VH

Let's say goodbye to Valerie Harper. She'd been ill for years, so we should be happy we had her as long as we did. I've written about her life at some length a while ago, so I suggest you read that.

In short, let's just say that she was a delightful actress and her work as Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was indelible. She won three Emmys--deservedly--for her supporting work and then one more as lead actress for the same role in her own show Rhoda.

There had been wisecracking next door sitcom neighbors before, but none as delightful as Rhoda.  The Mary Tyler Moore Show was always a good program, but it took some time to find its footing, as well as get the ratings.  But one thing it got right immediately was Valerie Harper.

She was the least known of the cast, with practically no TV experience.  But the audience responded to her and, from the start, she was a favorite.  While it was, in part, the writing, I think Harper was a necessary ingredient.  She put over a role where others might have failed.  The part is tricky, and Rhoda could have come off as obnoxious or pathetic if not done with the right tone.  I think Harper had something inside her that came across, so we loved the character as we were laughing with her.

I was reading an interview with Ed Asner yesterday.  He said the cast of MTM truly loved each other. It started me thinking of those in the show who are now gone--Mary, of course, as well as Ted Knight, and, this year, Georgia Engel, who played Ted's wife.  Now we can add Valerie Harper to the list.  I hope they all knew, before they left us, how much we all loved them.