Now, I don't want to open with some dumb joke like "Oh no, now 2017 is killing people too!" or some such nonsense. A human being just died, and it's tragic. To add significance to the year it happened is us trying to understand and make logic out of something that is both unfathomable and all-too knowable.
Mary Tyler Moore, who died today at the age of 80, was a feminist icon, and for good reason. First becoming famous as the wife of the titular Dick Van Dyke in the DICK VAN DYKE show – holding her own (and then some) in their comedic scenes together – she then moved on to THE MARY TYLER MOORE show, about a career woman making it in the big city. While a bit of a cliche now, that plot was pretty revolutionary at the time. The episodes even dealt with things like her arguing for equal pay as the men, and even taking the pill. In fact, the show was known for having the most Emmy nominations of any show for almost thirty years (until FRASIER in 2002). Speaking of awards, Moore was also nominated for an Oscar for her role in ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980).
Moore will be missed. Not only as a talent – because she was very talented – but as an outspoken activist for women and animal rights. From all who knew her she seemed to be an all-around decent person, and the world will be worse without her.
RIP Mary Tyler Moore (1936-2017)