The Spinoff that Never Was:
"Mary and Rhoda"
Monday, November 10, 1997
Reunion series for Fall, 1998
by Richard John, Jam! Showbiz
As the theme song goes, "Looks like they'll make it after all".
According to a report in Variety, Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper are set to reprise the roles they played in the landmark 1970s sitcom, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show".
The show originally aired on CBS from 1970-1977, but ABC is apparently leading the bidding with a solid 13-episode commitment for the new show. A deal could be reached as early as next week.
In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, Harper explained the impetus behind the new show. "Mary and I love each other and would love to work together - and now it's real. It's going to be a series and it's going to be a comedy."
She continues, "What is really solid as a rock is that Mary and I want to work together in a comedy. We're very anxious to do it ... and now it's only a matter of time."
In the original show, Harper played savvy upstairs neighbour Rhoda Morgenstern to Moore's career woman Mary Richards. Harper left the show in 1974 to play the lead in spin-off series "Rhoda" (1974-1978) in which she married and subsequently divorced Joe Gerard, played by David Groh.
According to the report in Variety, Moore and Harper will reprise their roles as Richards and Morgenstern and will each have a 20-something daughter. No writer has been mentioned for the new show that is planned to air in the fall of 1998.
MTM, Harper reunion sitcom a reality
by Richard John, Jam! Showbiz
The new Mary Tyler Moore/Valerie Harper sitcom is a go. According to Variety, ABC has given a firm 13-episode order to the new comedy.
The sitcom, slated for fall 1998, will reunite Moore and Harper who reprise their roles from the 70s sitcom "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". Moore stars as Mary Richards and Harper stars as Rhoda Morgenstern.
The premise of the new show features Richards and Morgenstern as widowers who each have a 20-something daughter named after the other (Rhoda Richards and Mary Morgenstern). The two characters lose touch with each other, only to be reunited, by chance, years later.
The sitcom, which currently has no writer attached, is expected to be shot in New York City.
Last updated:
Sitemaster: Andrew Szym, esq. webmaster@mtmshow.com
© 2000, Benteen Fort Industries