Rhoda (1974–1978)

Rhoda Morgenstern was born in the Bronx in December 1941. She's always felt responsible for World War II. She had a bad puberty. It lasted 17 years. She's a college graduate, she went to ... See full summary »

Creators:

James L. Brooks, Allan Burns

Stars:

Valerie Harper, Julie Kavner, Lorenzo Music

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 29 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Valerie Harper	...	Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard (110 episodes, 1974-1978)
Julie Kavner	...	Brenda Morgenstern (110 episodes, 1974-1978)
Lorenzo Music	...	Carlton, the Doorman (64 episodes, 1974-1978)
David Groh	...	Joe Gerard (55 episodes, 1974-1977)

Storyline

Rhoda Morgenstern was born in the Bronx in December 1941. She's always felt responsible for World War II. She had a bad puberty. It lasted 17 years. She's a college graduate, she went to art school. Her entrance exam was on a book of matches. She decided to move out of the house at the age of 24. Her mother still refers to this as the time she ran away from home. Eventually, she ran to Minneapolis where it's colder, and she figured she'd keep better. Now she's back in Manhattan. New York, this is your last chance!

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Plot Keywords:

Hidden Character | Sitcom | New York City | Jewish | Mother Daughter Relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 1974 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MTM Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (110 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an interview in the April 17-23, 1976 issue of TVGuide, Lorenzo Music said that a number of actors read for the part of Carlton, including Foster Brooks who was offered, but then turned down the role. Music went on to say that he and the other producers decided to make Carlton a drunk because Carlton was going to be a voice only character and "that's the simplest kind of voice characterization there is".

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Quotes

Carlton: Drinking doesn't cause hangovers; stopping drinking causes hangovers.

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Crazy Credits

Two versions of the first season opening credits exists ("My name is Rhoda Morganstein..."). The rarer version has the extra line "In school my grades were OK - mainly Bs and Cs..." (On screen are various pictures of the letters 'B' and 'C' as well as an 'E') "...except for self control. Oy..." (Pictures of 'F's fill the screen.). This is placed between the lines about food being the first thing she loved that loved her back, and 'I had a bad puberty...it lasted 17 years.'

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Connections

Referenced in ALF: Help Me, Rhonda (1986)
ALF: "Rhoda? Well, I thought she was funny when she was on Mary's show, but when she got her own series, they married her off to soon."

User Reviews

"Hiya Rho!"

Of the three series to spin-off of THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, this one is the best and most memorable. Valerie Harper played the Rhoda character to perfection on TMTMS, and here, she expands on that well-loved character, with a degree of depth, rarely found on sitcoms today. Rhoda Morgenstern went through a variety of challenges on this series...she moved back to New York, met Joe Gerard, got married...separated...divorced, and then went back to being a swinging single. It's too bad this show was cancelled without a real final episode...I've always wondered how they would have ended this, had they the opportunity to do so gracefully.

Along with Harper, was Julie Kavner, brilliant, as Rhoda's little sister, Brenda. Nancy Walker was also priceless as Ida, the mom. The best episode of this series has got to be "Rhoda's Wedding", the one-hour saga of how Rhoda almost doesn't make it down the isle, because ditzy Phyllis forgets to pick her up. In fact, the whole wedding storyline; Rhoda meeting Joe, the proposal, the shower, wedding and honeymoon, are some of the best-written comedy episodes. It's too bad Joe was written off the show, but "The Separation", is one of the most poignant, thoughtful, and well-acted episodes I've seen in a sitcom. Proof once again, as to the degree of depth that the characters on this show had.

I don't think this show was quite the same once Rhoda's divorce was final. The later episodes just lacked the earlier vibrance and fun, and I didn't like the storyline about Rhoda's father, Martin, leaving Ida. Still, this is a fine series, great acting, writing, and production, and there's no doubt about it that scarves were never worn the same way again.