Patty Duke , Marlo Thomas , and Mary Tyler Moore
hosts a classical musical program , writes a fiery letter to the editor of her local newspaper , and works behind the scenes to solve problems when Patty ’ s schemes go awry . Sometimes Patty ’ s and Cathy ’ s styles clash , such as when they unknowingly nominate one another for President of the Girls League or both want to be student of the year , leading to audiences identifying with Team Patty and Team Cathy and acknowledging their different approaches to leadership and conflict . It might be easy to pass off The Patty Duke Show as a silly 1960s sitcom in which most of Patty ’ s and Cathy ’ s escapades fizzle ; however , for a young female audience watching and talking about this show , it cracked open the door for new roles and possibilities , aside from being someone ’ s girlfriend . It showed that girls ’ lives mattered .
That Girl debuted the same year that The Patty Duke Show left the air , picking up where the earlier sitcom left off . In it , Ann Marie , played by Marlo Thomas , has all the energy of an older Patty Lane . A young woman in her early twenties from a small town in New York , she has just moved away from her parents ’ home to her own apartment in New York City in order to launch an acting career . Thomas , a political activist who advocated for feminist causes and the Equal Rights Amendment , served as a creator and producer of the show , paving the way for female creative power in The Mary Tyler Moore Show , Laverne and Shirley , Kate and Allie , and Murphy Brown ( Newman 286 ). In her article on Marlo Thomas as a feminist icon , Emily L . Newman regards the show as “ more than just the sweet little sitcom ” and asserts that although there was increasing pressure for Ann and her boyfriend Donald not only to get engaged but married , Thomas resisted . “ It was her producing role ,” Newcomb writes , “ that allowed Thomas so much control over the program and helped provide a space for women in television to just appear or even star on a pro-
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