It’s out on DVD! I loved this show - I think it was ahead of its time - I hope when I get around to seeing the DVDs I won’t be disappointed. It’s been so long.
Any one of you guys love it too? Any favorite moments?
“A station wagon full of nuns.”
“And just think that he is one of those people who killed Our Lord.”
The show ran out of steam as time went by, but the first months of it were comedy gold.
I recall something about “a station wagon full of nuns” from an old *All in the Family * episode. I wonder if that was the inspiration.
I watched *Mary Hartman * some when it first came out, but I have to say it didn’t do much for me back then.
It’s been out for a while, unless this is some kind of special rerelease. Definitely stands the test of time, one of the alltime greats.
Loved it. It was surrealistic. Casting was great also. Whatever happened to Mary kay Place?
Wow. DVD. Gotta get me some.
I watched it daily, obsessively, every day at lunch. One of the worst things that ever happened to me in my life was switching jobs to one that didn’t allow me to run home and watch Mary Hartman on my lunch hour. I was bereft.
ETA: Mary Kay Place was one of those people who kept turning up in odd places, and you’d go, “Hey, it’s Mary Kay Place…” I looked her up on the IMDB. She’s been working more or less steadily ever since, at least, she didn’t just disappear completely.
Loved it. Bert was my fav, if not the non-breathing member of Chuck and Bob.
Are you thinking of “Soap” by any chance?
*Soap * I loved. I thought that was much better than Mary Hartman.
The problem with “Soap” was that it used sitcom conventions – laugh track, bouncy theme music, exaggerated comedic delivery, etc. It was for teenagers (and maybe that’s why we both used to like it). “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” played it straight and was comedic satire for grownups.
I could take or leave “Mary Hartman” but the spinoff, “Fernwood 2 Night” (later to be called “America 2 Night”) was must-see, and had my sister and me in stitches. I believe it came on between “Prisoner: Cell Block H” and “Benny Hill.” Now that was a quality block of programming.
Not out on DVD yet, but I’m waiting. Martin Mull and Fred Willard at their best.
She is playing one of the wives of Roman Grant, the FLDS polygamist leader played by Harry dean Stanton in HBO’s Big Love
Actually, I was a grownup when *Mary Hartman * aired. 
How dated does it seem now? I’ve heard about this show for years and have always been intregued by the surreal reputation it has, but it was long gone by the time I was old enough to care about TV. What do you think, would someone who was a baby when it finished find it interesting today?
I had looked it up because I’d never even heard of it (it’s older than me - damn!) and it seems that you’re correct. The DVD came out in March of 2007.
:smack:
I think you’ll have to see for yourself. I was a young adult when it came out and just could not get into it, but as you can see, many others swear by it.
Oh Yeah… Gotta love the Hartman!
I watched it as a teenager, and it warped my life in a very good way…
I watched the first DVD start to finish… No real “LOL” moments, but what wierd nostalgia. The 70’s were … well, “the 70’s” and MH^2 accidentially and at times purposely caught the so called zieghtgiest of the times, compressed it into a nutshell (nut case?-grin) and presented it to us for consupmtion.
Looking back at it, as a soap opera parody, it worked well, but what really made it magic was the storm of contriversy it created. Sponsors were fleeing, people were outraged and by things that would not raise an eyebrow if shown on current television. Louise Lasser (SP?) and her decent in to a spiralling cocaine /quaalude addiction during the show’s production are now stuff of 70’s clich’e. I remember the final show, with her sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth… mumbling…
Still waiting to find the second DVD with that episode on it…
(The first was $4.99 special at Blockbuster)…
And then came Fernwood/America Tonight… Happy kine and the Mirth Makers, Tom Waits hitting Barth (Garth?) up for a loan, The Ads for Happy Kines Restaurant… “All our beef is fresh frozen, as soon as it seems dead, and then its transported to our restaurants!” Anyone heard if its available on DVD yet?
Brilliant and strange stuff…
Regards
FML
I think I remember these better. Didn’t Burt Reynolds (or somebody else?) appear as a guest and pretend to sleep on the couch?
The episode listings on these shows at IMDB are quite strange - lots of gaps. Is there a treasure trove of unaired episodes out there?