The ratings collapse of season five from start to cancellation

[TVFactFan]

The show only lasted a half of season due to the poor ratings at the start of the season

After the 9/23/78 airing, the show was ranked #52 out of 65 shows

After 9/30/78 airing, the show was ranked #57 out of 68 shows

After 10/7/78 airing, the show was ranked #56 out of 62 shows

After 10/14/78 airing, the show was ranked #56 out of 63 shows

After 10/21/78 airing, the show was ranked #55 out of 65 shows

After 10/28/78 airing, the show was ranked #56 out of 59 shows

After 11/11/78 airing, the show ranked #50 out of 56 shows and it was after this episode that CBS made the announcement that show is cancelled and that the last airing would be 12/9/78.

After the 12/2/78 airing the show was almost worst ranked show, #64 out of 65 shows

After 12/9/78 airing, the show finished #57 out of 64 shows



Miami News, Dec 7, 1978, Dec 14, 1978

New York Daily News, Nov 30, 1978

Fort-worth Star Telegram, Oct 4, 1978, Oct 11, 1978, Oct 18, 1978, Oct 25, 1978, Nov 1, 1978

[Duster76]

Great information TVFactFan. What a stark contrast the 78-79 TV season was, Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper were riding high in the big hit series The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 70-71, and here on the other side of the decade Harper's Rhoda and Mary Tyler Moore in her variety series Mary found themselves at the very bottom of the ratings. What would be interesting to see is what happened during the second season on a week by week basis. Why was the format of a series that spent its first two seasons in the top 10 trashed. Who was responsible for the decision to divorce Rhoda and Joe, was it the producers, was it at the insistence of Valerie Harper or a combination of both. The show dropped out of the top 30 in year 3, in year 4 rebounded a bit but that was deceptive, it was following 60 Minutes and losing too much of the lead in audience at 8pm only to see them return to CBS for the 9pm show (All In The Family). By the time we get to season 5 as your numbers so clearly illustrate only diehard fans were left.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Duster76

Great information TVFactFan. What a stark contrast the 78-79 TV season was, Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper were riding high in the big hit series The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 70-71, and here on the other side of the decade Harper's Rhoda and Mary Tyler Moore in her variety series Mary found themselves at the very bottom of the ratings. What would be interesting to see is what happened during the second season on a week by week basis. Why was the format of a series that spent its first two seasons in the top 10 trashed. Who was responsible for the decision to divorce Rhoda and Joe, was it the producers, was it at the insistence of Valerie Harper or a combination of both. The show dropped out of the top 30 in year 3, in year 4 rebounded a bit but that was deceptive, it was following 60 Minutes and losing too much of the lead in audience at 8pm only to see them return to CBS for the 9pm show (All In The Family). By the time we get to season 5 as your numbers so clearly illustrate only diehard fans were left.

Atleast season 5 was released on DVD even though it was a half of season

[OOliver]

From what I recall in interviews with Harper after the show was canceled, Harper had said she was relieved to hear the news when she got the call from her manager that the show was canceled. She had already informed CBS that season 5 would be her last, and the focus for that season slowly shifted towards Ida and Brenda's wedding - CBS had plans to spin-off 'Brenda' into her own series once "Rhoda" ended ('Ida' would be going with the new series). This is why they originally ordered half of a season in the summer of 1978, to see if audiences were happy with the gradual shift to Brenda. But as we can see, that shift to Brenda (and her wedding plans) lost viewers, as ratings dropped. CBS ended the show with it's 13 ordered episodes in the can, didn't renew for an additional 13 and eventually dropped plans for 'Brenda'.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by OOliver

From what I recall in interviews with Harper after the show was canceled, Harper had said she was relieved to hear the news when she got the call from her manager that the show was canceled. She had already informed CBS that season 5 would be her last, and the focus for that season slowly shifted towards Ida and Brenda's wedding - CBS had plans to spin-off 'Brenda' into her own series once "Rhoda" ended ('Ida' would be going with the new series). This is why they originally ordered half of a season in the summer of 1978, to see if audiences were happy with the gradual shift to Brenda. But as we can see, that shift to Brenda (and her wedding plans) lost viewers, as ratings dropped. CBS ended the show with it's 13 ordered episodes in the can, didn't renew for an additional 13 and eventually dropped plans for 'Brenda'.

makes sense to me, I dont recall a character ever be spinned off from a show that is struggling in the ratings. Usually the show is a hit and network trying to create another hit

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by OOliver

From what I recall in interviews with Harper after the show was canceled, Harper had said she was relieved to hear the news when she got the call from her manager that the show was canceled. She had already informed CBS that season 5 would be her last, and the focus for that season slowly shifted towards Ida and Brenda's wedding - CBS had plans to spin-off 'Brenda' into her own series once "Rhoda" ended ('Ida' would be going with the new series). This is why they originally ordered half of a season in the summer of 1978, to see if audiences were happy with the gradual shift to Brenda. But as we can see, that shift to Brenda (and her wedding plans) lost viewers, as ratings dropped. CBS ended the show with it's 13 ordered episodes in the can, didn't renew for an additional 13 and eventually dropped plans for 'Brenda'.

