Feeling Down? Ted Baxter’s Got The Answer!

My friend Beetley Pete shared a great anecdote today, which you can see at his website – he was talking about how to see things in a more positive light, which is a goal of his – here is the story:

https://beetleypete.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/continuing-positivity/#respond

After I read his blog, I shared a clip with him, and then decided to go ahead and share it with everyone – there are days (perhaps longer!) where life is frustrating and can wear you down – but as Don Henley said in his song “Long Way Home”:

“There’s three sides to every story babe
There’s yours and there’s mine and the cold, hard truth…”

So I realized that your point of view is everything…how you choose to see life is how you will live it…and Ted Baxter sums it up perfectly!

I shared this clip with Pete…a moment from the legendary “Mary Tyler Moore” show…Ted Baxter was the pompous yet lovable Anchorman, Lou Grant the tough as nails News Director, and Mary of course the empowered independent Producer in an era when women NEVER had empowered roles on TV.

On one episode, Mary was worn down, a bit depressed, but Ted was there to give her the advice she needed…here is the clip – watch to the end to get the full impact of Ted Baxter’s brilliance:

So, while Ted didn’t even understand his own advice, his character always knew “what was what” and his innocence, bluster and ego never masked what was a pure, genuine soul…and Ted Knight was brilliant in the role, especially when the legendary Walter Cronkite stopped by the show:

After Ted “talks shop” about which words are more difficult to say on-air, Cronkite looks at Lou Grant and mutters:

“I’ll get you for this!”

The role made Ted Knight a star. He received six Emmy Award nominations for the role, winning the Emmy for “Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy” in 1973 and 1976.

Knight went on to star in the TV series “Too Close for Comfort”, and also had a role in the iconic comedy “Caddyshack” as well.

And I never knew this, but Knight released an album of comedy songs as well – and always with a big smile on his face!

Knight died in 1986…but I still watch the “MTM” show just to see his greatest moments…and there is a book all about the show as well:

Here is a look at the stories behind the making of this great TV classic:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/08/19/mary-tyler-moore-show-you-got-spunk-a-tv-classic-revealed/

Of course, Mary Tyler Moore had a long and varied career, including an Oscar nomination for her work in the Best Picture of 1980, “Ordinary People”.

She was a great Actress and a great person as well – here is her story:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/25/rip-mary-tyler-moore-brilliant-entertainer-broke-tv-barriers/

Finally, since I mentioned both “Caddyshack” AND comedy albums, here is another guy who did both:

CADDYSHACK, from left: Executive Producer Jon Peters, Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield, 1980. © Orion Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection

Yes, Rodney Dangerfield “got no respect” but his role in “Caddyshack” is brilliant, up against Ted Knight at every turn…see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/19/rodney-dangerfield-brilliant-comic-gets-no-respect-rapping-rodney-his-hilarious-caddyshack-outtakes/

Thanks Ted for cheering us all up!

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