Revisiting Season 3 on ALN

[OOliver]

Three eps into S3, and I have to say I appreciate more than ever this turn the creative team took by making RHODA a single gal again. I think Harper is better this season than she was in S2 - the focus is back on her once again (at least these first three eps) and she's back to playing 'Rhoda Morgenstern' (not 'Rhoda Gerard'). It is rather nice to thin out many of the extras that overtook the show in S1 and S2 (namely: her parents, her friends Suzie and Myrna, and Joe) and bring the camera back to it's star.

Last night we were introduced to 'Gary' (the late Ron Sliver). If the title "A Star Is Born" was ever created for anyone, it was for Silver in his RHODA debut. He played needy and helpless as well as he played selfish and rude - all in the same few minutes. A genius actor if ever there was one...is it any wonder why feaure films would be his next step?

[scotsguy]

Yes I liked Gary too,I agree Ron Silver was a gifted Actor.

I like the disco theme tune we get for a few episodes in season3,I did miss Mryna and Susie though,I think in later seasons there were too many male characters,Jack and Benny,namely.

I enjoyed season3,its when Rhoda takes that job in the custome hire shop in season4,things start to go downhill...

[snowpeck]

Does anybody have a recording of that disco theme? I don't get ALN and haven't heard that in many years. None of Nick at Nite's reruns had it.

Greg

[OOliver]

What disco theme do we get? During the opening credits?

[scotsguy]

Yes I have a few episodes of Rhoda,season3 on vhs,its around the time,Sally is in it,disco was the wrong word,for me to use,its a right brassy base Rhoda theme,jazzy is a better description.
Yes it was used as the opening credits for a few episodes of season3 of Rhoda.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by scotsguy

Yes I have a few episodes of Rhoda,season3 on vhs,its around the time,Sally is in it,disco was the wrong word,for me to use,its a right brassy base Rhoda theme,jazzy is a better description.
Yes it was used as the opening credits for a few episodes of season3 of Rhoda.

You're not referring to this, are you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT7ELPDQ0jA

[wayman]

I skipped over watching Season 1 and 2 episodes of "Rhoda" on ALN because I had Season 1 on DVD and I knew Season 2 was coming unedited. I started watching the Season 3 episodes, but now that they've announced that Season 3 is coming out on DVD, I'll skip over the rest of those too. I'm still debating whether or not to start watching again when they get to Season 4 on ALN, or wait in hopes they release the rest of the seasons on DVD.

[snowpeck]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

You're not referring to this, are you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT7ELPDQ0jA

No, that's season 4. Would love to hear an mp3 or see a video of the jazzy/disco version if anybody has one.

Greg

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by OOliver

Three eps into S3, and I have to say I appreciate more than ever this turn the creative team took by making RHODA a single gal again. I think Harper is better this season than she was in S2 - the focus is back on her once again (at least these first three eps) and she's back to playing 'Rhoda Morgenstern' (not 'Rhoda Gerard'). It is rather nice to thin out many of the extras that overtook the show in S1 and S2 (namely: her parents, her friends Suzie and Myrna, and Joe) and bring the camera back to it's star.

Last night we were introduced to 'Gary' (the late Ron Sliver). If the title "A Star Is Born" was ever created for anyone, it was for Silver in his RHODA debut. He played needy and helpless as well as he played selfish and rude - all in the same few minutes. A genius actor if ever there was one...is it any wonder why feaure films would be his next step?

I have to say, I miss Joe already! After a couple stellar episodes, the show quickly took a dive with the episode that aired Thursday, the one that introduced the character Johnny Venture (Joe doesn't appear in this episode at all). This is the point where I think Rhoda jumped the shark. When I was watching the series the first time around three decades ago -- yikes! -- I loathed that character, Johnny Venture. Frankly, I didn't like any of the new characters they introduced from this point on. And seeing these episodes again, I'm finding my feelings haven't changed. I don't like the Anne Meara character, either; I find her boring. In fact, though I love Ben and Jerry -- I think Ben Stiller, especially, is a hoot -- I've never liked Anne Meara in anything. I couldn't stand her on Archie Bunker's Place, and I didn't enjoy her on Rhoda, which is the first time I remember seeing her in anything. (As a side note: I have a friend who, in his work, has to meet with lots of celebrities. He cites Anne Meara as the most unfriendly he's ever dealt with.)

This initial appearance of Johnny Venture makes me wonder what the writers/producers were thinking. He added nothing to the show. That scene with Johnny and Nick (another character I don't like) towards the end of the episode in the nightclub was pathetic. None of it was funny, and you can hear Jim Brooks with his hyena laugh obviously trying to prompt the rest of the audience to laugh at this very unfunny scene. It's quite annoying. This should have been a sign not to bring back these characters. Yet they pretty much made Johnny Venture a regular after that! Shark jump. But I'm looking forward to seeing the remaining episodes with Joe.

[scotsguy]

I actually liked the character of Johnny Venture,like it when he's down on his luck,losed the jewellery then becomes almost a nice guy,then goes back to being "showbiz",again.
The characters I never took to were Jack and Benny,the Jack character was a Lou Grant imitation and Benny was just annoying.
I liked Anna Maera's character Sally,they were trying to fill the void left by Nancy Walker.
I also liked Anna Maera as Mrs Sherwood in the film "Fame."

