It was some very crappy episodes in this season. Especially eps 9 to 13.

Other Observations

1.Brenda is smaller

2. Rhoda's hairstyle is awful

3. The opening episode is stupid with having martin run away to Florida

4. Carlton the doorman is heard only twice between eps 1 to 9

5. Opening Credits is the same as season 4

6. Stupid addition......"TINA" who came off as a Female Vinnie Barbarino:lol:

7. The character jack was trying to hard to be another Lou Grant

8. Rhoda didn't have a love life at all this season

9. Benny was pathetic for a grown man

10. Benny's older brother earl was creepy and weird

11. The worst episode of the season was......"The Total Brenda"

12. The best episode of the season was.........."Rhoda vs Ida"



Glad I didn't have to buy this crappy season on DVD:lol: As far as I'm concerned this season can stay unreleased.

Yes season 5 wasn't very good,think the writers had given up,why all the stuff about Martin and Ida separating,weren't we all depressed enough after Joe and Rhoda split?

Yes season 5 wasn't very good,think the writers had given up,why all the stuff about Martin and Ida separating,weren't we all depressed enough after Joe and Rhoda split?


I know and for that to be the season opener at the time probably turned most fans off

Agreed, the season was not very good. The Martin/Ida split plot was depressing, Brenda's engagement made her less interesting (and Benny was kind of a dud), Ron Silver was gone, and there were too many goofy stories ("The Date in the Iron Mask" for instance.) Plus it seems there were hardly any stories about Rhoda herself. Supposedly the reason for getting rid of Joe in the first place was because Rhoda had become hard to write for and they found themselves writing nothing but Brenda and Ida stories. By season 5 they were doing that again, and Rhoda wasn't even married anymore. The show should have ended sooner than it did.

Agreed, the season was not very good. The Martin/Ida split plot was depressing, Brenda's engagement made her less interesting (and Benny was kind of a dud), Ron Silver was gone, and there were too many goofy stories ("The Date in the Iron Mask" for instance.) Plus it seems there were hardly any stories about Rhoda herself. Supposedly the reason for getting rid of Joe in the first place was because Rhoda had become hard to write for and they found themselves writing nothing but Brenda and Ida stories. By season 5 they were doing that again, and Rhoda wasn't even married anymore. The show should have ended sooner than it did.


And jack was a fake Mr. Grant:lol: :lol: :lol:

I know and for that to be the season opener at the time probably turned most fans off

I was around back then and it seems the show had sort of been forgotten about by that point. I think they moved it to another night for the 5th season. It had been in Sunday nights after 60 Minutes, and by the 4th season, people were mainly still watching only because they were already tuned into CBS to watch 60 Minutes. So when it changed nights, viewers didn't follow. I remember becoming disenchanted with the show in the third and fourth season following the separation and divorce, and particularly when the brought on that Johnny Venture character. They seemed to be trying to turn the show into another MTM Show, but the new characters being created seemed like copycat characters of MTM, rather than anything original, and they all sort of fell flat. Everything about Rhoda that had made her fun on MTM was taken away, so she wasn't so much fun anymore. And she was being surrounded by dull characters. It was really disappointing because Valerie Harper deserved much better.

I was around back then and it seems the show had sort of been forgotten about by that point. I think they moved it to another night for the 5th season. It had been in Sunday nights after 60 Minutes, and by the 4th season, people were mainly still watching only because they were already tuned into CBS to watch 60 Minutes. So when it changed nights, viewers didn't follow. I remember becoming disenchanted with the show in the third and fourth season following the separation and divorce, and particularly when the brought on that Johnny Venture character. They seemed to be trying to turn the show into another MTM Show, but the new characters being created seemed like copycat characters of MTM, rather than anything original, and they all sort of fell flat. Everything about Rhoda that had made her fun on MTM was taken away, so she wasn't so much fun anymore. And she was being surrounded by dull characters. It was really disappointing because Valerie Harper deserved much better.


Yeah Jack was too similar to mr. grant

Solomon, where did you watch season 5? I'm watching it on ME-TV and we are in the middle of season 2. If I get a chance to see season 5, I'd like to see how the show went downhill.

Solomon, where did you watch season 5? I'm watching it on ME-TV and we are in the middle of season 2. If I get a chance to see season 5, I'd like to see how the show went downhill.


Season 5 of Rhoda is now on Youtube.

Season 5 of Rhoda is now on Youtube.

