Mary does a documentary one evening relating to sexuality. The whole newsroom watches it and it turns into a crazy sort of male dominated teasing. Mostly Ted is clueless (what else is new?), but the others have equally funny responses. Mary is suddenly inundated with obscene phone calls from viewers. As it turns out, Phyllis saw the show and, because of her own anxiety issues, she wants Mary to teach Bess, her daughter, about sex. Phyllis is a great character. She has all the high falooting beliefs but is too frightened or out of touch to put them into practice. Poor Mary is cast to the wolves, and, of course, Rhoda is no help. This is a really funny episode. The little girl that plays Bess, Lisa Gerretson, is very good in her role.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series)
The Birds... and... um... Bess (1971)
User Reviews
Review this title3 Reviews
Phyllis again
Rrrobert15 July 2019
Mary has produced a documentary about sex which all the regular characters have watched and comment on. John Amos as Gordy has some funny bits but the main focus is on Phyllis, who wants Mary to give daughter Bess the sex talk.
Phyllis as usual is a total know-it-all in theory but ineffectual at putting the knowledge into action.
If you like Phyllis you'll like this episode. The Mary and Bess scenes are really well played.
Phyllis as usual is a total know-it-all in theory but ineffectual at putting the knowledge into action.
If you like Phyllis you'll like this episode. The Mary and Bess scenes are really well played.
Mary and the facts of life.
planktonrules7 February 2024
The story begins the day after a documentary about sexuality aired on WJM. Many are calling to complain, many are calling to make obscene phone calls and a few call to get sex advice! Clearly, it was tough going at the station. However, it gets tougher when Mary comes home. Phyllis arrives and suggests Mary have the sex talk with Bess, as Phyllis is too embarrassed to do so.
The episode made little sense for two reasons. First, Phyllis always considered herself a permissive and 'with it' mom...and her not talking to Bess about sex seems inconsistent. Second, Mary, as usual, has no backbone and agrees to give Bess 'the talk'. Even Mary would have (or should have) said NO to such a request, as it's clearly not her job to do this.
Despite my complaints above, this is still a very good episode. It offers some nice laughs though because it came out in 1971, they really DON'T talk about sex at all. Well worth seeing.
The episode made little sense for two reasons. First, Phyllis always considered herself a permissive and 'with it' mom...and her not talking to Bess about sex seems inconsistent. Second, Mary, as usual, has no backbone and agrees to give Bess 'the talk'. Even Mary would have (or should have) said NO to such a request, as it's clearly not her job to do this.
Despite my complaints above, this is still a very good episode. It offers some nice laughs though because it came out in 1971, they really DON'T talk about sex at all. Well worth seeing.
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