His name is Joe Gerard even though his name is actually David Groh but this post isn’t about the actor David Groh who Bossy didn’t know but rather David Groh’s character Joe Gerard who Bossy also didn’t know.
Joe Gerard was a divorced dad who ran the New York Wrecking Company, and here was his job description: furl and unfurl engineering plans while wearing denim work shirts and a yellow hardhat.
Joe Gerard met Rhoda Morgenstern while she was visiting her sister Brenda, and the two fell in love, which is why Rhoda decided not to return to The Mary Tyler Moore Show Minneapolis.
At first Rhoda moved in with her sister Brenda, but then Rhoda moved in with Joe, and only eight weeks into the first season, Rhoda and Joe were married:
Bossy loved Joe Gerard because he called Rhoda babe. And because he had crinkly eyes and because he rolled his shirts up to the elbow and because he knew how to get in Rhoda’s face:
And Bossy loved Joe Gerard because, after the explosive argument, he always knew exactly how to lean in and make things right again:
Click here to read Bossy Crushes Throughout History, Part One. Because people love to read about things from before they were born.
Ellie says
July 1, 2009 at 9:20 amI remember Mary had a beau named Joe, too, and Mary and Rhoda were talking on the phone while Rhoda was in bed with *her* Joe. She was giving Mary advice, and said, “Mar, just say, ‘I love you, Joe.'” Rhoda’s Joe heard the words, stirred, and Rhoda said, “Mar, I’ve got to go.” Ach.
corrie says
July 1, 2009 at 9:29 amHow could he do that to her?
*sniff*
Rebecca Regnier says
July 1, 2009 at 9:31 amYa ‘member when he was D.L. Brock on General Hospital? I loved that time on GH.
the cheap chick says
July 1, 2009 at 9:39 amIs it weird to be sad about a show I never watched? Because now I’m sad about Joe leaving Rhoda – even though I couldn’t describe a single episode to you as I was a toddler when this show was on.
Michele P says
July 1, 2009 at 9:48 amI used to totally heart Mary Tyler Moore and Rhoda! Strange, I forgot that Joe left her…
RuthWells says
July 1, 2009 at 9:49 amI love the leaning in to make it right. Mrrrrow!
MariaV says
July 1, 2009 at 9:58 amMy Joe Gerard crush was because of his hair and his tight pants.
janny226 says
July 1, 2009 at 10:02 amIs it just me or does NY “Housewife” Bethenny look like Rhoda? Anyway. I had a crush on Joe from Ryan’s Hope, the dark-haired guy from Adam 12 (talk about a show that was before people were born!) and of course Jon whats-his-name from CHIPS.
alwyn says
July 1, 2009 at 10:09 amWhere have all the Joes gone (except for the leaving part)? For that matter, where are all the Rhodas? Loud, outspoken women who wear baggy clothes and unabashedly gorge on cake when they feel like it. Bring back the “Rhoda” women to TV!
carson says
July 1, 2009 at 10:12 am*waving arm high in the air* Speaking on behalf of the older demographic here, I love reading about this stuff that I grew up with. Take that, you pipsqueaks.
Shelley says
July 1, 2009 at 10:19 amWell, I’m no pipsqueak, but I never watched Rhoda or MTM either. I didn’t really appreciate them at the time, although I’m sure I would now. I do remember him as Brock on General Hospital though!
Shelley says
July 1, 2009 at 10:21 amP.S. @ janny226 – when we were young, my brother LOVED Adam 12 and Emergency. I had the biggest crush on Johnny Gage. But on Starsky and Hutch, I switched teams to blond and loved David Soul. Yum.
bossy's friend amy says
July 1, 2009 at 10:23 amas always we love the same men…
Lisa Rae @ smacksy says
July 1, 2009 at 10:24 amJoe was what we call a stone fox.
<3
Carol says
July 1, 2009 at 10:31 amI had a crush on him too. He had such a twinkle in his eye. (I’m in the older category here too — Rhoda first aired when I was 16.)
A much better choice than your crush in part one! Don’t get that one.
Melizzard says
July 1, 2009 at 10:57 amMy parents never let me watch Rhoda because she was dangerous (sexy) and racy and would give me “ideas” – oddly enough they thought MTM was fine because she was a good girl. Maybe it was just because she had Betty White. Who knows.
What I do know that is every night when put the 4 year old to sleep I sing her the theme song to MTM and she thinks I made it up just for her because she’s never heard it anywhere else.
David says
July 1, 2009 at 11:00 am“This is Carlton your doorman.”
matilda says
July 1, 2009 at 11:05 amI loved Joe. I loved that Joe love Rhoda. I love that Rhoda had to take the subway in her wedding dress to get married.
Dharmamama says
July 1, 2009 at 11:08 amJohnny Gage (Randolph Mantooth) from Emergency, Jim (Kent McCord) from Adam 12, Pa (Michael Landon) from Little House on the Prairie, Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) from Starsky & Hutch… always the dark-haired guy. I had a crush on Rhoda’s apartment.
Bobbie says
July 1, 2009 at 11:26 amI know David Groh is dead, but what ever happened to Rhoda?