Rhoda Season 5 must have been pulled from Youtube. I saw all the episodes there a couple weeks ago, now I can't find them. I only watched episode 1, Martin Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

Rhoda Season 5 must have been pulled from Youtube. I saw all the episodes there a couple weeks ago, now I can't find them. I only watched episode 1, Martin Doesn't Live Here Anymore.


No it isn't, this is episode 11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWgwzm_XyT0&list=FLaT5bqsIRMF89J_N5SxptRA&index=5

All the eps are on there except episode #3 and episode #6

Not sure what happened to those

Rhoda Season 5 must have been pulled from Youtube. I saw all the episodes there a couple weeks ago, now I can't find them. I only watched episode 1, Martin Doesn't Live Here Anymore.


Ok they are all on there. You have to put in the search box like this

S05E03

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdxtC5ig4aU


Which is Season 5 episode 3

Thank you, Solomon, I just watched episodes 2&3.

Thank you, Solomon, I just watched episodes 2&3.



No problem. I wanted to watch all of them in one day because I wasn't sure how long they were going to be available LOL

2. Rhoda's hairstyle is awful

I'll take your word for it regarding Season 5. But I have to say that Val's hair in Season 2 probably looks the best I've seen it.

I was wondering if Season 5 episode 13 was meant as a series finale? I watched Season 5 on youtube.

I was wondering if Season 5 episode 13 was meant as a series finale? I watched Season 5 on youtube.


No it wasn't meant as a finale, the show was cancelled due to low ratings

No it wasn't meant as a finale, the show was cancelled due to low ratings

Oh ok, thanks for the information.

I remember hearing that Valerie Harper jumped for joy when Rhoda got cancelled.

I remember hearing that Valerie Harper jumped for joy when Rhoda got cancelled.



Probably wasn't fun anymore LOL

After playing the same character for nearly a decade, not really surprising.

I remember hearing that Valerie Harper jumped for joy when Rhoda got cancelled.

From what I remember, I do not really think that she jumped for joy, but rather she was ready to stretch and do other things. She had played Rhoda for nine years. I remember reading that she was not overly upset or disappointed with the cancellation news and now that she would be free and ready to take on other roles/projects.

You know I think this was mentioned on another thread and it kind of stuck with me and its true, but Rhoda was hot in season 2. The long hair did it for me and as was mentioned on this thread, her hair was great especially in season 2.

I just finished watching season 5. Too bad the show didn't last long enough for Brenda's wedding. And whatever happened to Gary?

Haven't seen season 5 yet (been watching on MeTV since they started airing it this past summer) but I can't imagine it being much worse than season 4 which they are currently in the middle of. I had read reviews saying Rhoda got worse and worse as the show wore on but never thought it would be this yawn-worthy. I did see the season 5 Halloween episode when MeTV aired it (where Rhoda's date gets his head stuck in a mask) and it's just as lame as anything from season 4. This is a classic case of a show never improving and wearing out it's welcome. 3 seasons was plenty of Rhoda. I'm tempted to delete the series recording from the DVR.

Haven't seen season 5 yet (been watching on MeTV since they started airing it this past summer) but I can't imagine it being much worse than season 4 which they are currently in the middle of. I had read reviews saying Rhoda got worse and worse as the show wore on but never thought it would be this yawn-worthy. I did see the season 5 Halloween episode when MeTV aired it (where Rhoda's date gets his head stuck in a mask) and it's just as lame as anything from season 4. This is a classic case of a show never improving and wearing out it's welcome. 3 seasons was plenty of Rhoda. I'm tempted to delete the series recording from the DVR.


I don't think season 5 needs a individual DVD release. Not sure why it wasn't released with season 4 since it only has 13 eps

I don't think season 5 needs a individual DVD release. Not sure why it wasn't released with season 4 since it only has 13 eps

Yea, that makes total sense. Seasons 4 & 5 truly should have been packaged together since 6 discs would cover both seasons. When MeTV started airing the show, I planned on dumping the first and last seasons to DVD. But I think having the first season largely uncut on DVD is good enough and will just forget about the final season. This show's last couple seasons are way too mediocre for me to care about having on DVD.

Yea, that makes total sense. Seasons 4 & 5 truly should have been packaged together since 6 discs would cover both seasons. When MeTV started airing the show, I planned on dumping the first and last seasons to DVD. But I think having the first season largely uncut on DVD is good enough and will just forget about the final season. This show's last couple seasons are way too mediocre for me to care about having on DVD.


