1. THE MARY TYLER
MOORE SHOW
OCTOBER 25, 1975
One little miscalculation can just ruin your whole day.
Take Chuckles the Clown, WJM-TV's kiddie-show host.
Named grand marshal of the circus parade, he shows up
dressed as Peter Peanut, and, as news director Lou Grant
(Ed Asner) later explains to his troops, "a rogue elephant
tried to shell him." And so begins "Chuckles Bites the
Dust," unquestionably the best remembered, most
discussed, most supremely influential episode of all time.
Chuckles' nutty demise becomes the source of dark jokes
for everyone in the office except somber Mary, who can't
see the absurdity of the incident. the humor in the clown's
passing . until the funeral when, in a sublime example of poor
timing, it suddenly hits her during the eulogy.
Surrounded by stony-faced mourners, striving to maintain
proper decorum, squirming for control, trying to cover
her giggles with coughs and throat clearings Mary (below
left, with Ted Knight and Georgia Engel), finally lets
loose. Surprisingly, the preacher encourages her
unseemly outburst as something the deceased would have
wanted. No sooner does he say, "So go ahead, my dear,
laugh for Chuckles," than Mary breaks down in tears.
This unforeseen final twist, and Moore's bravura bipolar
performance, make this exquisite episode a sitcom
landmark and proof positive that TV can explore a social
taboo with sophistication, wit, irreverence, and
impeccable good taste.
REWIND
"During rehearsals,"
recalls Moore, "I cracked
up every time I had to
refer to one of Chuckles'
characters: Mr. Fe-Fi-Fo.
That would have
confused the audience
terribly. We didn't know
right up until the camera
was on if i was going to I
be able to pull it off I
without laughing."
[TV Guide, June 28, 1997]