TV Tuesday: The Golden Girls - Season 1; Episode 1 (1985)

 

The Golden Girls - 1985

Coming up next on this edition of TV Tuesday, we have 1985's first episode of that instant TV classic "The Golden Girls", which sees roommates Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia navigate life in Miami, Florida.

The episode's cast includes Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, Frank Aletter, and F. William Parker.

So, we start with three roommates.  They are Blanche (who works in a museum), Dorothy (a divorced substitute teacher), and Rose (a grief counselor).  Together, they make up quite a team.  Blanche is a sexpot.  Dorothy is the sarcastic, cynical one.  And Rose is the ditzy one, who is always going on about things "back in St. Olaf".

One night, Blanche drops a bombshell on her friends.  She's getting married to a man after knowing him only two weeks.  Rose and Dorothy are shocked.  And also, Rose is worried about where they are going to live, because Blanche owns the house!

That same night, Dorothy's mother, Sophia, arrives, saying that her retirement home Shady Pines has burned down.  She's quite the character, speaking her mind about any subject.

Blanche's fiancé, Harry, arrives and meets the girls.  They all like him, except for Sophia, who declares him to be a "scuzzball".

We fast forward to Blanche's wedding.  Rose has a bad feeling about Harry and wants to tell Blanche, but Dorothy advises against it.  In fact, she forces Rose to keep quiet on the subject.

This proves to be more than a little uncomfortable for Rose.  Dorothy uses ever tactic to keep her quiet.

However, Rose is proved right.  A policeman comes to the door and tells Blanche that Harry has been arrested for bigamy.  He's got six wives and is wanted in four states.  She's dodged a bullet.

Three weeks later, we find Sophia has moved in permanently with the girls.  Dorothy routinely checks to see if her mother is alive, because "you never know".

Blanche comes out of her room following weeks of depression.  She tells the girls that they have helped her through it.  They vow to stick together even if they all get married.  Sophia, too.

Cast rundown:

   Beatrice Arthur...................................Dorothy Zbornak

   Betty White.......................................Rose Nylund

   Rue McClanahan.................................Blanche Devereaux

   Estelle Getty......................................Sophia Petrillo

   Frank Aletter......................................Harry

   F. William Parker.................................Minister

And that's it for The Golden Girls.  This first episode was the start of a phenomenon that has been enduringly popular.  Even today, there are board games, Christmas ornaments, and other memorabilia that you can purchase involving these funny ladies.

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