The show started to lose something when the mother left after season 2. even though she returned in season 4, damaged was already done

I've been watching the season 5 episodes on ME-tv for the first time in many years and it's pretty clear that the show had completely run out of gas. Hardly a single laugh and the stories were just awful. The episode with Rhoda seething with jealously at her Mom's boyfriend was cringe worthy. When you compare this season with the first season, which was arguably as funny or funnier than the Mary Tyler Moore Show, it's obvious everyone involved with the show had lost interest. At that point, I guess they were all just collecting nice fat paychecks and phoning the rest in.

I've been watching the season 5 episodes on ME-tv for the first time in many years and it's pretty clear that the show had completely run out of gas. Hardly a single laugh and the stories were just awful. The episode with Rhoda seething with jealously at her Mom's boyfriend was cringe worthy. When you compare this season with the first season, which was arguably as funny or funnier than the Mary Tyler Moore Show, it's obvious everyone involved with the show had lost interest. At that point, I guess they were all just collecting nice fat paychecks and phoning the rest in.


The mother should have never left the show after season 2 which left a hole in the show

I've been watching the season 5 episodes on ME-tv for the first time in many years and it's pretty clear that the show had completely run out of gas. Hardly a single laugh and the stories were just awful. The episode with Rhoda seething with jealously at her Mom's boyfriend was cringe worthy. When you compare this season with the first season, which was arguably as funny or funnier than the Mary Tyler Moore Show, it's obvious everyone involved with the show had lost interest. At that point, I guess they were all just collecting nice fat paychecks and phoning the rest in.

Without question Rhoda was in coast mode by the end of it's run. It's true, the first couple seasons being as good as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and these later episodes looking like garbage in comparison. I think the original sin was divorcing Rhoda and Joe. After they finally moved past that, it just kept on deteriorating.

Not only is the show itself very poor in this final season, but they added insult to injury when they changed Valerie Harper from a gorgeous woman in stylish clothing to some lady in dowdy grandma clothes with an ugly perm. The fashion and style in the late 70s/early 80s is nothing short of a cultural eyesore that plagues everything from local TV ads to Playboy pictorials. puke:

I have been watching the 5th season shows and I did notice Valerie had an odd perm and the dresses do look a bit bland. One ep she was wearing a dress you would wear in either 90 degree weather, or a little girl of age 4 would wear.
I am waiting to see Vivian Vance on the show for I heard she played a neighbor.

I've caught bits and pieces of Season 5. I think they rushed Rhoda and Joe's wedding and divorce a little too fast. You want to give those things proper build.

Btw, why and where did the father go?

Btw, why and where did the father go?

He left Ida and moved to Florida. I can't remember why exactly.

I've caught bits and pieces of Season 5. I think they rushed Rhoda and Joe's wedding and divorce a little too fast. You want to give those things proper build.

Btw, why and where did the father go?


It didn't even matter where the dad was at that point lol

He left Ida and moved to Flordia. I can't remember why exactly.

He came back before the show was cancelled.

I have been watching the 5th season shows and I did notice Valerie had an odd perm and the dresses do look a bit bland. One ep she was wearing a dress you would wear in either 90 degree weather, or a little girl of age 4 would wear.
I am waiting to see Vivian Vance on the show for I heard she played a neighbor.

You referring to that brownish/greenish/whitish patterned strapless horse blanket she was wearing in the episode where she laments Ida's new boyfriend? Just from your description that sounds like it. That's the one I saw that made my perception of her late-season wardrobe go from "bland" as you say directly to "hideous and alltogether unnattractive." As a straight guy in his late 20s I don't claim to be a fashion expert, but I at least know what looks downright silly. I truly can't think of another show where the title character is the worst dressed in the whole cast.

He left Ida and moved to Flordia. I can't remember why exactly.

He more or less explained to his daughters that he was 60 years old, married for 40 years and was going through a mid-life crisis of some sort. He wanted to experience some things in life (working at the senior community center, working at the zoo) which he felt he couldn't do in NYC, and Ida wouldn't let him do while they were living under the same roof. He didn't want to leave the marriage - he just needed some time to himself.

:p

Definitely it seemed like everybody just didn't care anymore when Season 5 rolled around. Which is a shame because I really enjoyed Season 4. They shouldn't have ran out of ideas so quickly.

And yes, I think Valerie's hair during season 5 is the symbolic turning point showing that she was no longer young and hip but approaching middle age. Maybe she wanted to go for a more "mature" look, but it wasn't flattering for her.

The show was still good in its final season. IMO it stayed the best throughout its entire run. Solomon just thinks everything's awful.

I agree season 5 is rather dull,even Brenda is now dull with the unfunny Benny,also Rhoda doing things like going out on her own,the MTMS Rhoda never had that problem,the only saving grace is Nancy Walker is still in the show.