Valerie Harper Screamed "I'm Free!" After Finding Out That 'Rhoda' Was Canceled!?! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-04-2011, 04:59 PM

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...e+harper&hl=en

I was really surprised to read this in an artcle dated December 1st 1978. Valerie was ecstatic that 'Rhoda' was canceled. Even going as far as shouting "I'm Free!" when she heard the news. Do you think she was being a bit selfish or was she justified?

zevonsky72 · 06-11-2011, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...e+harper&hl=en

I was really surprised to read this in an artcle dated December 1st 1978. Valerie was ecstatic that 'Rhoda' was canceled. Even going as far as shouting "I'm Free!" when she heard the news. Do you think she was being a bit selfish or was she justified?

I question whether Valerie really said that. It may have been a way of publicly making lemonade out of lemons, since no one likes to have a long-running show unceremoniously cancelled. Although she was in her ninth season of playing Rhoda, I've never read that she was unhappy with her role or Rhoda the show. Many people claim Rhoda was on the decline by Season 5, but I recently watched that season and thought the show was still going strong.

About the unfinished fifth season, I would have liked to see Brenda and Benny get married, which probably would have happened at the end of the season in 1979. I would have also liked to see Rhoda get involved with someone new. However, I prefer not to believe Rhoda would have remarried and moved to France as the 2000 Mary & Rhoda movie would have you believe.

Brian Damage · 06-11-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zevonsky72

I question whether Valerie really said that. It may have been a way of publicly making lemonade out of lemons, since no one likes to have a long-running show unceremoniously cancelled. Although she was in her ninth season of playing Rhoda, I've never read that she was unhappy with her role or Rhoda the show. Many people claim Rhoda was on the decline by Season 5, but I recently watched that season and thought the show was still going strong.

About the unfinished fifth season, I would have liked to see Brenda and Benny get married, which probably would have happened at the end of the season in 1979. I would have also liked to see Rhoda get involved with someone new. However, I prefer not to believe Rhoda would have remarried and moved to France as the 2000 Mary & Rhoda movie would have you believe.

According to that article it was Valerie Harper who was quoted herself as saying that. I think she had grown tired of tv and wanted to return to Broadway. I could be wrong though.

zevonsky72 · 06-12-2011, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

According to that article it was Valerie Harper who was quoted herself as saying that. I think she had grown tired of tv and wanted to return to Broadway. I could be wrong though.

No, you're right - according to the article she did say it. I just have a hard time thinking that was her initial reaction to learning her show was cancelled... unless she was expecting it and relieved to find out one way or another.

Brian Damage · 06-12-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zevonsky72

No, you're right - according to the article she did say it. I just have a hard time thinking that was her initial reaction to learning her show was cancelled... unless she was expecting it and relieved to find out one way or another.

I agree with you there, to go from a steady paycheck back into the unknown is hard to fathom. It's also not like she didn't return to tv which of course she did with Valerie aka The Hogan Family.

Miss Lisa · 06-13-2011, 05:49 PM

I don't think it was selfish of her to say "I'm free!" First off, it wasn't her fault that the show was cancelled, its not like she quit. Second, she had another job lined up that she wanted to do. Its hard to not get excited if you have an opportunity to go and do something you want to do.

McGillicuddy · 06-13-2011, 08:52 PM

It makes me wonder why she didn't participate in any commentary or interview for the Rhoda dvd set. Maybe she wasn't interested in "going back there".

zevonsky72 · 06-13-2011, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

It makes me wonder why she didn't participate in any commentary or interview for the Rhoda dvd set. Maybe she wasn't interested in "going back there".

Yet Julius Barnett's book - published just last year - apparently has a forward written by Valerie herself.

JMFabiano524 · 09-14-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

It makes me wonder why she didn't participate in any commentary or interview for the Rhoda dvd set. Maybe she wasn't interested in "going back there".

She did, however, do that on one of the early MTM sets, so I wouldn't say she's another Tina Louise, if you know what I mean.

Of course, I haven't really tracked down any recent interviews...does she ever shy away from her TV history?

06-04-2011, 04:59 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	Valerie Harper Screamed "I'm Free!" After Finding Out That 'Rhoda' Was Canceled!?! http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...e+harper&hl=en I was really surprised to read this in an artcle dated December 1st 1978. Valerie was ecstatic that 'Rhoda' was canceled. Even going as far as shouting "I'm Free!" when she heard the news. Do you think she was being a bit selfish or was she justified?
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06-13-2011, 05:49 PM	#6
Miss Lisa Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: My very own Green Acres Posts: 1,113	I don't think it was selfish of her to say "I'm free!" First off, it wasn't her fault that the show was cancelled, its not like she quit. Second, she had another job lined up that she wanted to do. Its hard to not get excited if you have an opportunity to go and do something you want to do.
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06-13-2011, 08:52 PM	#7
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	It makes me wonder why she didn't participate in any commentary or interview for the Rhoda dvd set. Maybe she wasn't interested in "going back there".