15 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’

7. The Hat Toss Was Done On the Sly

At the end of the opening credits, Mary Richards crosses a crowded street in Minneapolis and throws her bright red hat into the air. Suddenly, the shot freezes, capturing an expression of unquenchable hope for the future. There’s a reason this iconic single frame has stood the test of time. Fun fact: no one else in the shot knew people were filming. The crew was using hidden cameras in order to achieve a more authentic feel.

8. The Show Spawned Three Spin-Offs

The popularity of The Mary Tyler Moore Show was so widespread that it spawned three spin-offs throughout its run. In the fourth season, Rhoda got her own self-titled show which ran for four seasons (and was never the same after Joe left). Background player Phyllis got her own eponymous sitcom which was short-lived. Finally, Lou Grant made the most shocking transition of all, making the shift to an also self-titled hour-long drama which ran for five seasons and won 13 Emmys.

9. The Show Won 29 Emmys

Not only is the show fondly remembered for being flat-out fun and enjoyable, it was also ground-breaking in its own right, and the critics took notice. Throughout the show’s 7-year run, it won a total of 29 Emmys including three for Outstanding Comedy Series, multiple wins for most of its supporting cast (sorry, Murray!), several writing wins and even a couple for its editing.