I just discovered "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman."

[David__77]

I just watched this show for the first time. I was talking to my mother about television shows, and somehow it came up, so I found it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/friendswith82/videos

In one day, I'm through most of the 25 episodes that are available online or on DVD. But a total of more than 300 were produced - wish I could find them!

I know that superficially the plots are over-the-top, but there's a realness to the characters and incisiveness about the implicit social commentary. Seems like society is too hard-boiled and cynical for a show like this today. I can definitely tell that Norman Lear had his hand in this. Why is this not ever rerun on TV today?

What do people think about this show?

[RebelOne]

1. I don't remember much about the show now,

because it was so long ago, but I would watch it faithfully when it was on TV many years ago.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Classic TV Gold! Great social commentary, reminds me of "Soap"!

Also TV Gold!

[David__77]

5. I've always loved Soap.

I wish that show had lasted longer, thought the 4th season was on the weak side.

[HarveyDarkey]

3. I loved it

And it lasted slightly over a year, so there are not 300 episodes.
25 may be it, although it did morph into Forever Fernwood.

[David__77]

4. The first season was 130 episodes. It was a nightly series, surprisingly.

I was shocked. Apparently that's why the lead character quit - she was burned out.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19761028&id=xJpRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1hEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6829,5298969

IMDB is wrong. Youtube has some clips of the second season including the finale before it switched to Fernwood...

[valerief]

13. You reminded me of Fernwood Tonight. Loved that show.nt

[kentauros]

16. I remember it, too!

Martin Mull and Fred Willard!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernwood_2_Night

[olddots]

6. It may have been a golden era in TV

I watch Fernwood Tonight on youtube way to much lately .

Mary Kay Place is a brilliant actress , I have never seen her bad in anything she has done.

[PoliticAverse]

7. Beware Waxy Yellow Buildup!! n/t

[MuseRider]

8. It is great!

Follow that up with Fernwood Tonight

[Tom Ripley]

9. When I was 15, I was sent home from school for smoking dope...

as I sat there in my David Bowie t-shirt watching "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman", I said to myself, "Self, you are a product of your times"
MH,MH was one of the greatest shows ever.

[David__77]

10. Haha, what a terrible "punishment."

The imagery almost makes me think of the movie Over the Edge (one of my favorites):

[Tom Ripley]

11. My 5 friends also received the same punishment...

2 whole days of suspension!
God, I miss the 70s.

[In_The_Wind]

12. It was a riot.

[rurallib]

14. I can't add much to the discussion

But the woman playing Mary Hartman - Louise Lasser was once married to Woody Allen - bet that was a laugh riot.
I still have fond memories of Mary Hartman and Fernwood 2nite.

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Probably the only "soap opera" I ever bothered to watch.

My college friends and I used to watch it for shits and giggles.

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. ibwatchedbit back in the day. must be weird to watch it for the first time

In 2012. It's so 80s. Or. Is it late 70s?

[Solly Mack]

19. I loved that show!

[RiffRandell]

20. I remember playing around the house while Mom watched it.

She used to laugh...I'll have to check it out

[NV Whino]

21. I loved it when it was on

Don't know what I would think today.