Mon, Oct 25, 1976
After the latest of what has been their weekly dates, Joe has spent the night with Rhoda. Outwardly, Brenda sees this situation as a good sign. Rhoda, on the other hand, sees it as a bad sign as Joe is too happy in their current situation of dating once a week. Both Brenda and Gary think that Rhoda has to do something professionally about the matter, namely go see a marriage counselor, something which Rhoda had already contemplated previously but was afraid of the outcome. She does believe now is the time, and she is able to convince Joe into going. Rhoda wants to go into the process not looking like the instigator of their problems, but as she and Joe meet with Dr. Fox, that meeting which starts off on a bad footing, they obviously both have issues, but obviously also still love each other and want to be together. But it isn't until near the end of this first session with Dr. Fox that the ultimate question is asked and answered which may be the root of their current situation.
Mon, Nov 1, 1976
Both Gary and Brenda are trying to get Rhoda out to prevent her from lamenting about Joe and falling into old bad habits. Gary wants to set her up on a date with another tenant in the building, Eric Jurgenson. As she is not ready to date, Rhoda opts for Brenda's suggestion: accompany her to her latest Weight Control Center meeting, that group which Rhoda herself used to belong to. At the meeting, Brenda gets some unexpected news: she has met her weight loss goal, and thus is kicked out of the group. Brenda takes this news hard as she sees this as yet another rejection, and she has always used her weight as a crutch on which to blame all her life's problems. Brenda also has a hard time giving up what she has done all her life, and that is to hide herself physically and emotionally as not to show what she considered her ugly self to others. Regardless, others do notice, among them being Eric who asks her out. As attracted as Brenda is to Eric, she has to decide if a past encounter, one that Eric probably doesn't remember, will affect her present.
Mon, Nov 8, 1976
Rhoda doesn't quite understand Joe's latest complaint about their marriage: that it was too comfortable. The more she thinks about it though, she finally does understand that the marriage was dull, which she didn't really realize, and more so that she herself is dull and not spontaneous. To get herself out of her rut, she wants to do something crazy, but can't figure out what that crazy but also doable thing will be. She draws Brenda into her scheme, the two who will each write three three things down on pieces of paper, and each randomly draw one of those pieces of paper, having to do whatever is written on it. Brenda's task ends up being to telephone Woody Allen whose telephone number she got from the bank and who she has wanted to call since. Rhoda's task ends up being a little more expensive: take a weekend trip to Paris. Although many people, like Sally and Brenda, encourage Rhoda to go through with the trip, many little voices, mostly inside of her and a louder external voice from Joe, who tells her that this trip isn't her, tell her not to go. To who will Rhoda ultimate listen?
Mon, Nov 15, 1976
Brenda agrees to go out on a date with Gary. She has second thoughts when she finds out the real reason he asked her: it is to accompany him to his parents' place for dinner as he has told them that they have been dating for the last six months. He chose Brenda specifically because she is the type of girl his parents would like, despite she being nowhere near Gary's type. Brenda still decides to go along with the ruse. Shortly before they would be heading off to the dinner, Brenda comes down with the flu. Gary can't tell his parents the truth about Brenda's illness as that's the excuse he's used every other time they have suggested getting together. Brenda still decides to go if only to help Gary. If only to keep Brenda in bed where she truly belongs, Rhoda reluctantly agrees to be Brenda for the evening in front of Gary's parents. Beyond Rhoda trying to remember all those made up things Gary has told his parents about Brenda, many of those things which Rhoda doesn't even know, Rhoda has to pretend to be the sweet, accommodating girl that Brenda really is, which may be the more difficult task. Rhoda forgets one important item, which ultimately places her in survival mode in the Levy home.
