Mary Tyler Moore didn’t just toss a hat in the air—she helped blow up the rulebook for women on television.
My colleague Rob Kelly ranks this doc #7 on his list of The 15 Best Feminist Documentaries.
Trailer for “Being Mary Tyler Moore”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Mary Tyler Moore was the first major actress on television to regularly wear pants. Network executives were so worried about showing a woman’s figure that they reportedly told producers to make sure the pants didn’t “cup under” so viewers wouldn’t notice her backside.
- When “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” debuted in 1970, the idea of a single, career-focused woman in her 30s who wasn’t desperately searching for a husband was considered risky tv.
- After being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 33, Moore spent decades becoming one of the most visible advocates for diabetes research in America.
Watch “Being Mary Tyler Moore”
You can watch “Being Mary Tyler Moore” on Fubo.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 81/100 (Users), 97/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: James Adolphus directs this HBO documentary using extensive archival footage and television clips to examine both Moore’s groundbreaking career and the personal struggles she often hid from the public.
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Other Unique Stuff
- Moore’s production company eventually produced everything from “WKRP in Cincinnati” to “Hill Street Blues,” making her one of the most powerful women in television history.
- Before she arrived in 1970, television rarely centered on a single professional woman whose life wasn’t defined by finding a husband. The documentary makes a compelling case that Moore helped create the blueprint for countless female TV characters who followed.
Wrap Up:
“Being Mary Tyler Moore” is much more than a celebrity biography. It’s the story of how one performer helped reshape television while carrying far more personal pain than most viewers ever realized.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc