Daily Dirt: Mary and Mariska lead list of impactful women

Daily Dirt for Oct. 13, 2021

I’ll be honest. I always loved Mary Tyler Moore, from her early days on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” to her brilliant years on the program that carried her name on the marquee. Mary passed away Jan. 25, 2017. She was 80 at the time of her passing, and to this day I still smile each time I watch one of her reruns or see her name in print. Today’s three thoughts in Vol. 95 of the Daily Dirt are dedicated to MTM.

1. The most impactful women in TV history? Sounds like a good discussion point, eh? Well, here’s my two cents on the subject, albeit with a couple of minor parameters. My list comes from those who have appeared in regular weekly series over the past 60 years. I have not included women news anchors or any other kind of reporter. That’s an entirely different subject for an entirely different day. On with the rankings:    

1. Mary Tyler Moore, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-77): Moore, America’s longtime TV sweetheart, was an unmarried, independent woman focused on her career as an associate producer for a Minneapolis TV station. In the 1970s, Moore’s role as a single woman and not dependent on a man was rarity on network television. On more than one occasion, the program was singled out as groundbreaking — and for the most part it was a comedy, which made those praises even more unexpected. The program was also singled out for its complex, yet realistic storylines, which was the polar opposite to “the simplistic plots and characterizations typically seen on broadcast television at that time,” according to one publication.

2. Mariska Hargitay, “Law and Order: SVU” (1999-present): For more than 20 years, Hargitay’s Olivia Benson character has fought to improve society’s response to sexual assault, domestive violence and child abuse — just as he has in her own personal life.

3. The women of “The Walking Dead” (2010-present): Lauren Cohan (Maggie), Dani Gurira (Michonne) and Melissa McBride (Carol) have all proven a strong, bright woman can survive both a zombie apocalypse and all that goes with it, most of which is pretty nasty. And Maggie, Michonne and Carol have also proven that, in many cases, they can accomplish what is needed much better than their male counterparts. This has to be inspirational for all the little girls watching — they will be prepared for the next apocalypse, zombie or otherwise.

4. Nichelle Nichols, “Star Trek” (1966-69): She played Uhura, and her position as the first Black woman in a leading TV role helped inspire an entire generation.

5. Phylicia Rashad, “The Cosby Show” (1984-92): She was Bill Cosby’s wife on the program and represented the ultimate model, not only for Black women, but all women. She was confident, co-head of a household and both a mother and career woman.

2. As if things were not bad enough for the Jacksonville Jaguars and beleaguered coach Urban Meyer, the team is moving closer to the NFL all-time record for consecutive losses. Jacksonville has now lost 20 in a row, which is six shy of Tampa Bay’s infamous mark of 26 way back in 1976. Here’s what the Jaguars’ upcoming schedule looks like:

Week 6: Miami (to be played in London).

Week 7: Bye.

Week 8: Seattle.

Week 9: Buffalo.

Week 10: Indianapolis.

Week 11: San Francisco.

Week 12: Atlanta.

Miami is probably the best chance for a victory, unless quarterback Russell Wilson is still out the Jaguars face Seattle. I’m guessing that Jacksonville, with a rookie quarterback and a coach caught in a public relations firestorm, might just set the record that most of us expected to last forever.

3. Here’s the Daily Dirt’s weekly rankings of major college football teams, broken down into Tier 1 (the “Power 5” conferences) and Tier 2 (the “Group of Five” conferences) programs:

Tier 11. Georgia (6-0): Bulldogs will have to earn their No. 1 position, facing Kentucky and Florida in its next two games, following by a matchup with lowly Missouri (PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This reference to Ol’ Mizzou is nothing more than a cheap, gratuitous shot at Gough/Schuckman’s beloved Tigers. Steve can go grind on Urban Meyer. JRG).

2. Iowa (6-0): Iowa vs. Ohio State in the eventual Big Ten championship game?

3. Ohio State (5-1): That tsunami to the playoffs seem to be building. Buckeyes are off Saturday prior to the Oct. 23 prime-time game (ABC) against disappointing Indiana.

4. Oklahoma (6-0): Is the Spencer Rattler era over at Oklahoma?

5. Alabama (5-1): So, how will the Crimson Tide rebound this week? Let’s just say I would not want to be Mississippi State.

6. Michigan (6-0): Wolverines should not be challenged until Oct. 30 at Michigan State. They’re off this week, then face Northwestern.

7. Kentucky (6-0): Mark Stoops early candidate for coach of the year?

8. Penn State (5-1): As the health of quarterback Sean Clifford goes, so go the Nittany lions. And right now, Clifford is not 100 percent following Saturday’s injury. Fortunately, Penn State is idle tis weekend.

9. Michigan State (6-0): If not Stoops, how about Mel Tucker?

10. Oklahoma State (6-0): Mike Gundy-coached teams are notorious for screwing up potential undefeated regular seasons. It’s still early, and there and among the games remaining are dates with Texas, Iowa State and Oklahoma. 

Tier 2

1. Cincinnati (5-0): To say the Bearcats are ecstatic that quarterback Desmond Ridder returned this season — rather than opting for the NFL — would be an obvious understatement.

2. San Diego State (5-0): Another understatement? How about San Diego State coach Brody Hoke has resurrected his career after that colossal egg he laid at Michigan?

3. UTSA (6-0): Rice should be no threat to end the Roadrunners’ win streak.

4. SMU (6-0): Mustangs are idle this weekend.

5. Appalachian State (4-1): One of two Tier 2 games of the week finds App State and Louisiana (4-1) meeting. For the record, Louisiana is No. 11 in these rankings.

6. Nevada (4-1): Upset alert here. Nevada tackles an always-dangerous Hawaii (3-3) club.

7. Coastal Carolina (6-0): And on the seventh weekend, the Chanticleers will rest.

8. Liberty (5-1): Liberty’s lone loss was 24-21 to Syracuse in week four.

9. Air Force (5-1): The second Tier 2 game of the week features Air Force and No. 10 Boise State.

10. Boise State (3-3): Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier may have my favorite Tier 2 name. 

Steve Fact O’ The Day: As a child, Steve once ate 11 Milky Way candy bars on Halloween. 

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. It surprises no one that Steve once ate 11 Milky Way bars on Halloween. It’s surprising the number isn’t higher.