Mon, Dec 13, 1976
While Rhoda is in the bank waiting in Brenda's teller line, a man gets in the long line behind her, he telling her that he wants specifically to be in this line as he is attracted to Brenda. Rhoda does whatever she can to get this man and Brenda together, which does not take much encouragement on either side. They both eventually learn that he is Marty Davidson, a successful businessman who owns three McDonald's franchises. After their first date, Brenda is totally enamored with him, as he's sweet, and treats her like she's the most special person in the world. Brenda is however unprepared for his marriage proposal, which he asks in front of Rhoda only after a few dates. Regardless, Brenda accepts. As Brenda thinks more about the proposal, she comes to the realization that although she loves Marty more than any man she has ever been with, she is not in love with him. She has to decide if that is enough to stay engaged to him, and indeed to continue dating him.
Mon, Dec 20, 1976
Sally is staying temporarily with Rhoda while work is being done on her own apartment. During this stay, Sally receives a visit at Rhoda's from her airline pilot ex-husband, Lloyd Zimmer, the two who got divorced because of his philandering despite the fact that Sally sees him as a descent guy otherwise. Lloyd, who philandered in part to overcome his insecurity of being short, comes bearing news: he is getting remarried, and he wants Sally's blessing... to reduce his alimony to her on fiancée Cissy's wants. In discussing the issue with Rhoda and Brenda, Sally has mixed emotions about the situation. She can screw Lloyd by not giving in to his request. But if she does agree, she will never have to deal with Lloyd ever again. Sally decides what she is going to do, but, as a gesture, decides to have a dinner with Lloyd and Cissy together. After meeting Cissy, Sally changes her mind about what she is going to do, which affects Lloyd in more ways than one.
Mon, Dec 27, 1976
Rhoda has done some freelance work for Rick, the owner of the singles bar/restaurant she and Joe frequented. She designed some invitations for him announcing the third anniversary of his place, for which he is having a big party. Despite being slightly repulsed by the thought of Rick, Sally nonetheless agrees to be his date for the evening. He also invites Rhoda and Brenda. Brenda accepts, but it takes much convincing for Rhoda eventually to accept, which she does in part on Gary's plea to be his date so that he can crash the party. Despite Rick's vow that he didn't invite Joe, Joe does show up, as the date of his neighbor, Jan. Rhoda doesn't know what to think about seeing Joe with another woman. All she does know is that she doesn't like the feeling. Regardless, she believes it was somewhat of an inevitability. It isn't until she and Joe can talk about the situation can they come to their true feelings about this aspect of their separated lives.
Sun, Jan 23, 1977
Gary has some dirt on the beautiful woman who has just moved into the building across the hall from Rhoda. Although she lists on her mailbox that she is an interior designer, Gary has it on first hand knowledge that she is a lady of the evening as he invited her to his place, and she replied that it would cost him $100. This news is old to Rhoda, as a constant parade of men have come knocking on her door in error. Rhoda has some exciting news of her own: she may get the contract to do the window for an exclusive store. Trying to get the contract becomes a problem for Rhoda when the store's representative, Ernie Joyce, seems like he is more interested in getting to know Rhoda in the biblical sense than in her sketches. Rhoda ends up being most concerned about how she can get just treatment from Ernie for his actions against her in the form of a simple and sincere "I'm sorry". Rhoda may have an unexpected ally in the matter. Meanwhile, Brenda is going on a blind date with her first ever jock.
Sun, Jan 30, 1977
Rhoda is totally stressed out about a job, which isn't helped by the fact that she has to interrupt her work to go see the marriage counselor, Dr. Fox, who she doesn't think has been providing any help of late in getting her and Joe back together, especially since the counseling sessions have been as individuals and not as a couple to discuss their issues together. Rhoda is going to break off her professional relationship with Dr. Fox after this next appointment. She changes her mind when she learns from Dr. Fox about Joe's counseling sessions, and receives some insight into the matter from Dr. Fox. On Dr. Fox's advice, Rhoda plans on confronting Joe with her feelings, which ends up being an ultimatum of sorts. Rhoda is somewhat surprised and hurt by Joe's response to that ultimatum, which ends up involving Dr. Fox in a non-professional sense, he who may not be able to take off his psychologist hat in the situation.
