Ep 13. Neighbors

Mary Tyler Moore Show was an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from 1970-1977. It starred Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, a single woman in her 30s who works as a news producer in a Minneapolis television station. The show is known for its progressive feminist themes and addressing social issues of the time. Season 5 episode 13, titled Neighbors, aired on December 4, 1976.

In this episode, Mary Richards is a little nervous about meeting her new neighbor, a young woman named Tracey (played by Jane Curtin). Mary's co-worker Murray (Gavin MacLeod) and his wife are friends with Tracey, and have been raving about her for weeks. Mary is curious but apprehensive about meeting her, wondering if she'll live up to the hype.

However, Mary's worries are put to rest as soon as she meets Tracey. The two women hit it off immediately, bonding over their shared love of movies and their jobs in the news industry. Tracey even invites Mary over to her apartment that night to watch a classic film.

As Mary gets to know Tracey better, she becomes more and more impressed with her neighbor. Tracey is smart, funny, and confident - everything that Mary wishes she could be. However, their relationship takes a turn when Tracey makes a pass at Mary, confessing that she has feelings for her. Mary is surprised and flattered, but ultimately tells Tracey that she's not interested in pursuing anything romantic with her.

Tracey takes the rejection hard, and things between the two women become tense. Mary tries to make things right between them by inviting Tracey out to dinner, but the evening ends in disaster when Tracey gets drunk and starts causing a scene. Mary is embarrassed and upset, feeling like she's ruined her chance at a friendship with Tracey.

Meanwhile, Lou Grant (Edward Asner) is dealing with his own issues with his neighbor, a grumpy old man named Mr. Foley (Tom Bosley). Mr. Foley has been causing trouble for Lou and his wife, constantly complaining about their noise levels and parking habits. Lou is frustrated with Mr. Foley, but ultimately decides to take the high road and invite him over for dinner.

The dinner doesn't go quite as planned, as Mr. Foley spends the whole evening complaining about everything from the food to Lou's job. However, Lou manages to keep his cool and even gets Mr. Foley to open up a little, revealing that he's lonely and misses his wife. Lou sees a softer side of Mr. Foley and decides to try to befriend him.

In the end, both Mary and Lou learn important lessons about the value of reaching out to those around them. Mary realizes that she doesn't have to be perfect to make friends, and that it's okay to say no to romantic advances. Lou learns that sometimes being kind to difficult people can have unexpected rewards.

Overall, the episode is a classic example of The Mary Tyler Moore Show's blend of humor and heart, with a focus on the importance of human connection.