"Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (1976) TV series 1976-1978

Director:

Bob Lally

Writer:

Brad Buckner

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

5 January 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Set in fictional Fernwood, Ohio, this deliriously demented serial focused on the beleaguered heroine Mary Hartman...

Plot Keywords:

Spoof | Cult TV | Waxy Yellow Buildup | Indecent Exposure | Soap Opera

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Louise Lasser	...	Mary Hartman (31 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dabney Coleman	...	Merle Jeeter (30 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mary Kay Place	...	Loretta Haggers (29 episodes, 1976)
Greg Mullavey	...	Tom Hartman (27 episodes, 1976-1978)
Graham Jarvis	...	Charlie Haggers (25 episodes, 1976)
Dody Goodman	...	Martha Shumway (21 episodes, 1976)
Philip Bruns	...	George Shumway (20 episodes, 1976-1977)
Debralee Scott	...	Cathy Shumway (19 episodes, 1976-1977)
Claudia Lamb	...	Heather Hartman (19 episodes, 1976)
Bruce Solomon	...	Sergeant Dennis Foley / ... (18 episodes, 1976-1977)
Victor Kilian	...	Raymond Larkin (18 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Directed by
Joan Darling		(19 episodes, 1976)
Jim Drake		(9 episodes, 1976)
Bob Lally		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Tom Eyen		(30 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jerry Adelman		(26 episodes, 1976)
Daniel Gregory Browne		(26 episodes, 1976)
Ann Marcus		(26 episodes, 1976)
Brad Buckner		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Norman Lear	....	executive producer (1 episode, 1976)
Brad Buckner	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Earle Hagen		(unknown episodes)
Bobby Knight		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Vince Humphrey		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Ruth Conforte		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Sandra Baker		(16 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Production Management
Norman Lear	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Edwin McCormick	....	shop carpenter (4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Tommy Bond	....	prop management (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician (16 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frontis Chandler	....	costumer (1 episode, 1976)

Production Companies

• Filmways Television
• TAT Communications Company

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• Embassy Telecommunications
• Rhodes Productions
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• KTLA  sound recording
• Metromedia Square  sound recording
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min (325 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Filmways Television

Trivia:

Then Nixon aide Ben Stein wrote an impassioned letter in support of the show early in the first season, when its future was strongly in doubt; his piece is considered at least one of the reasons it continued airing.

Quotes:

Mary Hartman:Everybody means everybody. And that means you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An Unmarried Woman (1978)

Terrific!

Who would have guessed that 30 years later Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman would still be an absolutely hilarious and entertaining program? Controversial for its time, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman still seems to walk the line of racy subject matters.....not subtle and not over-the-top. Watching takes you back in time. It is entertaining to see the fashion statements and listen to the dialog from so long ago. The series is really like a time capsule! Also enjoyable is the product placement, a real blast-to-the-past! Thanks to everyone who brought this program to DVD. I certainly hope that the entire series makes it to video.