Mary Tyler Moore Show and Its Spin-Offs

[Marley Drama]

Rhoda
Season Three
The Separation / Together Again For The First Time / No Big Deal / I Won’t Dance / H-e-e-e-r-e's Johnny / Two Little Words - Marriage Counsellor / An Elephant Never Forgets / Rhoda Questions Her Life And Flies To Paris


The changes this season feel wholesale and immediate. With the marriage on the rocks in the first episode, Joe is downgraded to a recurring character. Ida made a whistle-stop appearance to write out both she and Martin. We haven’t visited Rhoda’s place of business (does she even still have it?) so there’s no Myrna. There’s been only a fleeting glimpse of the construction office, so Joe’s colleagues, too, are gone. Even the familiarity of the apartment has been taken away, even though there’s a sound canonical reason for doing so, since Rhoda cannot afford the rent without Joe (even logical solutions such as Brenda moving into the apartment have been explored and decided against, which goes some way to make it all feel more considered and a little less like change for change’s sake).

It sounds like there really should be nothing left that’s worth watching. Happily, I’ve been surprised once again by the enjoyment factor so far this season.

As I’ve watched, I’ve been too relieved that I’m enjoying this season to consider the reasons for it. On reflection, Valerie Harper and Julie Kavner are going a long way towards carrying it. David Groh remaining a presence - albeit sidelined - is a huge relief for me since I’d envisaged him leaving the series completely by the third or fourth episode. I understand he’ll be gone by season’s end, so I’m just making the most of every scene in which he appears.

The separation is actually giving some really good material and exploring different facets of the characters. Rhoda has now acknowledged on-screen that she’s not the same outgoing, confident young woman she was back when she arrived in Minneapolis and is on a quest to access that part of herself again, so it feels things are connecting up. I also really enjoyed the marriage counselling session, and Joe’s admission that he feels Rhoda forced the marriage when they were supposed to be moving in together felt like a massive vindication of my experience as a viewer back when I watched those scenes and felt that was exactly the case.

Brenda, too, has had some nice scenes. One of the last episodes I watched was when she reached her target weight and was struggling to accept her new, slim self since being overweight was something she felt was a part of her identity. Of course, there are echoes of the Rhoda The Beautiful episode of MTM, which shows a nice kinship between sisters (sister characters and sister series both).

The elements of low self-esteem and reliance upon the affirmation from diet clubs also reminded me greatly of Victoria Wood's character's arc in the TV play Nearly A Happy Ending:

It’s good news/bad news with the extended cast. One recurring returnee was Nick Lobo, which doesn’t generate too much goodwill within me. What’s more the new neighbour Gary feels very much along the same schlubby lines. He feels rather like a misguided attempt at the “wacky annoying neighbour” stereotype. He’s kind of what Fonzie might have been if Happy Days hadn’t been a period show. And he’s equally of his time, complete with waterbed, amber tinted aviators and the obligatory medallion. But he doesn’t do it for me at all. Sometimes annoying - even deliberately annoying - is simply… annoying. On the other hand, Ann Meara is a great addition as Sally Gallagher. It looks like she’s fairly short-lived which is a shame.

One of the men in the audience has the most annoyingly distracting laugh. A slow, loud, braying “HAR. HAR. HAAAR”. I’m sure he was also in the audience of earlier seasons so he seems to be a big fan… or someone who is involved with (or knows someone involved with) producing the series.

Wow - I’m over halfway through Rhoda’s series now.

 

[Marley Drama]

Rhoda
Season Three
Meet The Levys / Man Of The Year / You Deserve A Break Today / A Touch Of Classy / Guess Who I Saw Today / What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? / Love For Sale / A Night In The Emergency Room


Two thirds of the way through Season Three and I still feel I’m missing something… in the best kind of way. I’m thoroughly enjoying this season when all the signs suggested this wouldn’t be the case.

Firstly, there’s Joe. David Groh’s appearances are greatly reduced, but still he’s used extremely well. I find Rhoda and Joe as a couple much more interesting than they’ve been up to this point. Much like Gary/Val or Bobby/Pam, the star-crossed lovers element adds a pseudo-romantic element, with the New Year’s Eve episode being a particular standout in this department. Rhoda and Joe’s situation is touching because there’s no significant catalyst for the separation… they’re just two people who jumped in far too quickly and now realise it wasn’t for the best.

I remember reading something about David Groh receiving hate letters because of the separation and I have to assume that something happens later to warrant this because he’s done nothing to warrant this so far (I’m thinking the writers will write him off with another woman, leaving Rhoda as a wounded - or martyred - ex-wife). At the moment he’s done nothing that’s not reasonable. All he’s done is speak openly about his feelings and suggested a separation to which Rhoda agreed.

Incidentally, it occurs to me that Rhoda and Joe are really the most significant romantic pairing in the Maryverse. Mary herself hasn’t had a long-term partner. We never met Lars (did we? Or am I beginning to imagine we saw him in the infidelity episode with Sue Ann). Ted and Georgette are caricatures. And Murray isn’t exactly husband of the year to Marie. With Rhoda and Joe we’ve watched the entire course of their relationship and I feel a little invested in it. Perhaps that’s why David got his hate letters. Whatever the case, both David and Valerie are doing terrific work together and apart this season.

Brenda’s had more airtime this season, it feels. And this is certainly a good thing. Sally has been a bright spot (though, sadly, I believe I’ve now watched Anne Meara’s final appearance) Even Gary feels as though his douchebaggery has been toned right down to the point he’s practically likeable.

There’s still an awful lot to like… for this first-time viewer, anyway.

 

[Crimson]

Happily, I’ve been surprised once again by the enjoyment factor so far this season.

