Mary Richards [played
by Mary Tyler Moore]: “Thank you, Gordy. We'd like to speak out
tonight for population control. Between the years 1932 and 1978, the population
of the world will have doubled.”
Ted Baxter [played
by Ted Knight] [Interrupting Mary]: “That should
do something for our ratings, hey, Mary?”
Mary [Nervously
smiling]: “Population experts agree that if growth continues at this rate,
world population will reach 7 billion by the year 2000.”
Ted: “Hey, I think I'll
go into the diaper business.”
Mary: “...Which points
to a disaster of global importance.”
Ted: “Oh come on, Mare,
don't be such a gloomy Gus!”
Mary: “The management of
WJM feels that television can play a critical role in the control of population
growth…”
Ted: “We sure can. As
long as they're watching the old tube, they can't make the population grow, can
they?”
Mary: “Television has a
responsibility...”
Ted: “Get it, Mare?”
Mary: “Will you SHUT UP,
Ted!!”
[Mary turns to face the camera, shocked at
what she just said. Her mouth open, she just stares straight ahead.]
Lou Grant [played
by Edward Asner]: “Murray, did I just hear right? Did I hear Mary
tell Ted to shut up on the air?”
Murray Slaughter [played
by Gavin MacLeod]: “Yeah.”
Lou [Smiling]:
“Good.” —The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Season 3, Episode 1, “The Good-Time News,” original air date Sept. 16, 1972, teleplay by James L.
Brooks and Allan Burns, directed by Hal Cooper
As it happens, the world’s population reached 6.1
billion in 2000—which probably would have slightly disappointed Ted.
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