"Mary Hartman! Mary Hartman!" Are You Really Gone??????????????????????

                                      Yes, darlings, Louise Lasser, Woody Allen's first muse, and who indelibly portrayed Mary Hartman, died on July 6 at the age of 87.  Her death was attributed to natural causes.

                                         During half of my college years, I cannot tell you how many times, darlings, I wandered back to the dorm, so I could hear Dody Goodman say the title name twice and watch all the shenanigans therein--daughter Heather (Claudia Lamb) with her cramps, Loretta and Charlie Haggers (Mary Kay Place and Graham Jarvis) and the disturbing portrayal of spousal abuse between actors. Martin Mull and Sunan Browning.

                                              The soap opera parody was created by Norman Lear. It reminded me of the one Bob and Ray did on radio, "Mary Backstage, Noble Wife."  And after the broadcast, newscaster Judy Licht would greet " 'Mary' maven" with an update on the news before turning out the lights.  

                                                It was a seminal part of my early college years.  Then it went off and Louise seemed to vanish, though I remember her brilliant performance as Ellen Burstyn's friend in the 2000 film "Requiem For A Dream," the film in which Burstyn was robbed of an Oscar.

                                                And now Louise has departed this world.  She will make the next one laugh, and that humor will be missed here on Earth.

                                                 Rest In Peace, Louise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!