I actually never found that actress to be funny at all, just annoying, same as the Latino Guy who worked at Doyle with Rhoda and, especially, Jack Doyle.
I think that Rhoda going to work at Doyle Costume Company was one of the things that made "Rhoda" jump the shark and lose its humor, along with the character of Benny Goodwin (nothing against Ray Buktenica, but IMHO Benny was just whiney and irritating, and not funny at all). For me, the best episodes were the season 3 episodes where Brenda was still pre-Benny and Rhoda was separated from Joe. I thought that Johnny Venture and Nick Lobo were better than Tina, Jack, Benny, and Ramon, and the episodes with Johnny trying to hit on Rhoda were some of the best.
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SimplemindedSociety
11 years ago
'nothing against Ray Buktenica, but IMHO Benny was just whiney and irritating, and not funny at all)'.
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How is that nothing against Ray Buktenica when he was as you described?
In other words,it's like saying "nothing personal", but you suck"
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pvd295
11 years ago
I don't want to speak for the poster, but my understanding is that it has nothing to do with the actor, but the writer/person who created this character for the show. He was not an endearing character as written...nothing to do with the talent of the actor. I agree with the poster.
"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand
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SimplemindedSociety
11 years ago
What I meant is that some actors basically portray their own personality regardless of the lines. I didn't care for his character either.
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horizonbeach
11 years ago
I don't want to speak for the poster, but my understanding is that it has nothing to do with the actor, but the writer/person who created this character for the show. He was not an endearing character as written...nothing to do with the talent of the actor. I agree with the poster.
Thank you, yes, that is the idea that I was trying to convey, or I wouldn't have bothered to say "nothing against Ray Buktenica" in the first place. I don't think he himself was unlikable at all, but the character that he was asked to play was not very likable. Even the best, most lovable actor in the world can play the role of someone who is annoying and unlikable. Benny was childlike, impatient, and sometimes just plain rude. Notice I didn't say RAY was all of those things, BENNY was. There is a difference.
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pvd295
11 years ago
In episode 2 of Season 5, we are re-introduced to "Tina", as she now became a regular cast member. Seems she met Rhoda on Rhoda's way to work, and followed her to the costume shop. She introduces herself to Jack as Rhoda's friend and he offers her a job 'in back'. She tells them (and viewers) that she is out of a job because Gary closed his 'jeans' store and 'moved to Chicago', which Rhoda acknowledges.
Finally, we know what happened to Gary! But what about Sally, Myrna, Suzie, etc?
"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand
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horizonbeach
11 years ago
Gary moved to Chicago? That's funny. I know that it was the writers' best and easiest way to get rid of him permanently, because if he was still in NYC it wouldn't make sense that he would just disappear, so they had to think of something to make him gone, gone. But Gary was a die hard New Yawker, and it just isn't plausible that he would have moved to the Midwest, at least not to me.
As far as the others: Myrna, Suzie, Sally, etc., I think they all fell into that great black hole where unsuccessful or unlikable ancillary TV characters go when their time is passed. I'm sure they're in very good company, lol.
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pvd295
11 years ago
Gary moved to Chicago? That's funny. I know that it was the writers' best and easiest way to get rid of him permanently, because if he was still in NYC it wouldn't make sense that he would just disappear, so they had to think of something to make him gone, gone. But Gary was a die hard New Yawker, and it just isn't plausible that he would have moved to the Midwest, at least not to me.
If I remember correctly, didn't he say once or twice that he had a brother or sister in Chicago? For some reason there was a Chicago connection...I think. It would have made more sense if they said he moved to Boston, IMO.
"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand
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brendanchenowith
11 years ago
I didn't miss him at all - didn't notice he was gone.
As for this...TINA person - if I had to spend 8 hours a day around her...God help me and kill me now. Hopefully Nancy Lane had better-written characters in other projects.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.
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pvd295
11 years ago
Before "Rhoda", Lane was an original 'chorus girl' in A CHORUS LINE. She joined RHODA in September, 1978 (after her stint in ACL was over) and once the show was cancelled, she didn't do much after that - just some sporadic roles, nothing memorable or long-lasting. From what I found on her on the internet, she hasn't done any projects for the past 30 years or so.
"I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News" - B.Streisand
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