It's nice to see you enjoying the entirety of the MTM-verse. Being able to accept and enjoy a show for what it is, rather than being disappointed by what it's not, seems to be salvaging the experience for you.

My memories of RHODA after the first season are extremely dim and I stopped watching PHYLLIS after six or seven episodes; so I have nothing specific to add until you circle back to the final season of MTM. Happy viewing for the rest!

 

[Marley Drama]

It's nice to see you enjoying the entirety of the MTM-verse. Being able to accept and enjoy a show for what it is, rather than being disappointed by what it's not, seems to be salvaging the experience for you.

Phyllis has been the biggest surprise for me, and I suspect Season Two is going to be more of the same which will be fine.

I'm keeping expectations low for the final two seasons of Rhoda - especially since they'll follow MTM's acclaimed finale, but since the Joe-less episodes have been perfectly watchable I have hope it will remain enjoyable for me.

I have nothing specific to add until you circle back to the final season of MTM. Happy viewing for the rest!

Thanks. I have a feeling I'll be beginning that final season in a month or so.

 

[Marley Drama]

Rhoda
Season Three
Somebody Has To Say They’re Sorry / The Ultimatum / Rhoda’s Mystery Man / Nick Lobo, Superstar / Nose Job / The Second Time Around / Pyjama Party Bingo / To Vegas With Love


At this point I’ve seen the last of both Joe and (in this series) Mary. Neither felt as though it was intended to be a final appearance, but it’s natural that this would be the last of Mary since her own series would wrap up before the next season of Rhoda. Still, I’ll miss these little crossovers, which were notable for me for lacking a sense of event. I liked feeling that Mary is still part of Rhoda’s world (and Phyllis’s, come to that) and could just appear at the end of a phone line as long-distance friends do. Invariably I was never quite aware of the exact episode in which Mary appeared, so I experienced that little surprise upon seeing her casually appear.

The lack of finality with Joe’s final episode is more disappointing for me. Yes, couples drift apart, but it isn’t very telegenic. Which is why fictional couples tend to have more dramatic endings. I can make peace with it, but it feels very much as thought the story will be wrapped up without Joe present and entirely from Rhoda’s point of view. But then, it is her series.

It was a treat to see Beverly Sanders return as perpetually-pregnant Susan Alborn, who seems to have been forgotten this season, but IMDb tells me this was her series swan song, too, which is a shame. Rhoda has all these gems in small or recurring roles and casts them aside, mostly unused and unappreciated. There’s an awful lot of talent squandered.

Incidentally, when I looked at Beverly’s IMDb page to see if she’d appear in the last two seasons, I glanced at a couple of images and thought for a second I was looking at Olive from On The Buses. Then it quickly dawned on me she must have played the analogous character in the American adaption of that series (which turned out to be the case).

Nick Lobo is a recurring irritant. The fact that he irritates everyone on-screen helps a little, but his are not the most entertaining episodes. Johnny Venture is cast in the same mould and I wouldn’t be upset if he stays in Vegas, never to be seen again.

Still, the news is mostly good. Even the Lobo-Venture episodes are watchable (admittedly, though, once was enough for these), and the series remains very easy to digest, with some nice lines and stories.

I'm happy to report that Gary has become a character I now enjoy. His initial sleaziness - the Beatnik haircut, tinted aviators, plunging neckline and medallion - was clearly an anomaly that was, mercifully, quickly corrected (or perhaps redirected towards Johnny Venture). It would have just been too much for this series. The less confident Gary is a much better fit.

With Ida away, I’ve realised that Rhoda has taken on some of her traits when it comes to Brenda. This was particularly evident in the scene where Brenda begs Rhoda not to get angry at the news she’s about to undergo rhinoplasty (leading to Rhoda losing her rag when Brenda helps herself to a salad leaf), and again in the arc with Rhoda putting down Brenda’s new blonde bubble perm. It’s hard to argue with Rhoda riding on either of these hobby horses, since Brenda’s features are lovely and that perm was godawful, but still interesting to see this dynamic play out. If Ida had been around, no doubt she’d have done all the heavy lifting, leaving Rhoda to mediate, and it’s probably natural that Rhoda feels a more urgent sense of responsibility without their parents around.

During her salad leaf explosion, Valerie Harper did what appeared to be a nice, naturalistic little ad lib about getting dressing on herself. There have been a few of these ad libbed moments in recent episodes - another one saw Valerie bump into a door frame on her way from bedroom to living room, then draw attention to it by dusting herself off - and they bring a refreshing sense of immediacy and give it more of a “live” feel.

 

[Treeviewer]

it’s natural that this would be the last of Mary since her own series would wrap up before the next season of Rhoda. Still, I’ll miss these little crossovers, which were notable for me for lacking a sense of event. I liked feeling that Mary is still part of Rhoda’s world

I remember seeing Valerie Harper on Dinah Shore's talk show after MTM had finished. An audience member (I think) asked if Mary might appear again, and she replied that Mary was still a person in Rhoda's life so it was possible. But sadly it didn't happen.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

For me, none of the spinoffs were that good.
"Lou Grant" was the best - a better than average show, but not top-notch

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I remember seeing Valerie Harper on Dinah Shore's talk show after MTM had finished. An audience member (I think) asked if Mary might appear again, and she replied that Mary was still a person in Rhoda's life so it was possible. But sadly it didn't happen.

And it couldn't have happened, as they'd have to reveal what happened to Mary after they were all fired from WJM... And do we really want to know that she was parking cars in St. Paul??

 

[Treeviewer]

And it couldn't have happened, as they'd have to reveal what happened to Mary after they were all fired from WJM... And do we really want to know that she was parking cars in St. Paul??

I think a way could have been found to make it work. We can assume that Mary and Rhoda talk to each other more often than we see onscreen. We don't really need to see the moment that Mary tells her what her new job is.