show in the seventies

@CammieSue 3 months ago

As a young, single, female adult in the early 1970's - the opener alone always filled me with such optimistic hope - and gave me strength to face the future! (And it was grand!) Thanks, Mary!

@hebneh 3 months ago

Many have commented that while this is the first season opening visually, it's not accompanied by the original theme song but instead uses the one from the second season onwards, which I immediately noticed as well. I have a vague memory that this change happened when the older shows were released for syndication and it was decided to only utilize the more familiar tune, particularly because the final line "You're gonna make it after all!" works so well with the final exuberant hat-toss shot.