Ep 7. Toulousse-Lautrec is One of My Favorite Artists

The Mary Tyler Moore Show season 1 episode 7, titled "Toulousse-Lautrec is One of My Favorite Artists" follows Mary Richards, played by Mary Tyler Moore, as she attends an art exhibit and meets an eccentric artist named Phyllis Lindstrom, played by Cloris Leachman. Phyllis invites Mary to her home to view her own artwork, with her husband Lars, played by Richard Schaal, present.

Once at the Lindstrom's home, Mary discovers that Phyllis is unhappy with her marriage, feeling neglected and ignored by Lars. As Mary attempts to console her, she accidentally ends up locked out of the house, with Phyllis being too absorbed in her own issues to notice. Mary spends the night outside, in the freezing cold, eventually being rescued by a passerby.

Meanwhile, back at the newsroom, Lou Grant, played by Ed Asner, is dealing with his own issues as his son is arrested and needs his help. He enlists the rest of the WJM staff to help him bail his son out of jail and keep the incident away from the newsroom.

This episode deals with themes of loneliness, neglect, and the struggle to maintain relationships. Mary is forced to confront Phyllis' marital issues and the consequences of neglecting your partner, while also facing her own fears of being alone and abandoned. Lou Grant must reconcile with his own past mistakes as a father, and learn to forgive his son and move forward.

"Toulousse-Lautrec is One of My Favorite Artists" is a poignant and emotional episode that showcases the depth and nuance of the characters in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The writing is clever and nuanced, with the humor coming from the characters' quirks and idiosyncrasies, rather than cheap jokes. Mary Tyler Moore delivers a strong performance, balancing her character's kindness and compassion with her own vulnerability and fear. Cloris Leachman steals the show as the tragic and complex Phyllis, imbuing her character with both humor and heartbreak. Ed Asner is also fantastic, injecting an unexpected depth and gravitas to his character.

Overall, "Toulousse-Lautrec is One of My Favorite Artists" is an excellent episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show that explores complex themes with humor and heart. It showcases the show's ability to balance comedy and drama in a poignant and effective way, while also highlighting the strength and talent of its cast.