Five months after pulling the plug on her first variety show, CBS gave Mary Tyler Moore another chance.
However, The Mary Tyler Moore Hour didn't fare much better, as it ran for 11 episodes before the plug was pulled. Future film star Michael Keaton was retained from the earlier Mary, in a steady role, given the show's format, while David Letterman was a recurring player in various parts.
The concept harkened back to Jack Benny's seminal series, both on radio & television, as Mary played Mary McKinnon, who had her own show. Even with fellow icons like Lucille Ball and, as you'll see in the following clip, Dick Van Dyke, Mary couldn't draw a decent enough audience. Why? Her self-titled 1970 sitcom was in syndication, and viewers still saw her as WJM producer Mary Richards.
Now, check out this excerpt, which includes a call-back to The Dick Van Dyke Show:
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