The Mary Tyler Moore Show/Menage-a-Phyllis

Menage-a-Phyllis
Season 5, Episode 8
Airdate	November 2, 1974
Production Number	4010
Written by	Treva Silverman
Directed by	Jay Sandrich
Produced by	Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels
← 5x07 A New Sue Ann	5x09 → Not a Christmas Story
The Mary Tyler Moore Show — Season Five

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Menage-a-Phyllis is the eighth episode of the fifth season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and the one hundred fourth episode overall.

Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (Mary Richards)

Co-Starring: Edward Asner (Lou Grant) Gavin MacLeod (Murray Slaughter), Ted Knight (Ted Baxter)

Guest Star: John Saxon (Mike Tedesco)

and Special Guest Star: Cloris Leachman (Phyllis Lindstorm)

Plot Overview

Because Lars does not like the cultural things in life like she does, Phyllis, with Lars' knowledge, has found a companion, Mike Tedesco, with who to attend these cultural events. Although she almost seems to treat their outings like dates, Phyllis vows that their relationship is purely platonic. Like many other people, Mary thinks that Phyllis and Mike's relationship is more than just friends, until she actually meets Mike with Phyllis as she can see that there is nothing going on between the two of them. When Phyllis comes down with a cold, she suggests to Mike that he take Mary to the opera instead of her. Although Mary agrees, she feels uncomfortable about it as she both thinks that Mike is interested in her and that she is impinging on Mike and Phyllis' friendship. Deep down, Mary thinks that Phyllis sees Mike as more than just a friend. Indeed, Mike and Mary start dating. Regardless of how serious or not serious Mike and Mary's relationship is, Mary is going to have to have a heart to heart talk with Phyllis about the situation. Meanwhile, Mary and Lou have received funding to produce a documentary, if only they could figure out an appropriate topic.