Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)
Norman Lear's audacious satirical soap opera follows a bewildered Ohio housewife through a world of surreal suburban catastrophe and consumer-culture absurdity.
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Series Information
- Original Title: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
- First Air Year: 1976
- Last Air Year: 1977
- Created by: Ann Marcus, Daniel Gregory Browne et al.
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Soap, Comedy
- Content Rating (US): NR
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 27 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 325
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: January 5, 1976 (United States - NR)
- Networks: Syndication
- Alternative Titles: MH2 (US)
- Production Companies: TAT Communications Company, Filmways Television
- Production Countries: United States of America
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Plot
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.
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Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Ann Marcus
- Daniel Gregory Browne
- Jerry Adelman
- Gail Parent
- Norman Lear
Main Cast
- Louise Lasser
- Greg Mullavey
- Mary Kay Place
- Graham Jarvis
- Dody Goodman
- Debralee Scott
- Victor Kilian
- Claudia Lamb
- Philip Bruns
- Dabney Coleman
Writers
- Jerry Adelman
- Peggy Goldman
- Tom Eyen
- Ann Marcus
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - FAQs
Was Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman a parody of soap operas?
Yes. Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman was a deliberate satirical parody of daytime soap operas, blending absurdist humor with melodrama. Created by Norman Lear and collaborators, it lampooned consumer culture, suburban life, and the conventions of the soap opera genre itself, earning cult status for its sharp, subversive wit.
Why was Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman rejected by major networks?
All three major U.S. television networks — ABC, CBS, and NBC — declined to air the series, reportedly finding its satirical tone and adult content too unconventional and risky. Norman Lear bypassed the networks entirely and distributed the show through syndication, where it found a passionate audience and became a cultural phenomenon.
Where can you stream Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman?
Streaming availability for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman varies by region and platform. You can check current viewing options, including subscription services and digital rental or purchase platforms, by visiting JustWatch, which aggregates up-to-date streaming information for your specific location.
Who are the main actors in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman?
The series stars Louise Lasser in the title role, alongside Greg Mullavey, Mary Kay Place, Graham Jarvis, Dody Goodman, Debralee Scott, Victor Kilian, Claudia Lamb, Philip Bruns, and Dabney Coleman. Lasser's performance as the perpetually bewildered Mary Hartman became one of television's most celebrated comedic portrayals.
What is Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman about?
Set in the fictional Fernwood, Ohio, the show follows suburban housewife Mary Hartman as she pursues the domestic ideal sold by TV commercials and magazines. Her mundane aspirations are constantly derailed by increasingly surreal crises — from mass murders to low-flying aircraft — all while she frets over waxy yellow buildup on her kitchen floor.
When did Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman first air?
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman premiered on January 5, 1976, distributed through television syndication across the United States. The show ran for two seasons and a total of 325 episodes before concluding in 1977, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of American television's most daring satirical experiments.
How many seasons and episodes does the series have?
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman ran for two seasons totaling 325 episodes. Season 1 comprised 130 episodes, while Season 2 expanded to 195 episodes. The show aired in a near-daily strip format, mimicking the structure of the daytime soap operas it was simultaneously celebrating and skewering.
Did Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman win any awards?
The series received significant critical recognition. Louise Lasser won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series for her performance. Mary Kay Place also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, tied to her character Loretta Haggers, highlighting the show's remarkable crossover cultural impact.
More About Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
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