The Mary Tyler Moore Show mirror those of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". When the writers of the sitcom "Friends" were about to create their series finale, they watched several other sitcom finales. Co-creator Marta Kauffman said that the last episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was the "gold standard" and that it influenced the finale of "Friends". The show spun off three television series, all of which aired on CBS: the sitcoms "Rhoda" (1974–78) and "Phyllis" (1975–77), and the one-hour drama "Lou Grant" (1977–82). In 2000, Moore and Harper reprised their roles in a two-hour ABC TV-movie, "Mary and Rhoda". Two retrospective specials
Thomas Carter (director) was presented with the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" from Texas State University. Carter first began his film career as an actor. His first roles included working in television shows/movies such as: "M*A*S*H", "Lou Grant", "What's Happening!!", "The Secret of Isis", "Whose Life Is It Anyway?", "The Blue Knight", "Good Times", and "Hill Street Blues". He was a regular on the sitcom "Szysznyk" (1977). Carter is most known for his appearance on the series "The White Shadow" between the years 1978 through 1980. "The White Shadow", which ran three seasons from 1978 to 1981. Carter played James Hayward, a troubled teenager with