In my opinion, the one glaring mistake was letting Rhoda spin-off to her own show. A big mistake actually. IMO

I'm curious. Why did you think it was a big mistake For the Rhoda spin-off Brian?

As for TMTMS, can't think of anything offhand.

I just feel that TMTMS was missing something special with Rhoda no longer hanging around Mary's apartment. It would be equivalent to Ralph Kramden not having Norton or Lucy without Ethel.

In my opinion, the only thing TMTMS did wrong was filming a final episode. It should have never ended. As for Rhoda leaving the show, this is nothing against Valerie Harper or her character, but I prefer the show after she left. It was too female-centric earlier on for my tastes.

I just feel that TMTMS was missing something special with Rhoda no longer hanging around Mary's apartment. It would be equivalent to Ralph Kramden not having Norton or Lucy without Ethel.

Interesting point. But in the earlier shows much of the foundation centered around the friendships . For some reason I always felt so much was going on in TMTMS that it was not quite the same void.

That being said though, I would have preferred to see Rhoda spin off after TMTMS left the air.

Exactly, Rhoda the show, I think, would have been better suited AFTER MTM ended.

I agree on the Rhoda thing...they missed her on the show...not to a deal breaking extent, but you did feel it.

The only other thing that comes to mind is that I always thought it would have been neat to have kept Gordy and make him more a part of the show.

That was the beginning of the networks becoming spinoff-crazy. They thought that they could duplicate the success of hit shows by spinning off supporting characters.

The problem with that theory in some cases is that the supporting character may not be strong enough to anchor a show and also that it's the combination of actors on a show that make it what is. By taking an actor away from the "mothership" show, it alters the chemistry and dilutes it.