Ep 5. It's Whether You Win or Lose

It's Whether You Win or Lose is the fifth episode of the third season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The episode revolves around a bet between Mary and Lou, where Mary is convinced that she can get an exclusive interview with a football player named Bob Sanders, who has been avoiding the press. Lou agrees to the bet, but Mary soon realizes that getting Bob to talk is going to be much harder than she thought.

Meanwhile, Rhoda has a new job as a waitress at a local restaurant, but she's having trouble managing her time between work and her social life. When she discovers that Mary is also struggling with her interview with Bob, Rhoda offers to help her friend out by providing some inside information on Bob's whereabouts.

The tension between Mary and Lou escalates as the deadline for the bet approaches, with Lou becoming increasingly frustrated with Mary's lack of progress. However, Mary's tenacity and willingness to go the extra mile pays off in the end, as she finally manages to track down Bob Sanders and get the exclusive interview that she's been after.

Overall, It's Whether You Win or Lose is a charming and entertaining episode that showcases the strengths of The Mary Tyler Moore Show's ensemble cast. The central bet between Mary and Lou provides an interesting anchor for the storyline, and the various subplots involving Rhoda and her struggles with work and Mary's attempts to get her interview with Bob add depth and complexity to the episode. With its blend of humor, heart, and character-driven storytelling, this episode is a standout in the series and a must-watch for fans of classic TV comedy.