Ms. Cranky Pants says
July 1, 2009 at 11:50 amI had a crush on Rhoda’s fashion-forward wardrobe (especially her scarves) and ultra hip apartment because most everything else was a bit over my 8-year old head. But my REAL crush was on Bob and Emily Newhart’s remodeled apartment — the big one, in the last season. SO Studio 54 with dark colors, huge heather feathers, skyline view, acrylic, etc.. Tres chic.
BossysMom says
July 1, 2009 at 11:58 amall those ingredients that go into Joe…
that is a recipe for the ideal man. you go bossy at however old you were. lord have mercy, that and curly hair and a menchy face joe had it goin on.
Gina says
July 1, 2009 at 12:37 pmOh, when I was a kid, I LOVED Joe. And also Randolph Mantooth on Emergency.
Meg at the Members Lounge says
July 1, 2009 at 1:58 pmFavorite Rhoda line:
I think Rhoda went away with Joe on a Labor Day weekend, pre-wedding. To cover up she told her Mom she would be out of contact because she was working for “Jerry’s Kids”.
Only good for only one use though!
Amelia says
July 1, 2009 at 1:59 pmI’m too young to remember the original airings of MTM and Rhoda, but as a pre-teen I LOVED watching them on Nick-At-Nite and TV Land. Some of us young’ns know good TV, I promise!
heyjoe says
July 1, 2009 at 2:11 pmHuge mistake, Joe. Babe was a hottie, even with all those scarves and ferns.
Donna says
July 1, 2009 at 2:35 pmI absolutely loved Joe and Rhoda. I remember that when Rhoda’s wedding episode aired, it was the biggest thing on TV. Even though there is something to be said for the thousands of channels we can surf nowdays, I miss the days when we all watched the same thing on TV at the same time. And Bossy – you are not old – stop saying that. I think you are at least a year or two younger than me and I am NOT old (yet).
Manic Mommy says
July 1, 2009 at 3:43 pmLucky for Rhoda, if her window dressing career didn’t work out, her sister went on to become Marge Simpson. I’m sure she could help a sister out.
Z. Mulls says
July 1, 2009 at 3:56 pmAlmost 30 comments and still not a single Romy and Michelle reference…..
dgm says
July 1, 2009 at 5:59 pmRhoda was the sh*t! Loved, loved loved her with her groovy scarves and pantsuits. Joe? Not so much.
Chesapeake Bay Woman says
July 1, 2009 at 7:32 pmLoved Rhoda and remember tight pants on Joe.
In addition to wearing someone else’s shoes , Joe appears to be wearing Tom Jones’ head. What’s new, pussycat?
p.s. Tom Jones used to be one of my husbands, around the same time that Glen Campbell was my real husband. I divorced them both after I discovered Kevin Bacon on the Guiding Light.
amy says
July 2, 2009 at 12:15 amHoly crap does THAT clip bring back memories… Thank you.
amy says
July 2, 2009 at 12:18 amI had no idea he had died… I thought he was great in Rhoda, just the MAN for her..
thatgirlblogsq says
July 2, 2009 at 2:04 amI remember Rhoda! Fun show.
Suzie says
July 2, 2009 at 8:34 amI loved Rhoda and Mary. I remember watching Rhoda and her sister Brenda had a cat picture on her wall in her apartment, and it was the same picture I had on my wall. I thought I was the coolest person ever. (I still have that cat picture, by the way.)
Jenni D says
July 2, 2009 at 9:09 amMy neighbor and I often discuss our mutual adoration of Joe. We heard he died a few months ago. *sniff*
Also, if a show with that theme song premiered today I would not allow anyone in the house to watch it because it’s kinda annoying! But I love it still….
ozma says
July 2, 2009 at 11:18 pmOH MY GOD. I think I just discovered the source of my thing for Jewish men with New York origins.
Wow, Bossy!!! I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT RHODA. It played a pivotal role in my development.
Your website is too awesome.
Kelly says
July 6, 2009 at 1:26 amWhen I was little, I wanted to watch Emergency! and my mom wanted to watch MTM (I guess they were on at the same time, for a while.) My mom worked full time and I thought she did exactly what Mary did.
I loved Johnny Gage….and recently, my hubby put the Emergency! “alarm call” sound as my phone’s ringtone. But it was literally too alarming — people freaked when my phone rang!
Pretty big digression from Joe, I apologize.
M. says
March 12, 2010 at 2:52 amJoe was definitely a hottie, and he wasn’t even put off by Rhoda’s pain-in-the-keyster overbearing (but hysterically funny) mother, Ida. But. yeah, when at the beginning of season 3, when he comes up with “I don’t want to be married anymore”…what a prick!
ashlin says
January 7, 2011 at 3:18 pmI am 26 years old and have been watching Rhoda and MTMS since I was probably 6 or 7. The shows are fantastic, the humor is timeless, and the fashion is so exciting to me. In fact, I have realized (after re-watching season three of Rhoda this week while I am out of work recuperating from surgery) that Rhoda Morgenstern is one of my top style icons, and has been for many years. You may not remember, but season three is the season where Joe and Rhoda split up. It is so hard to watch crushing on Joe, but still rooting for Rhoda to get through it okay.
Also – googling Rhoda Morgenstern brought me to this blog, which I have really enjoyed reading this week. Thank you Bossy, for being so entertaining!
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