<Tr> <Td> ← Previous "Mary's Aunt" </Td> <Td> Next → "Mary's Delinquent" </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> List of The Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes </Td> </Tr> <P> "Chuckles Bites the Dust" is an episode of the television situation comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show which first aired on October 25, 1975 . The episode's plot centers on the WJM - TV staff's humorous reaction to the absurd death of Chuckles the Clown, an often - mentioned but seldom - seen character who starred in an eponymously titled show at the station . </P> <P> News anchor Ted Baxter is hired as the grand marshal for a circus parade, but is ordered by Lou Grant to turn down the "honor". Ted is upset and tries to rally Mary to his side . Mary agrees that Lou acted a bit hastily, but then tells Ted that Chuckles the Clown has been asked in his place and has accepted . </P>

Mary tyler moore chuckles the clown funeral episode