| 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.