So we are just gonna mention the circle twice? |
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'''Logo:''' Over the years, the logo has been tweaked numerous times, but the basic concept remains: An "{{color|red|'''M'''}}" flies backward from off screen, then splits into two. In the space left between the two letters, two "{{color|green|'''T'''}}"'s come from the top and bottom of the screen and join to form one. This completes the initials of the company, and the letter "{{color|limegreen|'''T'''}}" shrinks when a {{color|gold}} circle appears over it. Under the letters are the words "{{color|#FFD900|'''ENTERPRISES, INC.'''}}", "{{color|#FFD900|'''ENTERPRISES'''}}", "{{color|#FFD900|'''PRODUCTIONS, INC.'''}}", or "{{color|#FFD900|'''PRODUCTIONS'''}}". Sometimes, the finished logo will read out "'''{{color|#FFD900|AN}} {{color|red|M}}{{color|green|T}}{{color|red|M}} {{color|#FFD900|ENTERPRISES (INC.) PRODUCTION}}'''" ("{{color|#FFD900|'''AN'''}}" appears over the first "{{color|red|'''M'''}}"). Inside is a live-action orange striped kitten who meows once, obviously as a parody of the [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios|MGM]] lion. All the text (except for the later versions) appears in the Peignot font used for the [[Viacom (1971-2006)|Viacom]] "Pinball" logo.
'''Trivia:'''
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*''The Bob Newhart Show'': The 1972 Christmas episode features a wreath in place of the MTM ribbon. On the season 4 episode "No Sale", footage of a cat from the episode named Abogast appears in the circle instead. He jumps down, disappearing from the circle's view, and as he does, you hear Mimsie's meow. On the season 5 Christmas episode "Making Up Is the Thing To Do", another Christmas wreath is also used. This was also used on the season 1 Rhoda episode "Guess What I Got You For the Holidays". On the season 3 episode of The Bob Newhart Show "Big Brother is Watching," a loud lion's roar is heard in place of the usual meow-sound (which is funny considering the origins of the company and the logo...).
*''The New WKRP in Cincinnati'': Dubbed with Les Nesman Jr. exclaiming "Ooh!".
*''Newhart'': Each episode (except the pilot) featured Mimsie meowing... in Bob Newhart's voice. On the season 1 episode "No Room At the Inn", a pink Christmas wreath (similar to the one used on ''The Bob Newhart Show'', and ''Rhoda'') is featured in place of the MTM ribbon. On the final episode, the cat yells "QUIET!" (the two Darryls' first and only word).
*''Remington Steele'': Mimsie wears a Sherlock Holmes deerstalker cap and meerschaum pipe. As she begins to meow, the pipe drops out of her mouth and falls in front of "{{color|#FFD900|'''ENTERPRISES, INC.}}'''" or "{{color|#FFD900|'''PRODUCTIONS'''}}". Mid-1990s prints of the show added a small IFE byline reading "{{color|orange|'''A DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT'''}}", with the logo slightly zoomed out to make room for it.
*''St. Elsewhere'': Mimsie is wearing a scrub suit and a surgical mask, which is animated to look like her mouth is moving underneath when she meows. At least two episodes feature a different meow soundtrack. On the final episode, she (possibly portrayed by another cat) is hooked on life support on a hospital bed throughout the last credit roll. The credits run as usual over a picture of the MTM circle, with life support equipment attached on either side. You can hear the beeps of the heart monitor over the end theme, too. After the credits complete, the company name fades in and Mimsie flatlines and dies, with a long, high-pitched beep heard. This variation is especially rare, as reruns of the series finale plastered it over with the typical credits (as a side note, the actual cat, Mimsie, died in 1988, the same year St. Elsewhere ended). According to Grant Tinker, it was not uncommon for MTM to kill off Mimsie in their logo whenever a show got cancelled. (See also ''Texas Wheelers''.)
*''The Steve Allen Show'': Mimsie (who also wears Allen's famous black rectangular-framed Ray-Ban eyeglasses) lip-syncs Allen's "Schmock!" instead of "meow!".
*''The White Shadow'': Mimsie is replaced by a black and white cat bouncing a basketball. There is a shorter version with the company name already there and the cat footage looped (and thus the cat is continually bouncing the ball). The other (seen only at the end of the series pilot) has the letters animating as usual and at the end, the ball falls off-screen and the cat appears to be looking down at it. Some prints of the pilot have the looped version, however.
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MTM Enterprises, Inc. (also known as "MTM Productions, Inc.") was an independent production company established in 1969 by actress Mary Tyler Moore (hence the initials of the company) and her then-husband Grant Tinker. The company was formed as a result of an agreement with Moore and the CBS network to produce 22 episodes of a new sitcom, which would become The Mary Tyler Moore Show. In 1986, MTM launched "MTM Television Distribution". MTM titles had previously been distributed by Viacom Enterprises (now "CBS Media Ventures"), and then Victory Television. MTM was sold to TVS Entertainment (a subsidiary of now-defunct ITV franchise holder TVS) in July 1988. In 1992 after TVS lost its ITV franchise to Meridian Broadcasting, it was then sold to International Family Entertainment, Inc., owners of The Family Channel, which in turn was sold and merged into Fox Family Worldwide (now "ABC Family Worldwide") in 1997. MTM ceased operations the following year, and its library assets were folded into 20th Century Fox Television (now "20th Television"). Today, most of its library assets (with some exceptions) are owned by The Walt Disney Company after acquiring 20th Century Fox in 2019.
Logo: Over the years, the logo has been tweaked numerous times, but the basic concept remains: An "M" flies backward from off screen, then splits into two. In the space left between the two letters, two "T"'s come from the top and bottom of the screen and join to form one. This completes the initials of the company, and the letter "T" shrinks when a gold circle appears over it. Under the letters are the words "ENTERPRISES, INC.", "ENTERPRISES", "PRODUCTIONS, INC.", or "PRODUCTIONS". Sometimes, the finished logo will read out "AN MTM ENTERPRISES (INC.) PRODUCTION" ("AN" appears over the first "M"). Inside is a live-action orange striped kitten who meows once, obviously as a parody of the MGM lion. All the text (except for the later versions) appears in the Peignot font used for the Viacom "Pinball" logo.
Trivia:
Variants: First here are the little differences in the logo, along with dates in which they were used:
Custom Variants: One thing that the MTM logo was known for was that it would often be custom made for whatever show it appeared at the end of. This means Mimsie's appearance would sometimes be different, usually involving her "wearing" a costume or saying something other than "meow". Here are those variants:
Unofficial Nicknames: for the non-Mimsie MTM cats...
Technique: A mix of live action and camera-controlled/cel animation.
Music/Sounds/Voice-over: None, except the end theme of the show and Mimsie meowing. Starting in 1996, a 5-note jingle was added before the "meow". This was seen and heard on some shows such as the short-lived 1997 revival of It Takes Two with Dick Clark and the 1st season of the sitcom Sparks among shows.
Music/Sounds Variants:
Availability: Fairly common. It was once a plaster victim thanks to the 20th Television logo; but not anymore.
Legacy: This is highly regarded among many for being a cute parody of the MGM logo, as well as featuring good animation for the '70s, a neat design, and multiple custom variations. However, the St. Elsewhere series finale logo is rather infamous for its depressing nature; the Texas Wheelers finale variant may be the same way if it exists or is discovered.
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