"Rhoda" (1974) TV series 1974-1978

Creators:

James L. Brooks
Allan Burns
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

9 September 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Rhoda Morgenstern was born in the Bronx in December 1941. She's always felt responsible for World War II...

Plot Keywords:

Hidden Character | Sitcom | New York City | Jewish | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 33 nominations

Cast

Valerie Harper	...	Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard / ... (110 episodes, 1974-1978)
Julie Kavner	...	Brenda Morgenstern (110 episodes, 1974-1978)
Lorenzo Music	...	Carlton, the Doorman (64 episodes, 1974-1978)
David Groh	...	Joe Gerard (55 episodes, 1974-1977)

Series Directed by
Tony Mordente		(42 episodes, 1975-1978)
Robert Moore		(27 episodes, 1974-1975)
Asaad Kelada		(7 episodes, 1976-1978)
Howard Storm		(6 episodes, 1975-1976)
Doug Rogers		(5 episodes, 1976)
James Burrows		(4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Nancy Walker		(4 episodes, 1978)
Alan Rafkin		(2 episodes, 1974)
Martin Cohan		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Jay Sandrich		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Bob Claver		(2 episodes, 1975)
Bruce Chevillat		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Writing credits
Charlotte Brown		(29 episodes, 1974-1978)
Coleman Mitchell		(19 episodes, 1974-1977)
Geoffrey Neigher		(19 episodes, 1974-1977)
James L. Brooks		(16 episodes, 1974-1975)
Allan Burns		(16 episodes, 1974-1975)
Gloria Banta		(11 episodes, 1974-1977)
Patricia Nardo		(11 episodes, 1974-1977)
Allan Katz		(6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Don Reo		(6 episodes, 1977-1978)
David Lloyd		(5 episodes, 1978)
Michael Leeson		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Deborah Leschin		(4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Norman Barasch		(3 episodes, 1974)
David Davis		(3 episodes, 1974)
Carroll Moore		(3 episodes, 1974)
Earl Pomerantz		(3 episodes, 1976-1978)
Larry Balmagia		(3 episodes, 1977)
Dennis Koenig		(3 episodes, 1977)
Bob Ellison		(3 episodes, 1978)
Marilyn Suzanne Miller		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Gail Parent		(2 episodes, 1974)
Garry Ferrier		(2 episodes, 1978)
Emily Marshall		(2 episodes, 1978)
Aubrey Tadman		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Produced by
Budd Cherry	....	associate producer (110 episodes, 1974-1978)
David Davis	....	producer (73 episodes, 1974-1977)
Charlotte Brown	....	producer / executive producer (71 episodes, 1975-1978)
James L. Brooks	....	executive producer (30 episodes, 1974-1977)
Allan Burns	....	executive producer (30 episodes, 1974-1977)
Karen Ziff	....	associate producer (27 episodes, 1975-1977)
Lorenzo Music	....	producer (25 episodes, 1974-1975)
Allan Katz	....	producer (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Don Reo	....	producer (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bob Ellison	....	producer (13 episodes, 1978)

Series Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg		(50 episodes, 1974-1976)
Richard Lewis Warren		(47 episodes, 1976-1978)
Les Hooper		(13 episodes, 1978)

Series Cinematography by
Kenneth Peach		(84 episodes, 1975-1978)
Paul Uhl		(25 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Film Editing by
Larry Heath		(110 episodes, 1974-1978)
Beryl Gelfond		(unknown episodes)
Douglas Hines		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Mary Goldberg		(24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Terry Liebling		(24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Lori Openden		(24 episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Art Direction by
Kenneth A. Reid		(110 episodes, 1974-1978)

Series Set Decoration by
Cloudia Rebar		(85 episodes, 1975-1978)
Mary Swanson		(25 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Makeup Department
Jim Kail	....	makeup artist (35 episodes, 1975-1978)
Janet Purcell	....	hair stylist (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Shanon Ely	....	hair stylist (9 episodes, 1977-1978)
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1974-1975)
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1974)
Ruby Ford	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Production Management
Ted Rich	....	post-production supervisor / post-production manager (87 episodes, 1974-1978)
Les Sheldon	....	production manager (46 episodes, 1976-1978)
Abby Singer	....	unit production manager (29 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bruce Chevillat	....	assistant director (26 episodes, 1975-1977)
Don Torpin	....	assistant director (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bud Grace	....	assistant director (8 episodes, 1977)
Daisy Gerber	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1974)