A couple of points, the series seemed on the surface to rebound a little during season 4 as the rating inched up a bit, but the reality was much different. Following 60 Minutes the number 4 show in the nation, Rhoda lost too much of the lead in audience only ranking number 25. All in the Family starting an hour after Rhoda brought the audience back with that series tied for 4th place (with 60 Minutes), a clear sign that the audience had grown tired of Rhoda. I believe CBS dispatching the show to 8pm Saturday, the same time slot that hosted the final seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show in the prior two seasons may have signaled Harper to inform CBS she was done after the upcoming season.

With respect to a Brenda spinoff, where did that information come from? There is no way CBS would have pitched that idea. Some of the MTM people may have decided to refocus the series in hopes of reengaging CBS (at that point what did they have to lose), but it's pretty clear CBS had given up on the whole thing.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Duster76

A couple of points, the series seemed on the surface to rebound a little during season 4 as the rating inched up a bit, but the reality was much different. Following 60 Minutes the number 4 show in the nation, Rhoda lost too much of the lead in audience only ranking number 25. All in the Family starting an hour after Rhoda brought the audience back with that series tied for 4th place (with 60 Minutes), a clear sign that the audience had grown tired of Rhoda. I believe CBS dispatching the show to 8pm Saturday, the same time slot that hosted the final seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart
Show in the prior two seasons may have signaled Harper to inform CBS she was done after the upcoming season.

With respect to a Brenda spinoff, where did that information come from? There is no way CBS would have pitched that idea. Some of the MTM people may have decided to refocus the series in hopes of reengaging CBS (at that point what did they have to lose), but it's pretty clear CBS had given up on the whole thing.

Carlton the doorman character stood out more than Brenda and he was never seen lol

[OOliver]

Originally Posted by Duster76

With respect to a Brenda spinoff, where did that information come from? There is no way CBS would have pitched that idea. Some of the MTM people may have decided to refocus the series in hopes of reengaging CBS (at that point what did they have to lose), but it's pretty clear CBS had given up on the whole thing.

I had read it in one of the weekly magazines (TV GUIDE ? US WEEKLY? PEOPLE?) at the time, doing it's Fall Season preview. They had hinted that Brenda would me married off in mid-season of RHODA and eventually be spun off into her own series with hubby Benny and Mother Ida, living outside of Manhattan. Seems like CBS wanted to milk every drop out of the MTM franchise.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by OOliver

I had read it in one of the weekly magazines (TV GUIDE ? US WEEKLY? PEOPLE?) at the time, doing it's Fall Season preview. They had hinted that Brenda would me married off in mid-season of RHODA and eventually be spun off into her own series with hubby Benny and Mother Ida, living outside of Manhattan. Seems like CBS wanted to milk every drop out of the MTM franchise.

well she got spinned right off the air at midseason lol

[TMC]

Originally Posted by OOliver

From what I recall in interviews with Harper after the show was canceled, Harper had said she was relieved to hear the news when she got the call from her manager that the show was canceled. She had already informed CBS that season 5 would be her last, and the focus for that season slowly shifted towards Ida and Brenda's wedding - CBS had plans to spin-off 'Brenda' into her own series once "Rhoda" ended ('Ida' would be going with the new series). This is why they originally ordered half of a season in the summer of 1978, to see if audiences were happy with the gradual shift to Brenda. But as we can see, that shift to Brenda (and her wedding plans) lost viewers, as ratings dropped. CBS ended the show with it's 13 ordered episodes in the can, didn't renew for an additional 13 and eventually dropped plans for 'Brenda'.

https://jacksonupperco.com/2025/01/2...-january-2025/

As for why Rhoda only got 13 episodes in the first place (and didn’t even have its few remaining entries burned off) – by 1978, the network was unenthusiastic about the show in its post-Joe malaise, a sentiment seemingly shared by many, including Valerie Harper herself, who was vocal about wanting to leave at season’s end. So, even though it did well in 1977-1978 thanks to a cushy time slot, it was considered a waning prospect, no longer “higher quality.” Its terrible ratings in fall 1978 only provided an excuse for the network to do what it had wanted for the last two years: pull the plug…

[TVFactFan]

It only got 13 episodes because CBS had no confidence in the show anymore

[howilu]

One factor that might have led to Rhoda's midseason cancellation was NBC's hoot police drama CHIPs with Erik Estrada. It was likely that young female viewers would watch CHIPs than Rhoda.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by howilu

One factor that might have led to Rhoda's midseason cancellation was NBC's hoot police drama CHIPs with Erik Estrada. It was likely that young female viewers would watch CHIPs than Rhoda.

CBS probably purposely put Rhoda in that slot so they could have a reason to cancel it