Just to look at how huge Rhoda was as a character, look at these stats from wikepedia:

Eight weeks into the series on Monday, October 28, 1974, Rhoda and Joe were married in a special hour-long episode which broke several television records. Heavily publicized, it became the highest-rated television episode of the 1970s, a record it held until the miniseries Roots claimed that title in 1977.^[5] Additionally, on the night of its airing it had the distinction of being the second most-watched television episode of all time, surpassed by the birth of Little Ricky on I Love Lucy in 1953.^[6][7] It was watched by more than 52 million Americans, over half of the US viewing audience.

Rhoda remained such a pop culture icon even up to about ten years ago (when they made the Mary and Rhoda TV-movie). She changed a lot of rules about who is or isn't allowed to have a major voice on TV.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/03/07/valerie-harper-on-life-before-during-and-after-rhoda/

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/mary-tyler-moore-other-celebs-react-valerie-harper-021757481.html

Rhoda was the most relatable character on the MTM show.

When they stripped away a lot of the spunk in her spin-off, that's when the character lost her edge and uniqueness.

Rhoda was the most relatable character on the MTM show.

When they stripped away a lot of the spunk in her spin-off, that's when the character lost her edge and uniqueness.

I think the spinoff worked while she was married. She had her husband to sort of become the "Mary" offset. But as soon as the divorce happened, the show and character turned caustic. It never worked with a Brenda as her sidekick because they tried turning Brenda into the "Rhoda" of the Mary and Rhoda years and Rhoda never became "mary"(nor should she have). Rhoda went back to being sort of a cynic but she no longer had the warmth and friendship and connection Mary brought to offset that. Rhoda was a hugely popular character and groundbreaking but I think a lot of people undervalue how the character of Mary also contributed to that.

So sad. I hope her final days are not painful.

Valerie lived in my area for many years, and we knew each other on a name to name basis. Quite often, she'd come and visit her sister and family, and I'd bump into her around town. She's one of those people who always put others before herself. She always asked how my mom was doing and even remembered my children. A little over a year ago, my grandson was out in LA, and bumped into Valerie at a restaurant. While she hadn't seen him since he was a boy, she knew exactly who he was before he could even introduce himself.

This past October, Valerie was a guest at an autograph show in NJ. I was working as a handler there, and I never thought that it would be the last time I saw her. She was so full of life, laughter, and fun. She was there with her husband Tony, who is also one of the nicest people out there. My heart just goes out to these great people.

What I find so sad and shocking about this is that she seems like the most youthful and vibrant member of the MTM family.

Yeah, I am so shocked, because as you know... I'm sure all of us thought Mary would be the first to go, she looks so feeble, and Val looked so good! This stuff always boggles my mind. My Aunt had terminal cancer and she didn't know it, and the last time I saw her, I was astounded at how fabulous she looked. You just never know.

I never thought that Valerie would go before Mary, especially given her recent health battles. And especially before Betty, Cloris, Ed, & Gavin who are all in their 80s.

Those are lovely recollections, MrQuatermaine.

Yes, Valerie has always exuded warmness in her interviews, so it's no shock that she's a sweet person IRL.

The season one opening of Rhoda always tripped the f.uck out of me as a kid - especially when she would pop out saying, "My name is Rhoda Morgenstern."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZAdNWCzVU

I always wondered why TMTMS had such an ageless and iconic opening and theme, while its spin-offs had terrible openings and themes that were so of their era...

I actually love the Season 3 theme, and the season 4-5 ones are pretty good, too. It's the season 2 theme, the "la-la" one, that's random as hell to me.

I kind of like the la la one. I don't know why.

The jazzy opening, I think they used in season 4, was just terrible.

I kind of like the la la one. I don't know why.

It doesn't really bother me or anything, it's just the most random theme of the ones they used, IMO at least.

It's strange sometimes watching Rhoda and knowing that Julie Kavner is the voice of Marge Simpson...

Edited March 8, 201312 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

The opening I was referring to, I've never seen an opening this dated in my life...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVuA5ojodMY