The Only Time Mary Tyler Moore Ever Got Upset on Set, According to James L. Brooks

James L. Brooks, the co-creator of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, revealed what it was really like to work with the titular actress.

The director and producer spoke to Peopleat the Peabody Awards on Sunday in Beverly Hills, California. Brooks reflected fondly on his time with Mary Tyler Moore, sharing "she never pulled rank. Ever. Ever," and saw herself as "a member of the cast."

He also created sitcoms such as Taxi and The Simpsonsand became the first person to receive the Industry Icon Award at the Peabody Awards.

The only time he remembered Moore upset was during the finale of the series. The episode, "The Last Show," aired on CBS on March 19, 1977.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show followed an unmarried, career-driven woman, Mary Richards (Moore's character). She worked at a news station in Minneapolis.

In the final episode, everyone at the station is fired, with the exception of TedBaxter's character. The employees (played by EdAsner, GavinMacLeod, and BettyWhite) each get an opportunity to say goodbye to one another. Moore's goodbye was overlooked and not written.

"I don't know what happened to us. We were just working so hard." Brooks said. Adding that it was "the only time she came to the office."

After seven years working on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, finding Moore's final words was "a hard thing to come up with." Luckily, they eventually "got it just right," Brooks said.

The series is one of the most awarded comedies in television history. It received 67 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and 29 wins. The show also earned the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1975, 1976, and 1977.

Mary Tyler Moore died in 2017 at 80 years old. She was an actress, producer, and activist. Her role on The Mary Tyler MooreShow was groundbreaking, becoming one of the first series with a strong, independent female lead.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 2:37 PM.