Rhoda's Failed Marriage - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-28-2010, 07:58 PM

Was Rhoda's marriage destined to fail from the beginning? If so, was it due to the fact that Joe was the groom or that viewers just hated the fact that Rhoda was no longer single?

catlover79 · 02-28-2010, 09:28 PM

I think the real mistake was marrying them off too fast. Maybe if they'd had a serious, long-term relationship and married them off in the last episode, it would've turned out better for the show in the long run. Personally, I liked Joe (and his portrayer, the late David Groh, who was also a fine dramatic actor).

Brian Damage · 02-28-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think the real mistake was marrying them off too fast. Maybe if they'd had a serious, long-term relationship and married them off in the last episode, it would've turned out better for the show in the long run. Personally, I liked Joe (and his portrayer, the late David Groh, who was also a fine dramatic actor).

You definitely have a valid point, but I don't think David Groh was the right person to be cast as Joe. I think they could've used someone, more likeable.

catlover79 · 02-28-2010, 09:58 PM

To each his own, but I think Rhoda and Joe were good together - Valerie Harper and David Groh had nice chemistry together. Speaking of David Groh, this is my favorite story about him:

"General Hospital's David Groh (D.L. Brock), who in a fight scene to air Aug. 31 let slip a certain four-letter word beginning with "F." Rather than re-shoot the scene—in which D.L.'s lover, Bobbie Spencer (played by Jackie Zeman), is about to be raped—the producers decided to use a foghorn to cover up his faux pas."

- The scene was shot on the docks, so a foghorn blast made perfect sense.

http://www.people.com/people/archive...085833,00.html

scotsguy · 03-01-2010, 09:21 AM

I think David Groh was very good as Joe,Rhoda was a very forceful character,she needed a husband who could stand his ground.
Rhoda did force the marriage issue,I agree they married too fast on Rhoda.
I hate the first episode of season3 its so well acted,its painful seeing them split,Joe was rotten to Rhoda,he clearly forgot to mention the times Rhoda and her family helped his struggling business.
It was Valerie Harper herself,who felt Rhoda was getting a bit boring as a married lady,nothing against David Groh,they stayed friends until his death.
The ratings did slide after they split,it was a brave move but viewers hated it.
I'd liked to have seen Joe return in seasons 4 and 5 and have a will they won't get back togethor storyline.
All the stuff with the custome hire store,wasn't a patch on the first two seasons,we lost Myrna and Susie after season2,never cared for Brenda's boyfriend,Benny.

catlover79 · 03-01-2010, 11:18 AM

^ Good points.

I seem to remember that Valerie Harper, David Groh and Harold Gould reunited back in the 90s on a talk show - Donahue, Sally Jessy...I don't remember which one offhand.

wayman · 03-01-2010, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Good points.

I seem to remember that Valerie Harper, David Groh and Harold Gould reunited back in the 90s on a talk show - Donahue, Sally Jessy...I don't remember which one offhand.

Here's a clip from a Rhoda reunion in 1984 on "Hour Magazine." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDZqOJxDMAo

catlover79 · 03-01-2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayman

Here's a clip from a Rhoda reunion in 1984 on "Hour Magazine." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDZqOJxDMAo

Cool - thanks!

LittleRickyII · 03-01-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

To each his own, but I think Rhoda and Joe were good together - Valerie Harper and David Groh had nice chemistry together.

I agree with you. I think they made a perfect TV couple and my recollection was that he was a popular character. The reason I remember the writers saying he was written out of the series was not that people did not like the character, but that they felt constrained: writing for a married Rhoda was more difficult than writing for a single Rhoda: the reason people loved the character was because her life was so imperfect. Then suddenly with Joe (and her slim figure) her life was too perfect for her to be fun anymore. The other night on The Joy Behar Show, Valerie Harper said the writers had originally conceived a show similar to what Mad About You was years later. But because CBS scheduled Rhoda during the "family hour," the writers were prevented from writing those kinds of scripts. So it totally defeated the purpose of having Rhoda married. So they decided they'd have more latitude with the character if they made her single again.

LittleRickyII · 03-01-2010, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Good points.

I seem to remember that Valerie Harper, David Groh and Harold Gould reunited back in the 90s on a talk show - Donahue, Sally Jessy...I don't remember which one offhand.

I remember that, too.

ZeldaGilroy · 03-02-2010, 12:28 AM

I know I am in the minority here...but I did not like Joe. And it has nothing to do with David Groh who I feel was a wonderful actor. I just never liked Joe, there was something about him that didn't sit right with me. I think I preferred Rhoda to be single. I do agree though that having them date and then marrying them in the final episode would have been better for the show. People like the intrigue of where a romance is headed. When characters are married too soon, there is no reason to watch.

catlover79 · 03-02-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

I remember that, too.

I looked it up - the three Rhoda stars reunited in 1996 on Sally Jessy Raphael's show. That was just around the same time Nick At Nite started airing Rhoda reruns. Unfortunately, I can't find any clips.

catlover79 · 03-02-2010, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FactsFan

I know I am in the minority here...but I did not like Joe. And it has nothing to do with David Groh who I feel was a wonderful actor. I just never liked Joe, there was something about him that didn't sit right with me. I think I preferred Rhoda to be single. I do agree though that having them date and then marrying them in the final episode would have been better for the show. People like the intrigue of where a romance is headed. When characters are married too soon, there is no reason to watch.

