Ep 21. Ted Baxter Meets Walter Cronkite

In "Ted Baxter Meets Walter Cronkite," the 21st episode of season 4 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ted Baxter, the bumbling news anchor, is finally given the opportunity to meet his hero - legendary newsman Walter Cronkite. However, as is often the case with Ted, things don't go quite as planned.

As the episode begins, the excitement is palpable in the WJM newsroom as preparations are underway for Cronkite's visit. Ted is beside himself with anticipation, but starts to worry that he won't be able to come up with a good enough question to ask him. He enlists the help of his colleagues, Mr. Grant and Murray, to craft the perfect query.

Meanwhile, Mary is dealing with her own set of problems. She's just been informed by her doctor that she needs to have her tonsils removed, and she's not looking forward to the surgery. In spite of her nerves, she assures everyone that she'll be fine, and continues to help with the preparations for Cronkite's visit.

When the big day finally arrives, Ted is practically vibrating with excitement. He's nervous, but eager to meet his idol. Cronkite arrives, graciously greeting the entire news team, but when Ted finally gets his chance to speak to him, everything falls apart.

Nerves get the best of Ted, and he ends up asking Cronkite a silly question about his favorite sandwich, much to the chagrin of his colleagues. Cronkite, ever the professional, takes it in stride and answers the question with good humor. But the embarrassment is too much for Ted, and he hides in the bathroom for the rest of Cronkite's visit.

Mary, who has been trying to rest before her surgery, is the one who ultimately coaxes Ted out of the bathroom and convinces him to come back to the newsroom and face his colleagues. In a touching moment, she tells him that everyone has made mistakes, and that the important thing is to learn from them and move on.

Later that night, after the visit from Cronkite is over, Mary goes in for her surgery. In a scene that is both humorous and heartwarming, she has a vivid dream in which she's visited by Ted, who tells her that everything went great with Cronkite, and that she's going to be just fine.

Overall, "Ted Baxter Meets Walter Cronkite" is a lighthearted and entertaining episode that showcases the comedic talents of the cast while also touching on some deeper themes. It's a reminder that even our heroes have flaws, and that making mistakes is a normal part of the learning process. And in typical Mary Tyler Moore Show fashion, it ends on a note of hope and optimism.