Ep 5. The Outsider

The Mary Tyler Moore Show revolves around Mary Richards, a single woman who moves to Minneapolis to start a new life. She lands a job as an associate producer at WJM, a television station, where she works alongside her boss, Lou Grant, news anchor Ted Baxter, and her best friend, Rhoda Morgenstern. The show explores Mary's personal and professional life, as well as the relationships between her and her coworkers.

Season 5 Episode 5, titled "The Outsider," follows Mary as she meets a new employee at the station, Ginny Wrobliki. Ginny is hired as a copywriter and immediately feels like an outsider in the workplace. She doesn't fit in with the other employees, who are all male, and she's afraid she'll never be accepted.

As Ginny struggles to find her place at the station, Mary tries to help her feel more comfortable. She introduces Ginny to Rhoda and they become fast friends, bonding over their shared experiences of feeling like outsiders. Mary also convinces Lou to give Ginny a chance and he assigns her to work on a commercial for a new product the station is promoting.

Despite Mary's efforts, Ginny continues to feel left out. She overhears Ted and Murray making fun of her, which only makes her feel worse. She confronts Mary about it, but Mary insists that Ted and Murray were just kidding around and that they don't mean any harm.

Things come to a head when Ginny is asked to attend a meeting with the station's sponsors. She's nervous and uncomfortable, and when she starts to feel sick, Mary offers to go in her place. But Ginny insists that she needs to do it herself, determined to prove that she's capable of handling the job.

In the end, Ginny delivers a great presentation and receives praise from the sponsors. She also feels more confident about her place at the station, and Mary reassures her that she's a valued member of the team.

Overall, "The Outsider" is a touching episode that explores the theme of acceptance and belonging. It's a reminder that everyone has experienced feelings of being an outsider at some point in their life, and that it's important to be kind and supportive to those who are struggling. The episode also highlights the importance of diversity in the workplace and the need for everyone to work together to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.