Rhoda: Season 3

Ok. It's great to see this series on DVD. But I just don't understand why some of these episodes are edited. Why is Shout using edited versions? So far I've purchased the 3 seasons and some of these episodes are edited. I'd say about 3 or 4 per season. For example in season 3 there is an episode called "Meet the Levys". Years ago I saw the episode and there is a scene where a woman keeps getting on the same elevator thinking she's going up and when the door opens she's still on the ground floor. After 4th time she gets back on the elevator with Rhoda and Gary and says something very funny. I haven't seen that scene in over 20 years. On the reruns the whole scene is cut out. When I was watching the dvd it it looked like it wasn't and I said, "Finally I get to see the whole scene and the funny remark the lady says." Well. The scene was included but not all of it. She gets off the elevator for the 4th time and the doors shut and the scene was cut there. In the original she gets back on the elevator and says something to Rhoda and Gary. I know she has dialogue because in the credits she is shown saying that remark to them but it's the closing theme we here. No dialogue. I thought I would finally see this whole scene again in the commercial dvd. But no. In season two the episode where the family thinks Lenny is going to kill himself his uncle is supposed to have dialogue also because in the closing credits he's seen saying something. But no. He has no dialogue in the episode. And several other episodes that were cut just like these. As I said. It's great to see Rhoda on DVD, but if we are purchasing these sitcoms they should not be edited.

I am so glad and appreciative of Shout Factory, and the multitude of other Rhoda show rooters, for keeping this series afloat. It has to be the most underrated sitcom in television history. Still, with 17 Emmy nominations and 2 big wins for stars Valerie Harper and Julie Kavner, who center the show, it is in terms of Emmy acknowledgement the second most successful sitcom spin-off in television history behind Frazier, which itself is merely an upside down Rhoda. In this season, Rhoda and Joe separate, and The Separation episode, although very sad, is arguably the best episode of any sitcom ever (right up there with Rhoda's One is a Number and The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Chuckles Bites the Dust.) Sure, it is sad, but it also is poignant, and I can see why some viewers left (at least until the next season when Rhoda became more of a top 20 regular again). It was just too painful for some people to watch, but if you did, you laughed a lot, were encouraged by how strong a woman can be in Rhoda, and were treated to the best sitcom in television history reaching its peak in brilliance and laughter. Johnny Venture and Gary Levy, moreover, proved to be fitting foils for the way too serious character in Rhoda. And, while Nancy Walker only appears in The Separation episode, for which she does some great comedy with David Groh, who is at his best, and she should have won the Emmy hands down, it is great to see Anne Meara show up in her place for about seven episodes as the oldest living stewardess, Sally Gallagher.

I have learned about Rhoda just a few years back when I bought the DVD from the Mary Tyler Moore show. I loved Rhoda character and when I knew that she had her own series I had to see it. I love it. And now I'm waiting for the rest of the seasons.