"Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (1976) TV series 1976-1978

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Bob Lally

Writer:

Brad Buckner (writer)

Seasons:

1

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:

Indecent Exposure | Soap | Spoof | Cult TV | Waxy Yellow Buildup

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Louise Lasser	...	Mary Hartman (17 episodes, 1976-1977)
Greg Mullavy	...	Tom Hartman (16 episodes, 1976-1978)
Beverly Garland	...	Cookie LaRue (16 episodes, 1976-1977)
Norman Alden	...	Coach Leroy Fedders (15 episodes, 1976-1977)
Debralee Scott	...	Cathy Shumway (14 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mary Kay Place	...	Loretta Haggers (14 episodes, 1976)
Graham Jarvis	...	Charlie Haggers (14 episodes, 1976)
Dody Goodman	...	Martha Shumway (12 episodes, 1976)
Philip Bruns	...	George Shumway (10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bruce Solomon	...	Sergeant Dennis Foley (10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Claudia Lamb	...	Heather Hartman (9 episodes, 1976)
Victor Kilian	...	Raymond Larkin (9 episodes, 1976-1977)
Salome Jens	...	Mae Olinski (7 episodes, 1976-1977)

Runtime:

30 min (325 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Filmways Television

Trivia:

Norman Lear's shows were being produced at Metromedia Square in Hollywood, but there was inadequate space for this show, so they rented studio space from KTLA. The KTLA studio was across Fernwood Street, so they started calling KTLA "Fernwood", which then became the name of the fictitious town where the show is set.

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 "Hearts Afire: Mrs. Hartman, Mrs. Hartman (#3.11)" (1995)

TVLAND must bring this back for at least a few MARATHONS!

This should MUST be resurrected.

A more insightfully absurd and comically astute series has not been made. Mix the daily grind of ALL MY CHILDREN, the experimentation of MONTY PYTHON, the self-absorbed and urbane existentialism of WOODY ALLEN and the offbeat quality of BLUE VELVET and you have MARY HARTMAN MARY HARTMAN.

What a fabulous cast and what kooky writing! This is black comedy at its most tongue-in-cheek.

TVLAND bring it back, please!