Quirky sitcom Rhoda was a spin off from The Mary Tyler Moore Show in which Rhoda Morgenstern moved back home to New York, she quickly fell in love and married businessman Joe Gerard who ran the New York Wrecking Company; He had been married before and had a 10 year old son.
At the start of the series Rhoda had been living in an apartment block with her sister Brenda and after her marriage she and Joe moved into an apartment in the same block. Rhoda then started her own window dressing business but married life began to pall and within two seasons she and Joe had separated.
Around this time more emphasis was also placed on Rhoda’s sister Brenda. During the next couple of seasons Rhoda re-adjusted to singledom but later began a relationship with entertainer Johnny Venture.
Again the following season brought changes; Rhoda changed jobs, she began working for the Doyle Costume company run by Jack Doyle and much of the action now centered around the company. Also a big part of the show was Rhoda’s typically Jewish mother Ida Morgenstern. Also a regular was the heard but never seen apartment block doorman Carlton.
In 1974, Harper won the Emmy for Best Comic Actress and in 1975 the series won a Golden Globe for best comedy show.
production details
USA / CBS / 110×30 minute episodes / Broadcast Monday 9 September 1974 – Saturday 9 December 1978
cast
VALERIE HARPER as Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard
JULIE KAVNER as Brenda Morgenstern
DAVID GROH as Joe Gerard (1974-77)
NANCY WALKER as Ida Morgenstern
HAROLD J. GOULD as Martin Morgenstern
LORENZO MUSIC as the voice of Carlton the Doorman
CARA WILLIAMS as Mae (1974-75)
CANDY AZZARA as Alice Barth (1974-75)
TODD TURQUAND as Donny Gerard (1974)
BARBARA SHARMA as Myrna Morgenstern (1974-76)
SCOEY MITCHILL as Justin Culp (1975-76)
RON SILVER as Gary Levy (1976-78)
ANNE MEARA as Sally Gallagher (1976-77)
MICHAEL DELANO as Johnny Venture (1977-78)
KEN McMILLAN as Jack Doyle (1977-78)
