A Childhood Icon

From the time I was 12 until 16, Rhoda Morgenstern was my role model. She was a bit brassy, funny as hell, she had a real woman’s hips and trouble turning down the offer of a cookie. Her little sister looked up to her for advice and her Mom drove her crazy. Little did I know how much I would identify with her later in life!

Somewhere during the run of the sitcom Rhoda, my icon married a terrific man’s man by the name of Joe. Rhoda loved Joe and I loved Joe too, played by actor David Groh, who died this week at the age of 68. As soon as I saw his name cross the newswire I knew who he was but I hadn’t thought about him in years. He was a very charismatic actor who had a long movie and TV career long after he was written out of the Rhoda series but everyone remembers him as Joe.

Joe was crazy about Rhoda and they got married and moved into her apartment. But apparently test audiences preferred a single Rhoda over a married one so trouble soon began. I remember those episodes as if they aired yesterday because I hung on their every word. Rhoda complained to Brenda, her sister, that for the first time in their marriage, they had gone to sleep without any nudge-nudge. I wasn’t exactly well versed in the ways of sex as a new teen but even back then I thought, “EVERY night?? That’s just not natural!” I assumed Joe just wanted a break!

When Joe moved out, saying he was “too comfortable” in the marriage, I was really pissed at him and supported Rhoda when she wouldn’t even let him take any clean underwear with him. She was devastated and so was I. Joe only made the occasional guest appearance after the divorce.

He may not have had the far-reaching cultural impact of a Kojak or Mr. Kotter but David Groh as Joe loomed large for this kid as she tried to figure out the complicated relationship juggling acts between men and women.