pop cultured

This Mary Tyler Moore episode from 1973 is one of my favorite sitcom episodes ever. Mary, known for her disastrous dinner parties,  is hosting a dinner party for the distinguished Congresswoman Geddes (Irene Tedrow) .  Mary asks Sue Ann (Betty White) to help her make the main course. Sue Ann makes it for her—6 servings of veal Orloff.

But when the guests arrive—including her friend Rhoda, who brings an unexpected date, and the uninvited arrival of newsman Ted Baxter- Mary panics.

The best part? Mary’s boss Lou Grant (Ed Asner) helps himself to a huge serving of the veal—3 portions worth. After a mortified Mary whispers to him that he took half the food and she doesn’t have enough for the rest of the guests, Lou hesitantly puts some of the veal back on the platter, saying “I guess I wasn’t as hungry as I thought”.