简介：LongbeforeTwinPeaks,MaryHartman,MaryHartmanturnedthesoapoperainsideout.ProducedbyNormanLear(AllintheFamily),thesyndicatedserialcentersaroundgingham-cladhousewifeMaryHartman(WoodyAllenregularLouiseLasser).ThesagabeginswithMaryagonizingoverherfloor'swaxyyellowbuildupwhenneighborLorettaHaggers(EmmywinnerMaryKayPlace)burstsintoannouncethatamassmurdererisonthelooseinFernwood.Thatisn'tMary'sonlyproblem.ThemagichasgoneoutofhermarriagetoTom(GregMullavey)andhergrandfatherisrevealedastheFernwoodFlasher.Andthat'sjustthepilot. Atfirstglance,MaryHartman,MaryHartmanresemblesadaytimesoapwithconsecutiveairings(fivenightsaweek),frame-fillingclose-ups,andsyrupyscore,buteverythingisoff-kilter.WhenMaryisn'tlookingatothercharactersasifthey'respeakingintongues,sheappearstobeonthevergeoflaughterortears--maybebothatonce.She'stheultimatedesperatehousewife.AsidefromGrandpaLarkin(VictorKilian),regularsincludeMary’spreteendaughterHeather(ClaudiaLamb),youngersisterCathy(DebraleeScott),andparents,Martha(DodyGoodman)andGeorgeShumway(PhilipBruns).Inaddition,there'sSgt.Foley(BruceSolomon),whohasthehotsforoursexuallyunsatisfiedheroine,andLoretta'shubbie,Charlie(GrahamJarvis),whoworkswithTomandGeorgeattheplant.Mrs.Haggers,anaspiringcountrysinger,lovesherBabyBoy"morethanahundredbillionfrozenMilkyWays."Thefirstsetofthisgroundbreakingseriesfeatures25episodes.Between1976-1978,awhopping325wereproduced,someasForeverFernwoodwhenLasserleftin1977,reportedlyduetoexhaustion.Thatyear,theseriesalsospunofftalk-showsatireFernwood2Nite,whichwouldsoondevelopacultfollowingofitsown.…