Series Art Department
Philip Calhoun	....	property master (12 episodes, 1976-1977)
Frank Michalovich	....	property master (9 episodes, 1977-1978)
Pat Grande	....	construction coordinator (7 episodes, 1977-1978)
David DeMerino	....	property master (5 episodes, 1974-1976)
Bill Hudson	....	property master (4 episodes, 1976)
Sam Bergman	....	property master (4 episodes, 1977)
David DeMering	....	property master (3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Lloyd R. Apperson	....	construction foreman (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Cam McCulloch	....	production mixer / sound mixer (27 episodes, 1974-1978)
John Hicks	....	production mixer (20 episodes, 1976-1977)
Richard Weaver	....	re-recording / sound re-recording mixer (16 episodes, 1974-1977)
Bob Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording (9 episodes, 1977-1978)
Dan Wallin	....	production mixer (4 episodes, 1975-1976)
James R. Wright	....	production mixer (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Stunts
Buck McDancer	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Irv McClellan	....	key grip / grip (38 episodes, 1974-1978)
Dave Lee	....	gaffer (31 episodes, 1976-1978)
Sam Ozment	....	gaffer (4 episodes, 1974-1975)
James Sherrill	....	gaffer (4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Jonathan West	....	camera operator (unknown episodes, 1978)
Don E. FauntLeRoy	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
William E. Hines	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Michael Hofstein	....	additional first assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Meryl O'Loughlin	....	executive in charge of talent (30 episodes, 1976-1978)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Conrad Feia	....	costumer: men / men's costumer (51 episodes, 1975-1978)
Shannon Litten	....	costumer: women / women's costumer (50 episodes, 1975-1978)
Ele Parker	....	costumer: women / women's costumer (4 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jerry Alpert	....	costumer: men / men's costumer (3 episodes, 1974)

Series Editorial Department
Scott Lawson	....	colorist (32 episodes, 1974-1978)
Pamela Malouf	....	assistant editor (13 episodes, 1978)

Series Music Department
Billy Goldenberg	....	composer: theme music / conductor / ... (110 episodes, 1974-1978)
Ed Norton	....	music editor (109 episodes, 1974-1978)
Richard Lewis Warren	....	conductor (27 episodes, 1976-1978)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (2 episodes, 1975)

Series Other crew
Lionel A. Ephraim	....	production executive (110 episodes, 1974-1978)
Mai Santacroce	....	script supervisor (53 episodes, 1974-1978)
Allan Burns	....	executive consultant (37 episodes, 1977-1978)
James Burrows	....	executive consultant (37 episodes, 1977-1978)
Edna T. Broening	....	assistant to the producers / assistant to the producer / ... (34 episodes, 1975-1978)
Jim Buck	....	technical coordinator (34 episodes, 1975-1978)
Louise A. Stephens	....	assistant to producers (26 episodes, 1974-1977)
Coleman Mitchell	....	executive script consultant (26 episodes, 1975-1977)
Geoffrey Neigher	....	executive script consultant (26 episodes, 1975-1977)
Carol Straughn	....	assistant to producers (26 episodes, 1975-1977)
Gloria Banta	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Michele Gallery	....	assistant to the producers / assistant to producers / ... (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Patricia Nardo	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Beverly Ventriss	....	assistant to the producer / assistant to the producers (9 episodes, 1977-1978)
Michael Zinberg	....	title visualization (9 episodes, 1977-1978)
Deborah Leschin	....	executive script consultant (8 episodes, 1977-1978)
Carol Wood	....	assistant to the producer / assistant to the producers (8 episodes, 1977)
Larry Balmagia	....	story editor (7 episodes, 1977)
Dennis Koenig	....	story editor (7 episodes, 1977)
James L. Brooks	....	executive consultant (6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Mimi Kirk	....	personal assistant (4 episodes, 1975-1978)
Norman Barasch	....	executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1974)
Gil Clasen	....	technical director / technical coordinator (3 episodes, 1974)
Carroll Moore	....	executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1974)
Jonnie Davis	....	assistant to the producers (3 episodes, 1976)
Charlotte Brown	....	executive script consultant (unknown episodes)
Maria Ziff	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• MTM Enterprises

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974-1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• New Video Group (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Shout! Factory (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season one)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD) (season three)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD) (season two)

Other Companies

• Braverman Productions  main titles
• Neiman-Tillar Associates  music editing
• Otto and Windsor Casting Ltd.  casting
• PSS/Dick Weaver  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (110 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

MTM Enterprises

Trivia:

In an interview in the April 17-23, 1976 issue of TVGuide, Lorenzo Music said that a number of actors read for the part of Carlton, including Foster Brooks who was offered, but then turned down the role. Music went on to say that he and the other producers decided to make Carlton a drunk because Carlton was going to be a voice only character and "that's the simplest kind of voice characterization there is".

Quotes:

Carlton:Drinking doesn't cause hangovers; stopping drinking causes hangovers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XIV (#15.1)" (2003)

After a Great Start, Rhoda Goes Downhill

Spun off from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda got off to a great start thanks to an outstanding cast led by Valerie Harper, Julie Kavner (before she became better known as the voice of Marge Simpson), Nancy Walker, who played the quintessential Jewish mother, Harold Gould and David Groh. The first season was known for IMHO one of the best sitcom episodes of all-time, "Rhoda's Wedding." My favorite scene was where Phyllis forgot to pick up Rhoda to take her to her parents and Rhoda ran down the streets in her wedding dress.

After a season of a married Rhoda, it seemed the producers were getting tired of the show so they had Rhoda and Joe separate and later divorce. At that time Anne Meara and Ron Silver were added to the show and Walker later left for her own show but came back when it was canceled.

Unfortunately, the quality of episodes began to decline and even Rhoda's new job at a costume company couldn't up the ratings, resulting in its cancellation at mid-season.

One thing that stood out through out the show's up and down run was the voice of Lorenzo Music (billed as L. Music) as Carlton, the Doorman. The producers tried out several people for the role but none of them worked out so Music filled in and he played it so well that he stayed on for the entire run. A pilot for an animated spin off didn't sell.