Her own show didn't work out? I was always curious to know if she could've returned to the Mary Tyler Moore Show. If so, would it have been a step back for her character and the parent show?

I've never heard any reference to this, but I imagine it might have depended exactly when the series "got axed", if it failed. If it happened before she married Joe, it would be easier to explain her returning to Minneapolis. She could have just said it wasn't working out for her in New York. But if it had happened after the wedding, it would be harder to see her going back.

I don't know, but I do know that Sonny Shroyer had it written into his contract that if his spinoff Enos failed, which it did - he could return to The Dukes of Hazzard, which he did. It would be interesting to know if Valerie had a similar arrangement.

I've seen interviews where Valerie talks about not wanting to leave TMTMS, and she says Mary told her if the spinoff didn't work, she could come back. I don't know if that was ever put in writing, but I do think that was the plan.

I could definitely see Mary doing that. :D

She could have returned in the 1978-79 season but the newsroom would have been EMPTY-lol

She could have returned in the 1978-79 season but the newsroom would have been EMPTY-lol


Solomon, you better get started watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show! I insist!

She didn't work in the newsroom!! :lol:

So, what about Phyllis? Phyllis was cancelled the same year The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended. If MTM went into an 8th season, Phyllis could have very well came back! If that were the case, Rhoda would have stayed clear of Minneapolis, when Rhoda was canceled the next year!! :lol:

So, what about Phyllis? Phyllis was cancelled the same year The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended. If MTM went into an 8th season, Phyllis could have very well came back! If that were the case, Rhoda would have stayed clear of Minneapolis, when Rhoda was canceled the next year!! :lol:


It wouldn't have made sense for Rhoda or Phyllis to return to MTM permantely because Phylis moved to San Franciso and Rhoda moved to NYC. The way they were wriiten out made it impossible for them to return.

Same thing with the

Jeffersons
Good Times
Maude
Flo

Spinoffs where the return was very possible, it only happened for three characters because they were not written COMPLETELY out of the script

Ropers
Checking In-returned
Grady-returned
A Different World-returned

It wouldn't have made sense for Rhoda or Phyllis to return to MTM permantely because Phylis moved to San Franciso and Rhoda moved to NYC. The way they were wriiten out made it impossible for them to return.

Same thing with the

Jeffersons
Good Times
Maude
Flo

Spinoffs where the return was very possible, it only happened for three characters because they were not written COMPLETELY out of the script

Ropers
Checking In-returned
Grady-returned
A Different World-returned


I wouldn't say it was impossible Sol, maybe impractical, but definitely not impossible.

I don't see why it would have been strange for Rhoda to move back. If things w/ Joe didn't work out, she could easily return to MN if she wanted. Maybe it would've been tougher to explain Phyllis b/c she and Mary weren't close. But I think bringing Rhoda back would've been pretty simple.

Remember, when Rhoda first went to NYC, she was vacationing. I think in the second episode she called back to her job in Minneapolis, to stay she was staying on longer. It seems like the writers were trying to keep "things loose" incase the show didn't take off. At that point she would have gone back to MN. Besides, she also could have used the excuse that her mother drove her crazy.

Once she got established there (and of course married) yeah, it would be pretty hard to explain her going back, even if TMTMS was still on after Rhoda was cancelled. Same with Phyllis, who had nothing... when Lars died.

I remember an interview I saw with Valerie Harper,year ago on cable,Valerie

said how encouraging Mary Tyler Moore was with the spinoff Rhoda.

Mary told her if the show didn't work,she could come back to the MTM show.