Question about the new characters at the start of the 1975-76 TV Season - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-23-2003, 02:23 PM

I read in a 1975 issue of TV Guide that apartment-house manager and upstairs neighbor was added to interact with Mary since Phyllis and Rhoda departed for their own show. Was this a Good or Bad addition?

TVgen62 · 03-24-2003, 02:41 AM

We never really got the chance to find out:

- The apartment manager only appeared in 1 episode.
- Her neighbors, Paula (Penny Marshall) and Sally Jo (Mary Kay Place) only made a few appearances. Penny Marshall, of course, had to tend to her own series.

IMO, I couldn't warm up to any "substitute" Rhoda or Phyllis. The writers apparently felt similarly, or at least had their own reasons for deciding to focus on Mary's interaction with her co-workers.

Some have said this the point at which the show "jumped the shark", to which I say, "Nay. Not true!" I think it was consistently fine throughout. A change of direction in a TV show isn't always downward; in this case, I think it was a lateral move.

P.S. -
This is probably more than you wanted to hear, however I know someone would've mentioned it if I didn't.

ClesStahn · 05-22-2003, 08:49 AM

It wasn't necessarily better or worse when Rhoda and Phyllis left.

03-23-2003, 02:23 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,057	Question about the new characters at the start of the 1975-76 TV Season I read in a 1975 issue of TV Guide that apartment-house manager and upstairs neighbor was added to interact with Mary since Phyllis and Rhoda departed for their own show. Was this a Good or Bad addition?

03-24-2003, 02:41 AM	#2
TVgen62 My baby! <aawww> Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 02, 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 476	We never really got the chance to find out: - The apartment manager only appeared in 1 episode. - Her neighbors, Paula (Penny Marshall) and Sally Jo (Mary Kay Place) only made a few appearances. Penny Marshall, of course, had to tend to her own series. IMO, I couldn't warm up to any "substitute" Rhoda or Phyllis. The writers apparently felt similarly, or at least had their own reasons for deciding to focus on Mary's interaction with her co-workers. Some have said this the point at which the show "jumped the shark", to which I say, "Nay. Not true!" I think it was consistently fine throughout. A change of direction in a TV show isn't always downward; in this case, I think it was a lateral move. P.S. - This is probably more than you wanted to hear, however I know someone would've mentioned it if I didn't.
	__________________ *************************** "Consider yourself lucky that you are not, at this moment, an artichoke*!" -- Endora (to Darrin) Bewitched* - ep. #4, "Mother, Meet What's His Name"

05-22-2003, 08:49 AM	#3
ClesStahn Senior Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2001 Posts: 500	It wasn't necessarily better or worse when Rhoda and Phyllis left.