Wrong Actress Played Rhoda - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Duster76 · 03-09-2008, 06:10 PM

The biggest problem this show had, and it was unavoidable, was the casting of the central character, July Kavner was Rhoda not Valerie Harper. Everything we know about Rhoda is Judy, the looks, the sound, the various complexes about her weight and attractiveness to men screams Judy, not the urbane, confident look of the beautiful Valerie Harper. It would have been better to have Valerie cast as the more successful sister to add to Rhoda's (Judy Kavner) woes.

Now of course none of this is possible because of the MTM show. It was ironic that they found the perfect actress to play Rhoda but it was impossible for her to play the part.

Mikado · 03-09-2008, 06:15 PM

Well, you make an interesting point, but, Rhoda was cast long before the idea of the spinoff; ironically, originally, on MTM, Rhoda had a different sister who was actually nothing like Brenda!

Brian Damage · 03-09-2008, 09:01 PM

Excellent thread topic...and you are right! Julie Kavner WAS Rhoda in every way. As a matter of fact, she stole the show from Valerie Harper as far as I'm concerned.

AB · 03-10-2008, 03:59 PM

I agree, Julie Kavner does fit the Rhoda description better than Valerie Harper. But Valerie did an excellent job as a Rhoda.

JMFabiano524 · 03-10-2008, 11:46 PM

What also happened was Rhoda's character evolved in her time on TMTMS, so she went beyond her original characterization. Enter Brenda to become the "new" Rhoda. (whether you want to think Rhoda was now a Rhoda/Mary hybrid, I'll leave to you)

But regardless of how good Julie would have been, or who would have been "better," I wouldn't ask for anyone else but Valerie to have been Rhoda regardless :-)

McGillicuddy · 02-09-2009, 12:18 PM

Who's Judy?

catlover79 · 08-14-2009, 09:04 PM

To me, Valerie Harper was and is Rhoda. However, if she'd left TMTMS and never gone on to the spinoff, I think she would've been a great choice to play Ann Romano on One Day at a Time. Though it is hard to imagine anyone else other than Bonnie Franklin in that role as well.

Retro4Life · 08-14-2009, 10:42 PM

I do see a lot of the early MTM Rhoda's insecurity in Brenda. As time went it, it really does seem like Rhoda became more confident, and that the kind of "woe is me/eternally suffering/bad luck" stuff was captured more by Brenda.

Then again, when Rhoda got married, it was hard to continue to characterize her as the "loser at love" we had seen for years. Her life got a lot better, so the character had to evolve.

Good points by everyone, though.

catlover79 · 08-14-2009, 11:36 PM

It's kind of hard listening to Brenda without hearing Marge Simpson instead.

Retro4Life · 08-15-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

It's kind of hard listening to Brenda without hearing Marge Simpson instead.

I hear ya!

Marvo301 · 08-15-2009, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

It's kind of hard listening to Brenda without hearing Marge Simpson instead.

It's also hard to listen to Carlton without hearing Garfield!

Kristen · 08-15-2009, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMFabiano524

What also happened was Rhoda's character evolved in her time on TMTMS, so she went beyond her original characterization. Enter Brenda to become the "new" Rhoda. (whether you want to think Rhoda was now a Rhoda/Mary hybrid, I'll leave to you)

But regardless of how good Julie would have been, or who would have been "better," I wouldn't ask for anyone else but Valerie to have been Rhoda regardless :-)

There's a line in the pilot where Rhoda says to Brenda, "I feel like I'm looking in an old mirror," meaning that even SHE saw the similarities between them. I've always thought Brenda is who Rhoda would've been had she not had those four years in Minneapolis. And she tried to "pay it forward" by helping Brenda the way Mary did with her. Although I think Brenda was probably a bit worse off than Rhoda was, b/c even when Mary and Rhoda met, Rhoda had already put several thousand miles between herself and her mother, LOL.

- Kristen

catlover79 · 08-15-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

It's also hard to listen to Carlton without hearing Garfield!

Exactly - since I grew up on Garfield and never saw Rhoda until I was an adult.

mstewart · 09-29-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

To me, Valerie Harper was and is Rhoda. However, if she'd left TMTMS and never gone on to the spinoff, I think she would've been a great choice to play Ann Romano on One Day at a Time. Though it is hard to imagine anyone else other than Bonnie Franklin in that role as well.

I can see Nancy Dussault playing Ann Romano. Nancy Dussault was better known as Ted Knight's TV wife Muriel Rush of Too Close for Comfort.

catlover79 · 09-30-2009, 12:27 AM

Yes, I can see Nancy Dussault in the role of Ann. She did look quite a bit like Bonnie Franklin, ironically.

03-09-2008, 06:10 PM	#1
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	Wrong Actress Played Rhoda The biggest problem this show had, and it was unavoidable, was the casting of the central character, July Kavner was Rhoda not Valerie Harper. Everything we know about Rhoda is Judy, the looks, the sound, the various complexes about her weight and attractiveness to men screams Judy, not the urbane, confident look of the beautiful Valerie Harper. It would have been better to have Valerie cast as the more successful sister to add to Rhoda's (Judy Kavner) woes. Now of course none of this is possible because of the MTM show. It was ironic that they found the perfect actress to play Rhoda but it was impossible for her to play the part.

03-09-2008, 09:01 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Excellent thread topic...and you are right! Julie Kavner WAS Rhoda in every way. As a matter of fact, she stole the show from Valerie Harper as far as I'm concerned.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-14-2009, 09:04 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	To me, Valerie Harper was and is Rhoda. However, if she'd left TMTMS and never gone on to the spinoff, I think she would've been a great choice to play Ann Romano on One Day at a Time. Though it is hard to imagine anyone else other than Bonnie Franklin in that role as well.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-14-2009, 10:42 PM	#8
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,706	I do see a lot of the early MTM Rhoda's insecurity in Brenda. As time went it, it really does seem like Rhoda became more confident, and that the kind of "woe is me/eternally suffering/bad luck" stuff was captured more by Brenda. Then again, when Rhoda got married, it was hard to continue to characterize her as the "loser at love" we had seen for years. Her life got a lot better, so the character had to evolve. Good points by everyone, though.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

09-30-2009, 12:27 AM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Yes, I can see Nancy Dussault in the role of Ann. She did look quite a bit like Bonnie Franklin, ironically. Attached Images

03-09-2008, 06:15 PM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,880	Well, you make an interesting point, but, Rhoda was cast long before the idea of the spinoff; ironically, originally, on MTM, Rhoda had a different sister who was actually nothing like Brenda!

03-10-2008, 03:59 PM	#4
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	I agree, Julie Kavner does fit the Rhoda description better than Valerie Harper. But Valerie did an excellent job as a Rhoda.

03-10-2008, 11:46 PM	#5
JMFabiano524 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 525	What also happened was Rhoda's character evolved in her time on TMTMS, so she went beyond her original characterization. Enter Brenda to become the "new" Rhoda. (whether you want to think Rhoda was now a Rhoda/Mary hybrid, I'll leave to you) But regardless of how good Julie would have been, or who would have been "better," I wouldn't ask for anyone else but Valerie to have been Rhoda regardless :-)

02-09-2009, 12:18 PM	#6
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Who's Judy?

08-14-2009, 11:36 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	It's kind of hard listening to Brenda without hearing Marge Simpson instead.