[OOliver]

I have to say, S3 is much better than what I remember of it 30+ years ago.

This is how RHODA should have played out from the beginning - the writers really had her character developed in s3.

We're back to the wisecracking, sarcastic Rhoda who made us laugh with 'Phyllis' - only this time she's playing off 'Gary'. I like her apartment much better as well (not as 'big' and 'open' as her first one). Rhoda had lost her edge in the first two seasons - she was too nice with Joe and those around her.

The only mistake - bringing in Anne Meara as 'Sally'. She was not believable as a thirty-nine year old stewardess (and looked stupid in those uniforms). Hell, she wasn't even believable as a 39 year old! I don't know why they brought her in - just to be another divorcee?

What's ironic is - I think around the same time (1976-77) the producers of 'One Day At a Time' also brought in another divorcee to play off the main newly-divorced character. This was 'Ginny Wroblicki' - a 30-something year old waitress, who basically was the Anne Meara character (and hardly believable or likeable as well).

[LittleRickyII]

I agree about Anne Meara's character. I don't like her at all. Some of the episodes without Joe I'm not enjoying very much, though I did enjoy "An Elephant Always Remembers," which aired yesterday. As for the Joe episodes, those are still my favorite from the 3rd season, so far anyway. However, I find myself feeling sad watching these episodes. I guess that's a tribute to how realistically their relationship was written, and to great acting. But I'm watching and feeling the frustration Joe and Rhoda are feeling, trying so hard to make their relationship work, but failing. It's so sad.

Originally Posted by OOliver

I have to say, S3 is much better than what I remember of it 30+ years ago.

This is how RHODA should have played out from the beginning - the writers really had her character developed in s3.

We're back to the wisecracking, sarcastic Rhoda who made us laugh with 'Phyllis' - only this time she's playing off 'Gary'. I like her apartment much better as well (not as 'big' and 'open' as her first one). Rhoda had lost her edge in the first two seasons - she was too nice with Joe and those around her.

The only mistake - bringing in Anne Meara as 'Sally'. She was not believable as a thirty-nine year old stewardess (and looked stupid in those uniforms). Hell, she wasn't even believable as a 39 year old! I don't know why they brought her in - just to be another divorcee?

What's ironic is - I think around the same time (1976-77) the producers of 'One Day At a Time' also brought in another divorcee to play off the main newly-divorced character. This was 'Ginny Wroblicki' - a 30-something year old waitress, who basically was the Anne Meara character (and hardly believable or likeable as well).

[OOliver]

Originally Posted by scotsguy

Yes I have a few episodes of Rhoda,season3 on vhs,its around the time,Sally is in it,disco was the wrong word,for me to use,its a right brassy base Rhoda theme,jazzy is a better description.
Yes it was used as the opening credits for a few episodes of season3 of Rhoda.

Oh WOW! This new instrumental debuted in episdoe 10 ("Man of the Year") in which Sally (Meara) falls for Joe's best friend "Charlie" (actor Dick Schaal, who was married to Harper at the time, and had been let go from the series "Phyllis" earlier in the year). I don't remember this at all - just the softer instrumental from eps 1-9. Does anyone know how long they used this particular instrumental song?


The original airdate was 11-29-76 (my 13th birthday!). Overall, this ep was pretty awful. It's like the writers couldn't come up with anything at all - and decided to write this 'situation' which falls flat.


(Something that bothers me - "Charlie" is referred to as "Joe's best friend", though in the first two seasons when Rhoda and Joe socialize, they never mention this guy!).

[LittleRickyII]

I was coming on here just now to point out to snowpeck that the jazzy version came on today, but you beat me to it! As for Charlie, I remember an episode from (I think) the 1st season where Rhoda meets Joe's best friend and they decide they don't like each other. Was that a different character, not Charlie?

Originally Posted by OOliver

Oh WOW! This new instrumental debuted in episdoe 10 ("Man of the Year") in which Sally (Meara) falls for Joe's best friend "Charlie" (actor Dick Schaal, who was married to Harper at the time, and had been let go from the series "Phyllis" earlier in the year). I don't remember this at all - just the softer instrumental from eps 1-9. Does anyone know how long they used this particular instrumental song?


The original airdate was 11-29-76 (my 13th birthday!). Overall, this ep was pretty awful. It's like the writers couldn't come up with anything at all - and decided to write this 'situation' which falls flat.


(Something that bothers me - "Charlie" is referred to as "Joe's best friend", though in the first two seasons when Rhoda and Joe socialize, they never mention this guy!).

[scotsguy]

Charlie did appear in two episodes of season1.

He appears first in the episode "Goodbye Charlie" when Rhoda takes an instant dislike to him due to his insincerity and his over the top comments about how great people look,not really meaning it.

That episode was edited on the DVD set(like so many)but his next appearance "Not Made For Each Other",was unedited on the DVD set,a very funny episode,when Charlie takes a shineto Myrna(Barbara Sharma)who rejects him ,then there's a very funny scene of Myrna telling Charlie what their lives would be like if they got togethor.

Charlie doesn't appear in season2 of "Rhoda" as Schaal would be busy on Phyllis" but yes,he makes a third and final appearance in season3 of "Rhoda",I find that episode funny,poor old Rhoda having to get back to the singles scene again,I'm surprised so many people don't like the Anna Mear character,Sally,I liked her.