Mary Tyler Moore Show spawned three notable spinoffs
Originally published Jul 16, 2026
By Will Harris · TVLine
AI-generated summary based on TVLine · Aggregated by Filmarian · Human-reviewed and approved on Jul 16, 2026
Key points
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show produced three spinoffs: Rhoda, Phyllis, and Lou Grant.
- Rhoda topped Nielsen ratings with its premiere and earned an Emmy for Valerie Harper.
- Phyllis was cancelled after two seasons due to production challenges.
The 1970s hit sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show generated three separate series by focusing on supporting characters after the original ended. Two of Mary Richards' friends, Rhoda Morgenstern and Phyllis Lindstrom, received their own half‑hour comedies, while newsroom boss Lou Grant became the lead of an hour‑long drama about print journalism. Rhoda enjoyed strong ratings, debuting at the top of the Nielsen charts and earning Valerie Harper an Emmy before declining after a controversial divorce storyline. Phyllis lasted only two seasons amid behind‑the‑scenes issues, whereas Lou Grant ran for five seasons as a critically acclaimed drama.
Read the original story: TVLine — by Will Harris
