MovieChat Forums > Rhoda (1974) Discussion > Judd Hirsch - 'Rhoda Likes Mike!'

Judd Hirsch - 'Rhoda Likes Mike!'

posted 11 years ago by pvd295
12 replies | jump to latest

Last night on METV, they reran the first part of the two-parter "Rhoda Likes Mike", from November 1977. In this episode, Rhoda begins dating again for the first time since her divorce (which makes no sense, since she had already begun dating 'Johnny Venture' - guess the writers forgot that?). The dilemma was Rhoda thought she was in a relationship with Mike after three dates, but he did not.

Mike was played by Judd Hirsch - the original choice for Joe Gerard back in 1974. I have to say - in this one episode, there was more chemistry and humor between Harper and Hirsch, than there ever was in three seasons with Harper and Groh.

Sure, Groh was the more handsome and masculine of the two - but Hirsch was much more the gifted comic actor, who played so very well with Harper (and the rest of the cast - 'Jack', 'Brenda', and 'Gary'). It's too bad the producers couldn't get Hirsch at the time. They probably would have kept Rhoda married for five years!

"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand

[–] happipuppi13 11 years ago

I watched that and the two actors had a very believable chemistry together.

Proof enough for me taht Judd should
have said yes to being "Joe" in the first place.

Scheduling conflicts? What could he possibly
have been doing that warrants saying no to RHODA & the MTM company?

(Which at the time was red hot in
making hit TV shows and great sitocm writing!)

Love rules & hate's for fools.
(MR.) happipuppi13 *arf,man!*

[–] pvd295 11 years ago

IIRC, I believe he had recently accepted a role in a Broadway play (or in a touring Broadway play) when they finally asked him back to start filming 'Rhoda' in July, 1974. Don't forget - the economy was very bad in the mid 70s (as bad as it is now) and I'm sure being an actor, you go for every casting call and accept whatever comes your way the soonest, rather than sitting it out and hoping something else comes along.

"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand

[–] happipuppi13 11 years ago

Yes,that certainly makes sense. The book "Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted",breifly talked about Hirsch's declining to accept for that reason.

It said scheduling conflict but it
didn'tmention him having another opportunity.

I learned about how bad the economy was then,in the late 1980s watching certain PBS documentary features. I should "kind of" known,since shows like All In The Family,Good Times and others covered those issues.

I guess I was too young to understand then (born 1968).

Love rules & hate's for fools.
(MR.) happipuppi13 *arf,man!*

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

'Don't forget - the economy was very bad in the mid 70s (as bad as it is now)'
-----------------------------
who told you this?
I had a nice 4 rm apt for $200 mo, gas was 60 cents, and that was in 1977. You could pay a 3BD house for 40K.

[–] pvd295 11 years ago

who told you this?

Did you pay attention to what was happening in the 1970s? Do you remember the platform Ronald Reagan ran on for President in 1979 and defeated President Carter?

The country went through a depressed economy from 1973-1982. Lay-offs, companies closing for good, real estate declined because interest rates sky-rocketed, new businesses failed, gas/oil prices skyrocketed, their was an energy shortage, inflated food prices, etc.

As for Broadway, they suffered through some of their worst seasons ever since people could not afford to go "out on the town". Restaurants closed, hotels closed, shows closed quickly, and producers did not invest and take chances.

That all turned around in the early 80s, with a brighter economy and the 'British Invasion' (starting with "Cats").

"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

pvd,
I'm speaking more about daily living (not Broadway), and my existence as an adult during that time period. I only wish I could go back and see people have the "luxury" of affording an apt without 2 roomates, or buy a home for what you would pay for a nice car these days (regardless of the interest rates). Gas was 60cents a dollar, as I mentioned; I remember people being shocked when gas hit a whole $1 a gallon. Do you think salary has kept up with inflation, and balanced things out?
So, yes, it got worse than what preceded it, but looks good compared to today.

Do you think Rhoda could even afford to live in her upper east-side apt these days based on her job as a window dresser, or Brenda as a bank teller? And how much would that subway ride to her wedding be now? I don't know.

[–] pvd295 11 years ago

I mentioned B'way because we were talking about the actor Judd Hirsch, and the theater opportunities back then.

I didn't know you were comparing the 70s with today (40 years later). If you adjust for inflation over the past 40 years, I would say things are about the same economically. 40 years from now, we will be wondering what happened to $4/gallon of gas, and how anyone could survive on $100K a year.

"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand

[–] SarahKatherine247 10 years ago

Now Rhoda would've had a cell phone and asked Phyllis "Where the f### are you?!!"

[–] Catdubh 10 years ago

I completely agree; the chemistry was awesome between Judd & Valerie, when he played Mike. Too, I LOVE Judd! I used to have a teen crush on him, when he did Taxi.
Much later, he played a (and many other roles, as well) dubious doctor on Law & Order, helping patients "euthanize" their babies who were suffering from Tay Sachs disease. And as horrific as the character he played, and as awful as the concept of the episode was, it was still difficult to despise, or hate Hirsch.

David Groh was handsome but very wooden, and I've never seen him play a convincingly, "likable" character.

Jack's not dead! Jack would never die without telling me, first!

[–] pvd295 10 years ago

Hirsch is now part of the cast of ABC's "Forever", playing an old Jewish shopkeeper. (I say 'old Jewish' because he kept identifying himself that way in the first two eps).

I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News. - B.Streisand

[–] Catdubh 10 years ago

I'll have to catch an episode of "Forever"; Thank you!

Jack's not dead! Jack would never die without telling me, first!

[–] pvd295 10 years ago

I watched the first episode, and it was entertaining. The second was blah. I recorded the next two, but haven't watched them yet. I think it's a sign that the show really doesn't hold my interest the way it should.

I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News. - B.Streisand