David Groh also made a TERRIFYING villain - try to check out an episode of Law & Order called "Indifference" (from S1), where he plays one of the most chilling villains you'll ever see. He reprised the same role in S15 in the 2004 episode, "Fixed".

scotsguy · 03-02-2010, 05:49 AM

I feel Rhoda in later seasons got carried away with couples splitting,later it was Ida and Martin but they at least got back togethor.
The quality of Rhoda scripts nose dived in seasons 4 and 5,sad really,MTM was great from start to finish.

rcbrad · 03-02-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

I feel Rhoda in later seasons got carried away with couples splitting,later it was Ida and Martin but they at least got back togethor.
The quality of Rhoda scripts nose dived in seasons 4 and 5,sad really,MTM was great from start to finish.

I agree the scripts took a turn for the worse. I remember reading somewhere that Rhoda started out as great Television, but ended up being just TV.

It may have been better if they could have had her start a more interesting job with a livelier supporting cast, instead of working in the small costume shop. The costume shop was kind of depressing and run down, especially since she got this job right after the divorce and the divorce was not something that the Rhoda character wanted. I remember reading a critique that said "Rhoda the soaring has turned into Rhoda the boring" in seasons 4 and 5.

I remember reading or hearing the opposite of what you stated, that Valerie said she did not mind being married and that she was fine with many scripts being geared towards Brenda. It's funny how different books or interviews quote conflicting information.

In retrospect they were too quick to marry her off, but it seems that maybe they turned around and did the same thing again, by divorcing her too quick. In itself, the divorce was not a bad idea and the ratings were still strong until the last season when they were moved to Sat night.

Still, one of my favorites of all time- The show and the actress. Can't wait to see the rest of the DVD'S.

02-28-2010, 07:58 PM	#1
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: 63,107	Rhoda's Failed Marriage Was Rhoda's marriage destined to fail from the beginning? If so, was it due to the fact that Joe was the groom or that viewers just hated the fact that Rhoda was no longer single?
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02-28-2010, 09:28 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I think the real mistake was marrying them off too fast. Maybe if they'd had a serious, long-term relationship and married them off in the last episode, it would've turned out better for the show in the long run. Personally, I liked Joe (and his portrayer, the late David Groh, who was also a fine dramatic actor).
	__________________ "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

03-01-2010, 09:21 AM	#5
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I think David Groh was very good as Joe,Rhoda was a very forceful character,she needed a husband who could stand his ground. Rhoda did force the marriage issue,I agree they married too fast on Rhoda. I hate the first episode of season3 its so well acted,its painful seeing them split,Joe was rotten to Rhoda,he clearly forgot to mention the times Rhoda and her family helped his struggling business. It was Valerie Harper herself,who felt Rhoda was getting a bit boring as a married lady,nothing against David Groh,they stayed friends until his death. The ratings did slide after they split,it was a brave move but viewers hated it. I'd liked to have seen Joe return in seasons 4 and 5 and have a will they won't get back togethor storyline. All the stuff with the custome hire store,wasn't a patch on the first two seasons,we lost Myrna and Susie after season2,never cared for Brenda's boyfriend,Benny.
	Last edited by scotsguy; 03-01-2010 at 06:53 PM.

02-28-2010, 09:58 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	To each his own, but I think Rhoda and Joe were good together - Valerie Harper and David Groh had nice chemistry together. Speaking of David Groh, this is my favorite story about him: "General Hospital's David Groh (D.L. Brock), who in a fight scene to air Aug. 31 let slip a certain four-letter word beginning with "F." Rather than re-shoot the scene—in which D.L.'s lover, Bobbie Spencer (played by Jackie Zeman), is about to be raped—the producers decided to use a foghorn to cover up his faux pas." - The scene was shot on the docks, so a foghorn blast made perfect sense. http://www.people.com/people/archive...085833,00.html

03-01-2010, 11:18 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Good points. I seem to remember that Valerie Harper, David Groh and Harold Gould reunited back in the 90s on a talk show - Donahue, Sally Jessy...I don't remember which one offhand.

03-02-2010, 12:28 AM	#11
ZeldaGilroy Dobie and Zelda Forever!!! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2000 Location: I don't know...I'm probably lost! Posts: 4,144	I know I am in the minority here...but I did not like Joe. And it has nothing to do with David Groh who I feel was a wonderful actor. I just never liked Joe, there was something about him that didn't sit right with me. I think I preferred Rhoda to be single. I do agree though that having them date and then marrying them in the final episode would have been better for the show. People like the intrigue of where a romance is headed. When characters are married too soon, there is no reason to watch.

03-02-2010, 05:49 AM	#14
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I feel Rhoda in later seasons got carried away with couples splitting,later it was Ida and Martin but they at least got back togethor. The quality of Rhoda scripts nose dived in seasons 4 and 5,sad really,MTM was great from start to finish.