"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:

One of the first multi-camera American comedies not to use a studio audience or laugh track. This is due to the soap opera-style approach.

Quotes:

[Martha rushes through the kitchen]
George Shumway:What's the matter? The house on fire?
Martha Shumway:It would be better for us all if it was!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Norman Lear/Boz Scaggs (#2.2)" (1976)

Candide in a consumer society

A sharply satirical soap opera about a modern-day "Candide" (Louise Lasser) and the dysfunctional Americana she inhabits. In the opening episodes (beginning 1/76), Mary has to contend with her impotent husband, indifferent daughter, pervert grandpa, hot-to-trot sister, and the massacre of a local family (along with their 2 goats and 8 chickens) but it seems the waxy yellow build-up on her kitchen floor subliminally affected the mass media-influenced Mary more than all the domestic drama combined. The absence of a canned laugh track can make viewers feel they're either losing their mind or experiencing a darkly comedic, penetrating pop-culture parody. Possibly both. I loved it then and I love it now!