TWIN CITIES TV NEWSWOMEN TALK ABOUT MARY

JOAN GILBERTSON

Senior producer, WCCO, Ch. 4

"Mary was the first woman on TV who had a real job. This was the height of women's lib, and I was growing up being taught I wasn't going to stay at home and raise kids, so who were my role models -- Carol Brady? It's definitely cool to have moved where the show took place. When I met [WCCO anchor] Don Shelby, I was like, 'Oh my God, he's kind of Ted Baxter-like.'"

DIANA PIERCE

Anchor, KARE, Ch. 11

"I think what that show did was capture a work environment that many people could relate to, whether you worked in a newsroom or in the shipping industry. There's a lot of Murrays in all of us out there. And Teds. Given opportunity and length of career, it's really just a matter of time before you open mouth and insert foot. Been there, done that, don't want to do that again."

ROBYNE ROBINSON

Former anchor, KMSP, Ch. 9

"Mary was the example. She had this life that was really very adventurous. When I look at how I came to Minneapolis, on a Greyhound bus, didn't know anyone, and people were kind to me, I think about that often-- it's very Mary Richards. And she was fashion-forward, always."

ANGELA DAVIS

Anchor, WCCO, Ch. 4

"I admired the fact that she was a good friend. It was great to watch her conversations with Rhoda, Georgette and Sue Ann. She seemed to really care about them. Women in television newsrooms can often be very competitive with one another and reluctant to be friendly. However, I can honestly say that I've been fortunate to work with some real-life Marys."