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She stays there through the end of Season 7.
She stays there through the end of Season 7.
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Suspected as much, which is a shame because it's such a downgrade. I could see why they couldn't justify having such a huge set though with both Rhoda and Phyllis gone.
RIP awesome apartment set.
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Yeah, I'm not terribly fond of Mary's new apartment she got in Season 6 myself. The first apartment was -- to me anyway -- more appealing and more iconic concerning the show in popular culture. But with Rhoda and Phyllis off doing their own shows, a change of scenery probably also assisted in the producers' intentions to help the show "move on" from loosing two popular cast members.
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And the new high-rise suite was intended to convey Mary's progression in life and career, out and away from the more appealing studio apartment in the attic.
I actually liked her bouffant from early-Season 6. She's had some eye work done by Season 7.
I actually liked her bouffant from early-Season 6. She's had some eye work done by Season 7.
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Yes, I had the impression it was supposed to be a step up. TBH I don't really remember it but I'm surprised to read negative opinions for that reason.
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I guess people found the first one to be cozier.
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I think it's also that it's an obvious set down-grade even if it's an upgrade for Mary - it's clearly smaller and has less "depth" than the OG set. It makes sense from a production point of view to make it smaller since her homelife has been reduced due to Rhoda and Phyllis leaving for spin-offs, but it's noticeable that they've downgraded it from being the "main" set.
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I took the opportunity to watch the first two episodes of Phyllis, both seasons are on YouTube but in terrible early/mid-2000s grainy quality. They're obviously trying to push Phyllis'/Cloris's self-deprecating sense of humor even down to the theme song ("Not youuuu!"). I noticed that the prostitute that appeared on MTM for two episodes is a part of the cast - understandable since she was great in the two episodes she appeared and unfortunately I found out the actress, Barbara Colby, was killed in a parking lot mugging three episodes into filming the show so it sort of had an omnious start.
I might try to binge watch this series since it's "only" 48 episodes and the quality on YouTube isn't great so it doesn't require my focus.
I might try to binge watch this series since it's "only" 48 episodes and the quality on YouTube isn't great so it doesn't require my focus.
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Having watched a bunch of episodes from season 1 there's really something that's missing from Phyllis - I think the overall theme of a widowed Phyllis making a new life for herself isn't just that strong and every episode is so far a variation of that. I don't necessarily think Phyllis is simply a character that lends herself to their own show, which isn't shade against Cloris's comedic talents of course but in this case it seems like they would've been better off creating a new character if they wanted to give her a show.
It's not horrible by any means, just very forgettable overall, if it wasn't tied to Mary Tyler Moore it wouldn't have been one of those "cancelled too soon" type of shows.
It's not horrible by any means, just very forgettable overall, if it wasn't tied to Mary Tyler Moore it wouldn't have been one of those "cancelled too soon" type of shows.
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I think it's also an issue with the supporting cast - what was the point of Phyllis moving in with her in-laws when both of them are fundamentally nice to her and welcome her with open arms? I guess that's why they let Mother Dexter become a permanent part of the cast, just to add some conflict. I can see why they got rid off the first "work set" too - again, there's not a lot of conflict there to drive the show. Jumping around in season 2, at least Phyllis's new work in public office seems to up the stakes a bit - if it had been renewed for season 3, I would've imho largely ditched her homelife which is probably what would've happened since Judith Lowry passed and Jane Rose would pass two years later from cancer.
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Agreed. Phyllis was created as an irritant to Mary and Rhoda. It was too much of a stretch to make her the one we were supposed to be now rooting for.
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So, I started watching Rhoda, mostly because I want to extend MTM and I don't want the main show to end - and it starts off well enough. Rhoda arrives at her sister who is kind of a bigger loser than Rhoda is and without confidence, of course their overbearing mother makes a reappearance. The idea of following the Morgenstern women and them trying to navigate life in the changing 70s in New York is a good one; seeing Julie Kavner aka Marge Simpson on screen is also a novelty. But about half-way into the pilot Joe appears and they've already lumbered Rhoda with a love interest and it blands the story down. I think a whole lot of Rhoda's appeal was that she was single and sort-of a loser in love (but someone who would always pick herself up).
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Yes, Fred Silverman wanted Rhoda married by the eighth episode so they could get a huge Nielsen rating curing November "sweeps."
So much for the show itself. As far as the series goes, RHODA never had the strong identity its parent series did.
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I really liked the episode "Lady In Red" aka the episode where a publisher shows interest in Rhoda's book about her weight struggles. It really felt like it could go somewhere in setting the show up, her overbearing family were played well and... well, Joe wasn't present. I don't think he works as a character at all - if they wanted Rhoda to have a love interest they probably should've done a will-they-or-won't-they dynamic with a neighbor or co-worker that could've been run for a couple of seasons. But as you said, they're rushing Rhoda into a marriage with a guy and a kid on top of that.
I thought a little of Nancy Walker’s character went a long way. And I couldn’t stand Joe. What a jerk.
I think they would have been better off with the typical MTM studios work/life setup, with half of the show focusing on Rhoda at her job, and half on her home life (I would have had Rhoda and Brenda as roommates, with mom dropping by occasionally, and NO JOE).
I think they would have been better off with the typical MTM studios work/life setup, with half of the show focusing on Rhoda at her job, and half on her home life (I would have had Rhoda and Brenda as roommates, with mom dropping by occasionally, and NO JOE).
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Didn't like Joe at all.
Your suggestion could have worked better
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In retrospect, I wish Rhoda had never been spun-off at all or, at least, they had waited for MTM to end. I'm sure it made sense at the time, but RHODA is barely a footnote in TV history now and MTM, while a topnotch show till the end, wasn't quite the same without Rhoda.