Does Anybody Know if Valerie Harper Was Promised to Return to 'TMTMS' If... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-21-2011, 10:53 PM

Her own show didn't work out? I was always curious to know if she could've returned to the Mary Tyler Moore Show. If so, would it have been a step back for her character and the parent show?

McGillicuddy · 02-25-2011, 01:00 PM

I've never heard any reference to this, but I imagine it might have depended exactly when the series "got axed", if it failed. If it happened before she married Joe, it would be easier to explain her returning to Minneapolis. She could have just said it wasn't working out for her in New York. But if it had happened after the wedding, it would be harder to see her going back.

catlover79 · 02-25-2011, 02:48 PM

I don't know, but I do know that Sonny Shroyer had it written into his contract that if his spinoff Enos failed, which it did - he could return to The Dukes of Hazzard, which he did. It would be interesting to know if Valerie had a similar arrangement.

Kristen · 02-25-2011, 03:39 PM

I've seen interviews where Valerie talks about not wanting to leave TMTMS, and she says Mary told her if the spinoff didn't work, she could come back. I don't know if that was ever put in writing, but I do think that was the plan.

catlover79 · 02-26-2011, 03:27 AM

I could definitely see Mary doing that.

TVFactFan · 02-26-2011, 04:53 PM

She could have returned in the 1978-79 season but the newsroom would have been EMPTY-lol

Brian Damage · 02-26-2011, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

She could have returned in the 1978-79 season but the newsroom would have been EMPTY-lol

Solomon, you better get started watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show! I insist!

McGillicuddy · 02-26-2011, 05:50 PM

She didn't work in the newsroom!!

McGillicuddy · 02-26-2011, 05:54 PM

So, what about Phyllis? Phyllis was cancelled the same year The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended. If MTM went into an 8th season, Phyllis could have very well came back! If that were the case, Rhoda would have stayed clear of Minneapolis, when Rhoda was canceled the next year!!

TVFactFan · 02-27-2011, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

So, what about Phyllis? Phyllis was cancelled the same year The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended. If MTM went into an 8th season, Phyllis could have very well came back! If that were the case, Rhoda would have stayed clear of Minneapolis, when Rhoda was canceled the next year!!

It wouldn't have made sense for Rhoda or Phyllis to return to MTM permantely because Phylis moved to San Franciso and Rhoda moved to NYC. The way they were wriiten out made it impossible for them to return.

Same thing with the

Jeffersons
Good Times
Maude
Flo

Spinoffs where the return was very possible, it only happened for three characters because they were not written COMPLETELY out of the script

Ropers
Checking In-returned
Grady-returned
A Different World-returned

Brian Damage · 02-27-2011, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It wouldn't have made sense for Rhoda or Phyllis to return to MTM permantely because Phylis moved to San Franciso and Rhoda moved to NYC. The way they were wriiten out made it impossible for them to return.

Same thing with the

Jeffersons
Good Times
Maude
Flo

Spinoffs where the return was very possible, it only happened for three characters because they were not written COMPLETELY out of the script

Ropers
Checking In-returned
Grady-returned
A Different World-returned

I wouldn't say it was impossible Sol, maybe impractical, but definitely not impossible.

Kristen · 02-27-2011, 02:15 AM

I don't see why it would have been strange for Rhoda to move back. If things w/ Joe didn't work out, she could easily return to MN if she wanted. Maybe it would've been tougher to explain Phyllis b/c she and Mary weren't close. But I think bringing Rhoda back would've been pretty simple.

McGillicuddy · 02-27-2011, 11:30 AM

Remember, when Rhoda first went to NYC, she was vacationing. I think in the second episode she called back to her job in Minneapolis, to stay she was staying on longer. It seems like the writers were trying to keep "things loose" incase the show didn't take off. At that point she would have gone back to MN. Besides, she also could have used the excuse that her mother drove her crazy.

Once she got established there (and of course married) yeah, it would be pretty hard to explain her going back, even if TMTMS was still on after Rhoda was cancelled. Same with Phyllis, who had nothing... when Lars died.

scotsguy · 03-01-2011, 07:08 PM

I remember an interview I saw with Valerie Harper,year ago on cable,Valerie

said how encouraging Mary Tyler Moore was with the spinoff Rhoda.

Mary told her if the show didn't work,she could come back to the MTM show.

02-21-2011, 10:53 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	Does Anybody Know if Valerie Harper Was Promised to Return to 'TMTMS' If... Her own show didn't work out? I was always curious to know if she could've returned to the Mary Tyler Moore Show. If so, would it have been a step back for her character and the parent show?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-25-2011, 02:48 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I don't know, but I do know that Sonny Shroyer had it written into his contract that if his spinoff Enos failed, which it did - he could return to The Dukes of Hazzard, which he did. It would be interesting to know if Valerie had a similar arrangement.
	__________________ "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

02-27-2011, 11:30 AM	#13
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Remember, when Rhoda first went to NYC, she was vacationing. I think in the second episode she called back to her job in Minneapolis, to stay she was staying on longer. It seems like the writers were trying to keep "things loose" incase the show didn't take off. At that point she would have gone back to MN. Besides, she also could have used the excuse that her mother drove her crazy. Once she got established there (and of course married) yeah, it would be pretty hard to explain her going back, even if TMTMS was still on after Rhoda was cancelled. Same with Phyllis, who had nothing... when Lars died.
	Last edited by McGillicuddy; 03-01-2011 at 07:53 PM.

02-25-2011, 01:00 PM	#2
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I've never heard any reference to this, but I imagine it might have depended exactly when the series "got axed", if it failed. If it happened before she married Joe, it would be easier to explain her returning to Minneapolis. She could have just said it wasn't working out for her in New York. But if it had happened after the wedding, it would be harder to see her going back.

02-25-2011, 03:39 PM	#4
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	I've seen interviews where Valerie talks about not wanting to leave TMTMS, and she says Mary told her if the spinoff didn't work, she could come back. I don't know if that was ever put in writing, but I do think that was the plan.

02-26-2011, 03:27 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I could definitely see Mary doing that.

02-26-2011, 04:53 PM	#6
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,058	She could have returned in the 1978-79 season but the newsroom would have been EMPTY-lol

02-26-2011, 05:50 PM	#8
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	She didn't work in the newsroom!!

02-26-2011, 05:54 PM	#9
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	So, what about Phyllis? Phyllis was cancelled the same year The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended. If MTM went into an 8th season, Phyllis could have very well came back! If that were the case, Rhoda would have stayed clear of Minneapolis, when Rhoda was canceled the next year!!

02-27-2011, 02:15 AM	#12
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	I don't see why it would have been strange for Rhoda to move back. If things w/ Joe didn't work out, she could easily return to MN if she wanted. Maybe it would've been tougher to explain Phyllis b/c she and Mary weren't close. But I think bringing Rhoda back would've been pretty simple.

03-01-2011, 07:08 PM	#14
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I remember an interview I saw with Valerie Harper,year ago on cable,Valerie said how encouraging Mary Tyler Moore was with the spinoff Rhoda. Mary told her if the show didn't work,she could come back to the MTM show.