Fictional character from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Fictional character
Ted Baxter
First appearance
"Love Is All Around" September 19, 1970
Last appearance
"The Last Show" March 19, 1977
Created by
James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
Portrayed by
Ted Knight
In-universe information
Gender
Male
Occupation
Anchorman at WJM-TV Station
Family
Robert Baxter (father) Hal Baxter (brother)
Spouse
Georgette Franklin Baxter
Children
David (son) Mary Lou (daughter)
Ted Baxter is a fictional character on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977). Portrayed by Ted Knight, the Baxter character is a broad parody of a vain, shallow, buffoonish, vacuous TV personality. Knight's comedic model was actor William Powell, and he also drew on Los Angeles newscasters, including George Putnam, to shape the character.[1] The role was originally conceived for Jack Cassidy, but Cassidy turned it down; he later appears in the season two episode "Cover Boy" as Ted's equally egocentric brother Hal.[2]
Ted Baxter has become a symbolic figure often referenced when criticizing media figures, particularly news anchors hired for style and appearance rather than journalistic ability.[3]
^O'Halloren, Bill (January 3, 1981). "Ted Knight...Too Close for Comfort". TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-09..
^Cassidy, David; Deffaa, Chip (1994). C'mon, Get Happy ... Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus. New York: Warner Books. p. 50. ISBN 0-446-39531-5.
^Boyle, Frank T. (October 1993). "IBM, Talking Heads, and Our Classrooms". College English. 55 (6). National Council of Teachers of English: 618–626. doi:10.2307/378698. ISSN 0010-0994. JSTOR 378698. ERIC EJ470266.
TedBaxter is a fictional character on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977). Portrayed by Ted Knight, the Baxter character is a broad parody...
variation of the TedBaxter character for regional commercials. In the Cleveland area during the early to late 1970s, a newsman simply known as "Ted" would provide...
the station's nightly news broadcast, and makes frequent quips about TedBaxter's mangling of his news copy, and Sue Ann Nivens' aggressive, man-hungry...
newswriter Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod), and buffoonish anchorman TedBaxter (Ted Knight). Mary is later promoted to producer of the show, though her...
Richards Ed Asner as Lou Grant Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter Ted Knight as TedBaxter Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom (seasons 1-5) Valerie Harper...
Lou having the title of executive producer, and she reported to him), TedBaxter as his news anchor and Murray Slaughter as his head writer. Of these relationships...
The Baxters is a sitcom that aired in broadcast syndication from September 1979 to August 1981. The original American incarnation of the series aired...
Meredith Ann Baxter (born June 21, 1947) is an American actress and producer. She is known for her roles on the CBS sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie (1972–1973)...
[citation needed] The role of the vain, shallow, buffoon-like newsman TedBaxter on TV's The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) was reportedly written with...
Show CBS Ted Knight TedBaxter The Mary Tyler Moore Show CBS Rob Reiner Michael Stivic All in the Family 1973 (25th) Ted Knight TedBaxter The Mary Tyler...
would have played him as a variation on The Mary Tyler Moore Show's TedBaxter, because that's what Bill was, on paper. But Hartman gave infinite variety...
film and the theme song for the Sharknado franchise. He played Ted & Georgette Baxter's adopted son David on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He was also the...
inspired by character TedBaxter of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, recalling in 1987, "I particularly wanted to get that phony bonhomie of Baxter ... Max always...
Murray Slaughter (Gavin McLeod), and the vain and nit-witted anchorman TedBaxter (Ted Knight). Mary rents a studio apparent from acquaintance and landlady...
Murray Slaughter, Ed Asner as Lou Grant, Georgia Engel as Georgette Franklin Baxter, Ted Knight as TedBaxter, and Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, 1977...
Language and Super Password. On The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode titled "TedBaxter's Famous Broadcaster's School," airing February 22, 1975, Frey played the...
Georgette Franklin (Georgia Engel), girlfriend and eventual wife of TedBaxter (Ted Knight), Sue Ann helps fill the void left by the departure of both...
friends with newswriter Murray Slaughter and vain, incompetent anchorman TedBaxter. In the office, Mary is often the voice of reason. Lou—always called Mr...
the other characters, drawing partial inspiration from the character TedBaxter of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Lombard's physical model was real-life football...
Willie 1971 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Rod Porter And Now, Sitting in for TedBaxter 1971–1978 Celebrity Bowling Himself Entire series 1971–1985 Days of Our...
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