Gordy Howard

Gordon Howard, better known as Gordy, was a character on the seventies sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He was played, although in a recurring capacity, by actor John Amos.

WJM's weatherman

Gordy was the weather caster on the nightly newscast of television station, WJM-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Of all the news team, he seemed the most able to do his job. This was reflected in one episode where anchorman Ted Baxter quit during a commercial break. Producer Lou Grant told Gordy to take over, which he did. Seeing how easily he was replaced, Ted returned to his job. Ironically, Gordy got along well with Ted Baxter, and also seemed to understand him. He was perhaps the closest thing Ted had to a friend.

In 1973, Gordy left WJM, and eventually got a job as host of a talk show in New York City. (John Amos had left the series to play James Evans, Sr. on Good Times.) Ted thought this would be a great chance for him to become a national name, and wheedled Gordy to allow him to join him; but Gordy, although his friend, was also wise to his ways, and gently told him no. After that, Gordy returned to New York and reaped success.