Did The Spin-Off 'Rhoda' Prove That Rhoda Was Better In Small Doses??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-14-2012, 04:49 PM

Did the show's quick rise and fall prove that or was it a case of too much too soon or was it a case of poor writing?

Why didn't Rhoda make it after all?

Retro4Life · 04-14-2012, 05:33 PM

The first three years of Rhoda were pretty good, and even the last couple weren't bad, really.

I think the problem for me was that once removed from Minneapolis, and Mary, Rhoda kind of lost her character. She was no longer shown as kind of Mary's opposite (insecure, sarcastic, a bit caustic) but more level headed and "Mary" like. Brenda kind of became the "Rhoda" of Rhoda, and Rhoda got sort of diluted in the process. I don't know how they could have corrected this, really. If you kept Rhoda just as she was on TMTMS, you'd have her kvetching every week and not have shown any growth. But if you changed her, you ran the risk of losing the character.

Personally, though I liked "Rhoda" I would rather have had her stay on TMTMS. It's rare that a spinoff featuring a supporting character can hurdle this type of problem.

Brian Damage · 04-14-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

The first three years of Rhoda were pretty good, and even the last couple weren't bad, really.

I think the problem for me was that once removed from Minneapolis, and Mary, Rhoda kind of lost her character. She was no longer shown as kind of Mary's opposite (insecure, sarcastic, a bit caustic) but more level headed and "Mary" like. Brenda kind of became the "Rhoda" of Rhoda, and Rhoda got sort of diluted in the process. I don't know how they could have corrected this, really. If you kept Rhoda just as she was on TMTMS, you'd have her kvetching every week and not have shown any growth. But if you changed her, you ran the risk of losing the character.

Personally, though I liked "Rhoda" I would rather have had her stay on TMTMS. It's rare that a spinoff featuring a supporting character can hurdle this type of problem.

I agree, I think Frasier Crane was really the one character who succeeded at reinventing himself without losing the integrity of the original character.

Retro4Life · 04-14-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I agree, I think Frasier Crane was really the one character who succeeded at reinventing himself without losing the integrity of the original character.

Yeah Frasier really is the exception.

Brian Damage · 04-14-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Yeah Frasier really is the exception.

Agreed, the only other way I guess, you could have a spin-off, is have a character appear in just one or 2 episodes and that's it.

TVFactFan · 04-14-2012, 06:35 PM

Or CBS could have aired it after MTM like ABC did with Happy days and Laverne and Shirley

Brian Damage · 04-15-2012, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Or CBS could have aired it after MTM like ABC did with Happy days and Laverne and Shirley

That's a good point, but in reality isn't that a cheap way out? lol

scotsguy · 04-15-2012, 09:38 AM

I think Rhoda is a good example of a hit show that,the writers began to muck

about with,(Joe and Rhoda splitting up) and the show never really recovering.

The first three seasons were really good but then in season4 we had Rhoda

working for a rude Lou Grant type clone,who the Rhoda of the first three

seasons would have lasted 2 seconds with.

The addition of Benny,who I just didn't take to,and the loss of funny characters like Susie and Mryna from the first two seasons didn't help.

Mr. Television · 04-15-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

That's a good point, but in reality isn't that a cheap way out? lol

Yea and Rhoda didn't need the support. It was ranked higher than MTM when the show started and her wedding was a national event.

Mr. Television · 04-15-2012, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

I think Rhoda is a good example of a hit show that,the writers began to muck

about with,(Joe and Rhoda splitting up) and the show never really recovering.

The first three seasons were really good but then in season4 we had Rhoda

working for a rude Lou Grant type clone,who the Rhoda of the first three

seasons would have lasted 2 seconds with.

The addition of Benny,who I just didn't take to,and the loss of funny characters like Susie and Mryna from the first two seasons didn't help.

I've always thought this was true. The show was pretty good during the first 3 seasons and then the writers decided it was getting too hard to write for a married couple. They tried to change the show into another version of MTM which it wasn't. They lost most of their audience. The show got worse as the seasons went on.

TVFactFan · 04-15-2012, 02:04 PM

What type of job did Rhoda have in NYC?

Retro4Life · 04-15-2012, 03:06 PM

^ Didn't she do advertising posters for clothing store windows, or something?

04-14-2012, 04:49 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	Did The Spin-Off 'Rhoda' Prove That Rhoda Was Better In Small Doses??? Did the show's quick rise and fall prove that or was it a case of too much too soon or was it a case of poor writing? Why didn't Rhoda make it after all?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

04-14-2012, 05:33 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	The first three years of Rhoda were pretty good, and even the last couple weren't bad, really. I think the problem for me was that once removed from Minneapolis, and Mary, Rhoda kind of lost her character. She was no longer shown as kind of Mary's opposite (insecure, sarcastic, a bit caustic) but more level headed and "Mary" like. Brenda kind of became the "Rhoda" of Rhoda, and Rhoda got sort of diluted in the process. I don't know how they could have corrected this, really. If you kept Rhoda just as she was on TMTMS, you'd have her kvetching every week and not have shown any growth. But if you changed her, you ran the risk of losing the character. Personally, though I liked "Rhoda" I would rather have had her stay on TMTMS. It's rare that a spinoff featuring a supporting character can hurdle this type of problem.
	__________________ 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."

04-14-2012, 06:35 PM	#6
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	Or CBS could have aired it after MTM like ABC did with Happy days and Laverne and Shirley

04-15-2012, 09:38 AM	#8
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I think Rhoda is a good example of a hit show that,the writers began to muck about with,(Joe and Rhoda splitting up) and the show never really recovering. The first three seasons were really good but then in season4 we had Rhoda working for a rude Lou Grant type clone,who the Rhoda of the first three seasons would have lasted 2 seconds with. The addition of Benny,who I just didn't take to,and the loss of funny characters like Susie and Mryna from the first two seasons didn't help.

04-15-2012, 02:04 PM	#11
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	What type of job did Rhoda have in NYC?

04-15-2012, 03:06 PM	#12
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	^ Didn't she do advertising posters for clothing store windows, or something?