The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) A Reliable Source (1976) User Reviews

Congressman Colonel Flagg

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 28 February 2017]

Mary is doing a story on organized crime and reveals that an old friend, a Congressman, was given money by the mob fifteen years previously so he could go to college. Things get tough when Lou decides to run the story, even after the guy says he was young and gave the money back. The congressman is played by Edward Winter, who played the psychotic Colonel Flagg on MASH. The argument over the story causes Mary to quit in protest. The funniest part of the episode, however, is Ted's pleading to get a raise after he finds out that Su Ann Nivens is making more money than he is. There are a series of miscommunications along the way, and they provide the humor.

Feels a bit forced

[Rrrobert · 7/10 · 23 February 2020]

Anticipating the end of the series there were a number of poignant 'looking back' episodes and this might be the first.

Mary and Lou disagree about running a story that might harm the career of a congressman (Edward Winter) who apparently is an old friend of Mary's. I think there might have been three references to Mary having joined the newsroom 'six years ago'. Anyway she threatens to resign then is torn as she doesn't really want to go.

The cast try hard in the poignant scenes but this episode didn't really work for me. Much of the comedy comes from Ted misunderstanding what is going on while lobbying for a pay rise to match what Sue Ann makes.

Edward Winter is wasted in one short scene.