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"That Girl" 45 Years Later -- Who Are the Game Changers This TV Season?

Posted: 9/26/11 09:02 AM ET

I received an email wishing me a happy 45th anniversary the other day and my first thought was, "Phil and I have only been married for 30 years." And then I realized it wasn't my wedding they were talking about -- it was the anniversary of "That Girl."

Hard to believe now but 45 years ago, my character Ann Marie, was the only girl in town. In this season's television lineup, there are nearly a dozen new shows starring bright, funny young women: "New Girl," "2 Broke Girls," "Whitney," and others. And as they did with Ann Marie, the young women watching today will not only be entertained by these "girls", they'll also think, "Hey, that's me!" Or, " Wow, that could be me!" And that is one of the best things television can do: give people a chance to see themselves transformed. And to let ideas and characters come from below the surface and say, "I am here! See me!"

Ann Marie seemed like a revolutionary figure at the time but, in truth, every home had a "That Girl" in it. She was the right character for that moment in time. She moved away from the traditional idea of a young woman in the society -- she was independent, living alone, not defined by her family. She was out in the world and working for the life she wanted. She was making her own choices.

Because of the collective wisdom of all of us working on the show -- co-creator Bill Persky who grew up side by side with a sister and then raised three daughters of his own, our story editor Ruth Brooks Flippen with her experience of trying to make it in a male dominated television writing community, and me, who had fought for my independence in an old-fashioned Dad Is Boss, Mom Agrees atmosphere -- we had each lived different parts of the old story ... and brought with us the passion needed to change it.

There I was playing a young woman just starting her life in the big city, struggling to get an acting job -- any acting job. And today there's Tina Fey as Liz Lemon. Liz not only has a good job on a show, she's running the show. I can't help but wonder if producer Liz would have hired actress Ann Marie? I was a great dancing chicken. And she should have seen me as a singing mop!

Bill Persky said at the time, "'That Girl' threw a hand grenade into the bunker, and all the other female characters walked right through."

Every generation has it's own grenade throwers. Chris Colfer is one as the scene-stealing Kurt Hummel on Glee -- a character that truly impacts the lives of gay teenagers. And the loving gay couple on Modern Family. These characters show us television's willingness -- however late-coming -- to embrace gay people and their relationships

When I think of the 45th anniversary of "That Girl", I like to envision a fabulous dinner party with all the women who followed Ann Marie. Mary Richards would be there, throwing her cap up in the air. Kate & Allie, who represented the first contemporary single moms on TV, would be there, too (they'd have to get a sitter, but still). I can see Ann worrying about Rosanne, who's pretty outspoken and wondering if she'd like anyone. But then sitting her next to Murphy Brown, who's got a few opinions of her own, and watching those two get along great. And then she'd put Rachel from Friends next to Carrie Bradshaw. We'd invite Donald -- but of course, he couldn't stay over. And Mr Big who could.

What a great celebration it would be. And I know every one of those women would love hanging out with each other. After all, they're all from the same family tree. And I'm sure someone would make a toast -- probably Roseanne -- who always calls it as it is. And her toast would be, "Here's to television! May it always do what it can do better than anything, open the doors to what is truly happening in America, so everyone watching can say, "Hey, that's me!" or "Wow, that could be me!"

So here's to a great new TV season. Hope you see someone you know!


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Follow Marlo Thomas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarloThomas

I received an email wishing me a happy 45th anniversary the other day and my first thought was, "Phil and I have only been married for 30 years." And then I realized it wasn't my wedding they were ta...
I received an email wishing me a happy 45th anniversary the other day and my first thought was, "Phil and I have only been married for 30 years." And then I realized it wasn't my wedding they were ta...
 
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4 hours ago (1:54 AM)
I am so tired of these washed up actors trying to stay relevant..­..Give us a break!
5 hours ago (1:20 AM)
I loved "Thatn Girl" and "Make Room For Daddy:" I especially loved the sergments that featured "Uncle Tannous."
6 hours ago (12:09 AM)
You're still a babe Marlo!
6 hours ago (12:02 AM)
I was too young to enjoy and understand that show...I always thought the priest was going to leave the church and marry her...so I just changed it back to something more exciting like Batman TV series or the Munsters..­.
7 hours ago (11:23 PM)
Hard to believe it's been 45 yrs. since That Girl- Marlo you're still so beautiful and down to earth...
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phoebequeen
I blame the dog
7 hours ago (11:14 PM)
I loved watching That Girl when I was a little girl. She was a great role model for girls during a time when roles in the home and work force were slowly changing. Today, we have, Charlie's Angles, Pan Am, and, The Playboy Club.Reall­y?
7 hours ago (11:08 PM)
Because of my religion, I did not watch "The Flying Nun". I heard it was beyond stupid, anyway.
6 hours ago (12:00 AM)
Looking back, even the good shows were pretty terrible. Last week I remember watching an old re-run of Little House on the Prairie where in the Engles adopted a monkey.
7 hours ago (11:07 PM)
Marlo Thomas ruled!
7 hours ago (11:06 PM)
I remember on the Carol Burnett Show, she was doing "question'­s" from the audience. One woman had asked Ms. Burnett if it's okay to use the toilet. Carol said "Yes, of course. It backstage'­. The woman disappeare­d, and did whatever, meanwhile Carol Burnett had told the audience "When she come's back, we are all going to applaud her". Carol Burnett has a great sense of humor, and during the entire time Harvey Korman and Tim Conway ALWAY'S had her close to unable to complete a scetch!
7 hours ago (11:06 PM)
It was good clean funny show. I watched it often during its initial run & enjoyed it. Marlo Thomas was ruled!
7 hours ago (11:01 PM)
Oh, come on .It was just a show, not a social statement.
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Drew2U
Emily is not amused.
4 hours ago (2:30 AM)
If it werent for people like Marlo Thomas, Mary Tyler Moore and Diahann Carroll, we'd probably still be watching remakes of Donna Reed. These women changed the face of television­.
7 hours ago (10:57 PM)
Life seemed happier back then.
7 hours ago (10:53 PM)
To thy own self - be True......­..........
7 hours ago (10:36 PM)
It's too bad that "That Girl" had to go head-to-he­ad against "Star Trek" (and both programs debuted the same day).
7 hours ago (10:36 PM)
Why are we seeing Marlo Thomas every week?