5 Reasons Why The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s Series Finale is One of The Best Finales Of All Time.

When we talk about series finales of tv shows The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s “The Last Show” that aired on March 19th, 1977, Is usually at the top of the list of one the most perfect series finales ever done. Many people in the industry as well as tv junkies consider it one of the most influential last episodes of a tv series ever made. When the mega hit sitcom Friends was going off the air co-creators David Crane and Marta Kaufman as well as the writing staff watched many finales in anticipation of writing theirs, including The Last Show, and Kaufman has said that it was the gold standard for how to end a long running and beloved series. Here are five reasons why The Last Show is still the gold standard all these years later.

Synopsis: The new owners of WJM evaluate the news operations and decide to fire Mary, Lou and Murray.

5. The Final Curtain Call.

A perfect send off wouldn’t have been as perfect without a final bow by that iconic cast. It was a classy and satisfying display by a cast that clearly loved their fans as much as they did each other.

4. It was an actual series finale in a time before that was even a real thing.

Back in the olden days when a tv show went off the air it just went off the air. There weren’t any real big to do about it. The only show to really have a huge resolution was the hit 1960’s drama The Fugitive, which at that time garnered ratings and publicity that was the biggest in television history up to that point. But it wasn’t until The Mary Tyler Moore Show signed off that a popular series went out in style with alot of big hoopla and actual closure. The Last Show drew 25. 5 million viewers making it the #6 most watched show of that week.

3. Familiar faces return to say goodbye.

In the first four seasons, Mary had two best gal pals in Rhoda Morganstern played by Valerie Harper and Phyllis Lindstrom played by Cloris Leachman. The two actresses left the show at the end of the fourth season to star in their own spin off series. In the series finale Rhoda and Phyllis finally make their return to visit Mary and to say goodbye to all the very happy fans that missed the three musketeers. It was a fun little reunion that gave this final episode a bit more closure.

2. Every character gets a proper send off.

One of the hardest things to do in ending a series is making sure that every actor gets their moment to shine and that every character gets a proper resolution leaving the audience feeling satisfied that their favorite is going to be alright after the show is over. The Last Show gives all eight of the iconic ensemble proper moments to shine in both comedic moments and more poignant farewells. And about everybody turning out alright? Well, besides Mary going on to get an Oscar for 1981’s Ordinary People and doing many more television appearences up until her death, Lou joins both Rhoda and Phyllis in getting his own series as well as going on to get many roles both big and small in many film and television productions, including Elf starring Will Ferrell and Pixar’s super mega hit, UP. Ted Knight would go on to star in the syndicated series Too Close For Comfort and make an iconic turn as the lovably buffoonish villain Judge Smails in 1980’s cult classic Caddyshack. Gavin MacLeod became a cruise captain for ten seasons on The Love Boat. Georgia Engel became Robert Barone’s Mother-In-Law for a few seasons on Everybody Loves Raymond. And last but certainly not least is Betty White who went on to get a recurring role on Mama’s Family before striking gold once again on a little iconic sitcom called The Golden Girls. But of course we can’t forget 2009, aka the year of Betty, when she would star in that year’s biggest superbowl commercial, get a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, get the breakout role in The Proposal and get another hit sitcom with Hot In Cleveland.

1. The Final Scene.

The last scene of the entire series is immortal, influential, and has oft been paid homage to by many series, including St. Elsewhere, Friends, Martin, Good Luck, Charlie, Frasier etc. One can’t help but tear up in moments like when Lou tells his work family that he treasures them, or when the gang gets in that big group hug as tears run through their eyes. One also can’t help but crack up when they all move together still in that big group hug to get a Kleenex. The moment that really tugs at the heart, of course, is when the gang sings “It’s a long way to Tipperary” as Mary turns off the lights to the station, looking back with tears and a smile as she says goodbye to the whole world. It is one of tv’s most touching and iconic endings and it was a perfect goodbye.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s legacy is a mighty big one for many reasons: Setting a new standard for the sitcom, representing the growth of independence for women in that decade, and proving that a smart, witty, and adult oriented sitcom can work in television. But the fact that it’s farewell was so beautifully done and inspired television to date has got to be at the top. Mary turned the world on with a smile for seven seasons and fittingly turned off the lights when her job was done.

Bonuses:

It was only a half hour.

Most shows today seemingly have to go out with an overbloated time frame which can be harmful to the overall last episode. Not Mary, though. Instead of the finale being over bloated to take advantage of ads the network want to sell during it, the show ended in its normal time slot of thirty minutes allowing the show’s final story to wrap things up in a succinct and efficient way.

Ted Baxter at his very best(well… for Ted, that is)

While every character got terrific moments to shine in this final half hour, the award for MVP as usual goes to the vain, dimwitted, arrogant and lovable nincompoop Ted Baxter, whose self absorbtion and ridiculousness was on full display, but we still got a few moments revealing the softer, even more selfless side of the incompetent anchorman. For seven years Ted Knight made us reluctantly fall in love with Ted Baxter, and in this finale we couldn’t get a more perfect and hilarious bit of irony that it would be him, the most incompetent member of the WJM team that would get to keep his job while the rest of the gang get the ax.

Till next time, folks!