Sure, there were Jewish characters before her, but did they have the success of Valerie Harper's "Rhoda Morgenstern" character?

Valerie Harper won four Emmy awards as television’s Rhoda, two of which were for best supporting actress in a comedy when Rhoda was Mary Richard’s best friend on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The other two Emmys were for Best Lead Actress in a comedy, when Ms. Harper starred in the spin off, RHODA.

Rhoda Morganstern, wacky pal on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s. After spinning off to her own Rhoda sitcom, Rhoda consistently beat Mary Tyler Moore in the ratings.

http://www.starstills.com/product_images/j/661/ss2917733_-_photograph_of_valerie_harper_as_rhoda_morgenstern_gerard_from_rhoda_available_in_4_sizes_framed_or_unframed_buy_now_at_starstills__32744_zoom.jpg

I would have maybe said yes, but Seinfeld's got to be right up there even though it wasn't overly played up.

Also, Fran Fine on The Nanny would be near the top - they really did it up with the Jewish jokes.

We also had Ed Ansner's Lou Grant as a famous Jewish TV character too.

Indeed when MTMS was launched there were complaints about the Jewish

characters Rhoda and Lou,terrible really.

Not to mention Barney Miller.

I don't remember Rhoda or Lou Grant being Jewish ... at all ...

Rhoda most definitely was Jewish. Phyllis mentions her celebrating Hannukah once. But Lou, I don't remember his religion ever being mentioned!

No Kristen you're right about Lou's religion not being mentioned but I've seen

on docummentaries about MTM,how the network didn't like the Jewish characters of Rhoda and Lou,terrible prejudice.

There's the episode where Mary Frann guest-stars, when Frann's character befriends Mary, but shuns Rhoda. Mary eventually realized it was because Rhoda was Jewish.

When was Lou Grant being Jewish ever mentioned? :confused:

I don't know, but Ed Asner is definitely Jewish in real life, so maybe that just translates into people thinking that Lou is Jewish.

Valarie Harper herself is not Jewish.