Debbie M.I.A. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJAMES03 · 08-22-2005, 11:01 PM

While it is a small gripe, I wish that the producers would have explained the absence of Rhoda's other sister Debbie (seen on a MTM Show episode).

zevonsky72 · 01-24-2006, 09:08 PM

I'm glad they didn't reuse Debbie. Rhoda would have become the second-banana to an older, married Debbie, which would have been a rerun of her role on TMTMS. I give the writers credit for giving Rhoda a chance to take the lead in her own show.

Pentimento · 01-25-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zevonsky72

I'm glad they didn't reuse Debbie. Rhoda would have become the second-banana to an older, married Debbie, which would have been a rerun of her role on TMTMS. I give the writers credit for giving Rhoda a chance to take the lead in her own show.

I agree, but they could have said she was married and living somewhere else. I always liked to imagine that she ran off with Chuck Cunningham - two mysteries solved!

OKCRay · 04-09-2006, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zevonsky72

I'm glad they didn't reuse Debbie. Rhoda would have become the second-banana to an older, married Debbie, which would have been a rerun of her role on TMTMS. I give the writers credit for giving Rhoda a chance to take the lead in her own show.

Actually Debby was a YOUNGER sister of Rhoda, and we never hear anything more about her after that one MTM episode (maybe she's on an island somewhere with Chuck Cunningham...LOL). One thing that happens in a season one episode of MTM (but you really have to listen for it or you'll miss it) is that Rhoda actually mentions having a sister named Brenda, and in another MTM episode she mentioned having a brother.

catlover79 · 11-25-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pentimento

I agree, but they could have said she was married and living somewhere else. I always liked to imagine that she ran off with Chuck Cunningham - two mysteries solved!

Yes, they are off living on the Island of Misfit TV Characters, along with Judy Winslow, Carl Dixon, etc.

OOliver · 02-01-2009, 08:38 PM

Yes, I remember Rhoda mentioning her brother Arnold on one ep of MTM. I think it was when her mother 'Ida' was visiting.

catlover79 · 02-02-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

Yes, I remember Rhoda mentioning her brother Arnold on one ep of MTM. I think it was when her mother 'Ida' was visiting.

I remember that, too. Didn't Rhoda mention having yet another sister during her TMTMS years?

OOliver · 02-04-2009, 05:02 PM

Yes, but I think the other sister she (or her mother) mentioned was "Brenda". So all in all, she had two sisters (Brenda and Debbie) and one brother (Arnold). Only Brenda survived in 1974! (She must have killed off Debbie and Arnold, and the other Morgensterns suffered amnesia).

Kristen · 02-05-2009, 01:11 AM

Ever since I first saw Rhoda on N@N, it's always bugged me whenever I watch "Rhoda's Sister Gets Married." I get that Brenda was a better fit for the spinoff than Debbie would've been, but it's so weird for a sibling to just disappear like that! Maybe Ida didn't like the guy she married, so she just cut off all contact, and forced the others to do the same. LOL Knowing Ida, I wouldn't say it's completely impossible!

catlover79 · 02-05-2009, 01:59 AM

^ That idea makes a lot of sense, Kristen.

McGillicuddy · 02-23-2009, 09:29 PM

There was also Aunt Rose (Brett Somers) in that episode, that was never seen or heard from again. Why wasn't she at Rhoda's wedding?

Chrisothebigc · 02-23-2009, 11:42 PM

This is a common thing in sitcoms, yes? The incidental disposable relative.

I remember Arnold being mentioned twice. Aunt Rose was at least refered to, many times.

Anyone else remember Phyllis' gay brother, Ben? That's when we learn her maiden name is Sutherland. Their mother seems to be alive, as her demise is never mentioned.

Also, Lars' family comes for a visit, and his father is alive at that point, and ever one of them is speaking a foriegn language. When we meet Lars' mother, Audrey, on the pilot of "Phyllis" there is no trace of any accent, although Lars' is spoken of! No mention of when Lars' father died, but Audrey has apparently remarried rather quickly to Jonathan. Phyllis and Bess have no where else to go! Could it be that she wore out her welcome with her own family...LOL!

So it goes!
Chris O

catlover79 · 02-24-2009, 12:54 AM

Oh, gosh, I remember Ben. Phyllis couldn't have cared less that he was gay - as long as he wasn't marrying Rhoda, she was happy.

