The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) Enter Rhoda's Parents (1972) User Reviews

The Usual Frantic Pace With Nancy Walker

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 7 February 2017]

Rhoda's mother and father come to visit. But it's not see Rhoda; it's for her mother to announce that their marriage is falling apart. Of course, her father is unaware that there is anything wrong. He is quite a handsome guy and it is assumed he is having an affair. So that sets things up. Eventually, she takes off from their motel and embeds herself in Mary and Rhoda's building. It's the usual insecurity and upset that drags everyone down. Nancy Walker is good as Rhoda's mother, Ida, but she drives me crazy. There is the usual wonderful scene where Lou is in his office and the parents walk in on him. He yells at Mary for having to make small talk with them for a long period of time. Naturally, that office is his sanctum sanatorium and some of the best writing on the show came from Mary's visits. Imagine how dull the show would have been if they had had a small conference room.

Funny farce

[Rrrobert · 7/10 · 18 August 2019]

Funny episode with Rhoda's parents that introduces Rhoda's father Martin played by Harold Gould.

The real purpose of the visit is for Ida to announce their marriage is over, though Martin doesn't know it. Ida imagines Martin, who is a funny and still attractive guy, must be having affairs.

Ida is a self-centred drama-monger dragging Rhoda and Mary into her imagined crises as expected. It doesn't get too much and stays funny, partly because the charming and affable Gould evens things out.

There's a funny scene where Ida and Martin show up and receive a tour of the newsroom.

No Ted.