Sun, Feb 6, 1977
Rhoda's received a bunch of gifts from a secret admirer; long-stemmed red roses, a box of chocolates, and jewelry. Gifts usually reserved from a serious date or boyfriend. The situation becomes more serious when Rhoda finds out the jewel is a real diamond, and her secret admirer makes reference to meeting the following night, at midnight. Rhoda has no idea who her mystery man is, but, with Brenda and Gary as backup, Rhoda decides to complete the extravagant date to the end, to prove her mystery man wrong, while getting a nice dinner in the process.
Sun, Feb 13, 1977
A despondent Nick, who wants to be alone, kicks Brenda out of her apartment. As Brenda takes refuge with Rhoda, Rhoda in turn demands that Brenda stand up to Nick at least to find out why he kicked her out of her own apartment. Brenda finds out it's because the five year deal he made with his father - make good in the entertainment business or else join him in his work as a trash collector - is up in exactly three days. Brenda tries her best to encourage Nick along his three day journey to stardom. But she also asks for Rhoda's help and advice directly to Nick, which may be difficult not only because Rhoda has never been the biggest Nick Lobo fan, but because she is facing her own problems, namely her skin breaking out all over of which her dermatologist can't figure the cause.
Sun, Feb 20, 1977
Brenda has been dating Benny Goodwin, who has fallen in love with her... after their first date. In talking about their future children, Benny admits to Brenda that he had his ears done when he was a child. This admission makes Brenda think about the one part of her body that she would most like to change, namely her nose. Against Rhoda's advice, Brenda decides at least to go for a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. After the consultation with Dr. Dreiser, who supports the notion of cosmetic surgery in general, an easily swayed Brenda decides to proceed with the expensive surgery, for which she will require a loan to do. Despite Rhoda being against the surgery in principle, Rhoda can't argue with Brenda's primary reason for getting it done, namely to feel better about herself. So can Rhoda or anyone else make Brenda feel that she's beautiful just the way she is?
Sun, Mar 6, 1977
Carlton and Brenda have made big changes in their lives, Carlton who has now vowed sobriety, and Brenda who has a radical new hairdo. Brenda's change is only the first radical change she will be making, one every week to her appearance until she comes up with a complete look she likes. In the meantime, some things remain the same. Rhoda has invited her old friend from high school, Susan Alborn, over for an old fashioned slumber party. Susan has just found out that she is pregnant for the seventh time. Brenda reluctantly stays for the party, the reason she wouldn't being that she is somewhat mad at Rhoda for openly criticizing her new hairdo. Brenda uses the opportunity of a truth party game to rail against Rhoda for always treating her like a baby, Rhoda who in turn justifies her behavior as Brenda always asks her advice and opinion. Brenda, who storms out, is madder than she has ever been against her older sister. Can anything be said on either side to mend the rift?
Sun, Mar 13, 1977
Rhoda receives a special delivery letter, with the return addressee being "Mr. Magnetism" in Las Vegas. Before she opens it, she knows it's from Johnny Venture, who she has told time and time again in no uncertain terms that she is not interested in pursuing a relationship with him. His letter contains a round trip ticket each for her and Brenda to Las Vegas, and what he says is a sincere request for them to come view his act, which he feels needs a fresh pair of eyes to critique its look. Rhoda has no hesitation in accepting his offer no strings attached if only for a nice and free weekend in Las Vegas, which she is able to convince Brenda to accept as well. Although Johnny hits on Rhoda immediately upon her and Brenda's arrival in Las Vegas, Johnny wants to show Rhoda a good time regardless, as Vegas is his town and he feels he can get anything he wants - anything - for the asking. Despite Rhoda admittedly getting caught up in the weekend, the question still remains if either Rhoda or Johnny will be any closer to getting what each really wants out of the other by the end of the weekend.