Mary Richards.
She'll be remembered for both - but mainly for Mary Richards. No matter how great The Dick Van Dyke Show was and is, she was still the wife and mom.
Mary Richards was something entirely new. And for a long time, her show was considered to be one of the best shows EVER.
Mary. There was a great deal more depth to that character. It made an icon out of her, and gave inspiration to women that were negotiating a male dominion that they could do so effectively without being strident and angry.
shareIsn't this like asking someone which of their children is their favorite?
Seriously, I love both characters, and MTM was fantastic on both shows.
But, for me, Laura Petrie was one of the first TV crushes I had, and the character is just so much fun - I've got to put Laura as #1 and Mary as 1A.
You can't go wrong with either. Both shows were groundbreaking, brilliantly written and directed, and brought to life by two of the best sitcom casts ever on TV (if not the two very best).
When she cries and gets scared - Laura Petrie
When she loses it and yells at Lou Grant or Ted Baxter - Mary Richards
She slaughtered me with a bouffant flip in black and white as well as with that long black wig in living color.
Mary Tyler Meeker Petrie Richards was the best.
Prefer? I guess Laura Petrie mainly because the first time I saw MM was in the role of that character. Also, even as a little kid, I found her to be sexy in those capri pants she always wore. 😃
RIP
No blah, blah, blah!
Laura Pietre because MTM and DVD were so so so perfect together.
shareCute and pretty as Laura Petrie, but The Mary Tyler Moore show is one of the best TV sitcoms of all time, and I enjoyed her more on it than the Dick Van Dyke show.
shareIsn't this like asking someone which of their children is their favorite?
Seriously, I love both characters, and MTM was fantastic on both shows.
But, for me, Laura Petrie was one of the first TV crushes I had
I agree, except Mary Richards was my first older woman crush as I watched MTM as it aired and watched DVD after