Chrisothebigc · 02-24-2009, 05:16 AM

That was a GREAT episode!

Phyllis: "Please go on with your party, it's imporatnt to Mary!"

I think that was the first time someone was acknowledged as gay on t.v., yes?

BTW, Catlover79, I love "Bewitched". Agnes Moorehead is a favorite actor of mine. Have you ever seen her in "The Magnificent Amberson's".

catlover79 · 02-24-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisothebigc

That was a GREAT episode!

Phyllis: "Please go on with your party, it's imporatnt to Mary!"

I think that was the first time someone was acknowledged as gay on t.v., yes?

BTW, Catlover79, I love "Bewitched". Agnes Moorehead is a favorite actor of mine. Have you ever seen her in "The Magnificent Amberson's".

I think All in the Family had episodes with gay people before the MTM episode aired, but it had to have been ONE of the first shows to deal with the issue. Haven't seen The Magnificent Ambersons, but I should. I DID see her in Citizen Kane.

08-22-2005, 11:01 PM	#1
TJAMES03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 25, 2005 Posts: 193	Debbie M.I.A. While it is a small gripe, I wish that the producers would have explained the absence of Rhoda's other sister Debbie (seen on a MTM Show episode).

02-05-2009, 01:11 AM	#9
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	Ever since I first saw Rhoda on N@N, it's always bugged me whenever I watch "Rhoda's Sister Gets Married." I get that Brenda was a better fit for the spinoff than Debbie would've been, but it's so weird for a sibling to just disappear like that! Maybe Ida didn't like the guy she married, so she just cut off all contact, and forced the others to do the same. LOL Knowing Ida, I wouldn't say it's completely impossible!
	__________________ Twitter \| Facebook \| Swagbucks \| Fanfiction Avatar Credit: Leigh Ann

01-24-2006, 09:08 PM	#2
zevonsky72 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 10, 2005 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 48	I'm glad they didn't reuse Debbie. Rhoda would have become the second-banana to an older, married Debbie, which would have been a rerun of her role on TMTMS. I give the writers credit for giving Rhoda a chance to take the lead in her own show.

02-01-2009, 08:38 PM	#6
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	Yes, I remember Rhoda mentioning her brother Arnold on one ep of MTM. I think it was when her mother 'Ida' was visiting.

02-04-2009, 05:02 PM	#8
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	Yes, but I think the other sister she (or her mother) mentioned was "Brenda". So all in all, she had two sisters (Brenda and Debbie) and one brother (Arnold). Only Brenda survived in 1974! (She must have killed off Debbie and Arnold, and the other Morgensterns suffered amnesia).

02-05-2009, 01:59 AM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^ That idea makes a lot of sense, Kristen.

02-23-2009, 09:29 PM	#11
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	There was also Aunt Rose (Brett Somers) in that episode, that was never seen or heard from again. Why wasn't she at Rhoda's wedding?

02-23-2009, 11:42 PM	#12
Chrisothebigc Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 87	This is a common thing in sitcoms, yes? The incidental disposable relative. I remember Arnold being mentioned twice. Aunt Rose was at least refered to, many times. Anyone else remember Phyllis' gay brother, Ben? That's when we learn her maiden name is Sutherland. Their mother seems to be alive, as her demise is never mentioned. Also, Lars' family comes for a visit, and his father is alive at that point, and ever one of them is speaking a foriegn language. When we meet Lars' mother, Audrey, on the pilot of "Phyllis" there is no trace of any accent, although Lars' is spoken of! No mention of when Lars' father died, but Audrey has apparently remarried rather quickly to Jonathan. Phyllis and Bess have no where else to go! Could it be that she wore out her welcome with her own family...LOL! So it goes! Chris O

02-24-2009, 12:54 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Oh, gosh, I remember Ben. Phyllis couldn't have cared less that he was gay - as long as he wasn't marrying Rhoda, she was happy.

02-24-2009, 05:16 AM	#14
Chrisothebigc Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 87	That was a GREAT episode! Phyllis: "Please go on with your party, it's imporatnt to Mary!" I think that was the first time someone was acknowledged as gay on t.v., yes? BTW, Catlover79, I love "Bewitched". Agnes Moorehead is a favorite actor of mine. Have you ever seen her in "The Magnificent Amberson's".