Yet it moves

A 1970s tv show, a story about modern trends, and Galileo. Also, 7 other things worth your time.

I wrote recently about Mary Tyler Moore. Well, almost 50 years ago, that show had a spinoff called Rhoda, which became the most popular TV program in the USA by far, at least for a year or two.

In October 1974, for example, more than 52 million Americans watched an episode in which the eponymous Rhoda (played by Valerie Harper) got married. This represented more than half of all TV sets in the United States at the time.

(It’s amazing to think of half of America now agreeing to do literally anything at the same time.)

Anyway, while I’ve only seen a few episodes of Rhoda in reruns, the opening credits always stuck with me. They began like this:

"My name is Rhoda Morgenstern. I was born in the Bronx, New York in December 1941. I've always felt responsible for World War II…”