When a supporting character upstaged the star...and then got the boot.

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by Heenan Fan

This is what Norman Fell and Audra Lindley have always stated before their deaths, so I tend to believe this. I also think glickmam is spot on with his assessment on the situation.

Thank you for backing me up. I really do appreciate it.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by Duster76

In a word no. In addition to being the star of the series she was also an owner of the production company, brand expansion was very big in the 70's, both moves made perfect sense.

I recently read Valerie Harper's book and currently reading Mary Tyler Moore's at the moment (Moore's is much more interesting and surprisingly candid btw). In Harper's book, she explained how the network was talking about spinning off Rhoda early on during the very first season of MTM.

Not that they wanted to do it that early, but they already knew during that first season that Rhoda was getting her own show and they let her know. So it had absolutely nothing to do with any type of envy on Moore's part.

Valerie also mentions how terrified she was about the thought of leaving a hit show for her own, but it was Moore who ensured her that if it failed, Rhoda would immediately move back to Minneapolis and back to the show.

I haven't yet reached the part of Moore's book where she talks about the MTM show, but from what i've already read, she wasn't that kind of person in the slightest. If she was envious of any co stars, I sincerely doubt she would've wanted anyone kicked off to keep her in the main spotlight.

And just look at her role on MTM as being the straight person to all the nutty characters around her. IMO that shows that she allowed others to snag the spotlight and get the laughs around her and was a great sport about it.

Who knows though? Maybe when I get to that part of her book, i'll find she reveals that she was secretly seething inside.