GROWING BOLDER WITH

Susan Silver

One passion many of us share is for the television shows we grew up with. Few programs are loved quite as much as the Mary Tyler Moore Show which aired from 1970-1977. 2021 was a tough year for its beloved cast with the deaths of Cloris Leachman, Gavin McLeod, Ed Asner, and Betty White.

Susan Silver wrote five episodes in its first few seasons. She also wrote for the Bob Newhart Show, Partridge Family, Movie of the Week, and was casting director for Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In. Her new memoir, “Hot Pants in Hollywood: Sex, Secrets and Sitcoms,” explores her experiences as one of the few female comedy writers in television.

Silver loved her time at the Mary Tyler Moore Show, something the recent death of Betty White has brought to mind.

“Betty came along later in the series, so I didn’t know her,” Silver explained. “But she was the last living regular cast member. It’s so hard to believe they’re not here anymore.”

At events and book signings Silver says she is often asked about the cast. “As one of the first shows to explore feminism and the cultural change of the era, the characters were so identifiable,” she said. "And I can tell you the actors who portrayed them were every bit as wonderful.”

Silver perks up at the opportunity to share her insights, especially of the actors who died most recently.

“Ed Asner was flirtatious, fun and sexy, and I loved him,” she said. “And I’m so proud that he won an Emmy for an episode I wrote. He was philanthropic, political and very bold for all of his 91 years.

“And I was so proud of Valerie Harper who gave cancer one heck of a battle. She was the bravest, most extraordinary person. She was only 80 when she died, the same age as Mary. Mary may have been the star, but she never acted like one. In fact, it was because of her that everyone on that show felt like part of a family.

“Cloris Leachman was fearless, funny and totally unpredictable. A real character! She died exactly one year ago at 94, a truly dynamic and unforgettable human being.

“Gavin McLeod just died nine months ago. He was 90. He was a sweet spirit. He overcame some tough times in his life. He was very grateful for his journey.

“It’s difficult thinking back,” she explained. “In some ways it seems like another life; in other ways it seems like yesterday.”

After 20 years as a writer Silver moved on to other pursuits. “I believe you have to continue to reinvent yourself,” she said. "I moved to New York and got involved in Holocaust organizations, became head of the speaker’s bureau for the Anti-Defamation League, and I became the United Nations observer for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. You need to find new passions all the time. It’s not always easy, but it’s so worth the effort.”

Silver says because of the pandemic she rarely travels anymore. She’s used the time to reflect and think about life. "I do not think about my age,” she said. “I simply admit to being somewhere between 50 and death. That way, I stay as young as I feel, but there is no question that it is our passions that keep us vibrant, connected and alive.”