Series synopsis
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman is an American drama soap comedy television series that premiered on Syndication on January 5, 1976. It ended on July 1, 1977. It was created by Ann Marcus, Daniel Gregory Browne, Jerry Adelman, Gail Parent, Norman Lear. It stars Louise Lasser, Greg Mullavey, Mary Kay Place and Graham Jarvis.
In the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio, suburban housewife Mary Hartman seeks the kind of domestic perfection promised by Reader’s Digest and TV commercials. Instead she finds herself suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune: mass murders, low-flying airplanes and waxy yellow buildup on her kitchen floor.
Premise
In the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio, suburban housewife Mary Hartman seeks the kind of domestic perfection promised by Reader’s Digest and TV commercials. Instead she finds herself suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune: mass murders, low-flying airplanes and waxy yellow buildup on her kitchen floor.
Premise: Do my floors have a waxy yellow buildup?
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Louise Lasser as Mary Hartman
- Greg Mullavey as Tom Hartman
- Mary Kay Place as Loretta Haggers
- Graham Jarvis as Charlie Haggers
- Dody Goodman as Martha Larkin Shumway
- Philip Bruns as George Shumway
- Debralee Scott as Cathy Shumway
- Victor Kilian as Raymond Larkin
Supporting cast
- Dabney Coleman as Merle Jeeter
- Claudia Lamb as Heather Hartman
- Marian Mercer as Wanda Rittenhouse / Wanda Jeeter
- William Finley as Dr. Elvin McCabe
- Sid Haig as Texas
- Doris Roberts as Dorelda Doremus
- Norman Alden as Coach Leroy Fedders
- Sparky Marcus as Jimmy Joe Jeeter
- Beverly Garland as Cookie LaRue
- Martin Mull as Garth Gimble / Barth Gimble
- Dennis Burkley as Mac Slattery
- Susan Browning as Pat Gimble
Guest cast
- William Finley as Dr. Elvin McCabe
- Sid Haig as Texas
- Doris Roberts as Dorelda Doremus
- Norman Alden as Coach Leroy Fedders
- Sparky Marcus as Jimmy Joe Jeeter
- Beverly Garland as Cookie LaRue
- Martin Mull as Garth Gimble / Barth Gimble
- Dennis Burkley as Mac Slattery
- Susan Browning as Pat Gimble
- Salome Jens as Mae Olinski
- Bruce Solomon as Sgt. Dennis Foley
- David Byrd as Vernon Bales
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 325 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 130 | January 5, 1976 | July 2, 1976 |
| Season 2 | 195 | October 4, 1976 | July 1, 1977 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 001 Loretta delivers word that a neighborhood family was murdered; Mary and Tom have a disagreement about making love; Charlie announces he almost has enough money to get Loretta's record demo made; The Fernwood Flasher is finally captured. |
January 5, 1976 |
| 2 |
Episode 002 Mary brings her grandfather home from the police station; Kathy falls for a blue-eyed Armenian bartender; a reporter interviews Loretta about the murders; and Mary feels ashamed when Tom rejects her sexual advances (or lack thereof). |
January 6, 1976 |
| 3 |
Episode 003 Mary is interviewed by a reporter; Young Heather Hartman displays suspicious behavior when asked about the recent murders; Grampa Larkin is arrested again. |
January 7, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 131 Andrew Ackerman feels that Mary's appearance on The David Susskind Show will bring attention -and more money- to the psychiatric ward at Fernwood Receiving. Mary meets Wanda Rittenhouse on the ward, and Wanda thanks Mary for making "BDs" respectable. Mary tells Dr. Williams that she'd rather be a plant than a person, but he reassures her that she's stronger than she thinks. Charlie and Loretta wonder exactly what injuries were inflicted by the gunshot in Merle's motel room. Mary is welcomed into her new Nielsen family at the hospital. |
October 4, 1976 |
| 2 |
Episode 132 Mary becomes better acquainted with her hospital family. Cathy is confused by the results of a pregnancy test. Not knowing the extent of his injuries frustrates Charlie. Merle calls the hospital to make amends. Tom finds Heather with a new look and taking good care of herself at home. Ackerman and Dr. Williams reach an impasse over the length of Mary's stay. |
October 5, 1976 |
| 3 |
Episode 133 Dr. Williams reveals to Mary that Tom signed her commitment papers. Grandpa Larkin suggests that Cathy turn go to George with news of her pregnancy. Charlie begs Nurse Nugent to tell him if he lost his manhood. Fletch realizes Chester stole the missing plutonium, which Chester says can level all of southern Ohio. Wanda asks Mary to be in charge of the ward while she's out on a weekend furlough. |
October 6, 1976 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Syndication |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 5, 1976 |
| Last aired | July 1, 1977 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday |