Golden Girls Season 1

One of the most unique and thought provoking aspects of this series is that the lead actors were between 51 and 63 years of age when this classic first aired in 1985. I was in my early 20s when it started and thirty years later I'd be the age of the youngest actor, Rue McClanahan ( give or take a year). It is odd to grow into the age of the shows characters over a 30 year plus span, as opposed to growing older while watching the actors/characters of other shows remain forever young. In 1985, preferring to listen to music and going out to the clubs, I rarely, if at all, watched television in the early to late 1980s, so I wasn't abreast of the popular shows of that time. I started watching this series in early 1990 while visiting an ill friend. I then watched this series sporadically over the years and in the early 2000s, began watching it regularly. I especially love the way the writers wrote in substories for each episode. By doing that they rounded out the characters, and over all, rounded out the series as well. Now, I'll give a quick summary of the plot. A Floridian widow, Blanche Devereaux, advertises for a roommate. In steps Rose Nylund, a widowed transplant from St. Olaf Minnesota. Then another roommate, divorcee Dorothy Zbornak and then her widowed, 80 something year old mother, Sophia Petrillo, whose recent stroke eliminated her ability to filter what she says. In the pilot episode, Blanche had a gay chef but his character was written out after the pilot. Watching the Golden Girls at this age is very cozy and comforting. It's also a pleasant delight to experience some of the same joys, and even some of the same sorrows, of growing older as I had seen while watching this series throughout the years. The ladies on this show have become so ingrained in our lives and our American culture, that they seem more like old friends we get to visit, a half an hour at a time, as opposed to just characters on a tv sitcom. Now for some of my favorite episodes. First, is Season 2's, "Isn't it Romantic?". It's about "Jean", a college friend of Dorothy's that's coming to stay for a week. She is recently widowed. The other fact, ( unbeknownst to Rose and Blanche, who think her deceased spouse, Pat, is a man), is that Jean is a lesbian. The subject matter was still a little controversial, even for 1980's television. The actress Lois Nettleton plays Jean. (Nettleton also played the lead character in 1961's "Twilight Zone" episode "Midnight Sun", one of my favorites.) What I really love about this episode is the way it had been written. It's not an "in-your-face" message. The relationship between "Jean" and "Dorothy" is like any other. Long time college friends who accept the other for who they are without the labels. "Jean's" interaction with "Rose" is where the story lies. Their new friendship is very sweet. "Rose" and "Jean" relate over the fact that they were both raised on a dairy farm and are both widows. "Rose", at that time in the episode, still isn't aware that "Jean" is gay and after spending time with "Rose", "Jean" privately consults "Dorothy" and tells her that she thinks she is falling in love with "Rose" and decides she wants to leave early. Initially, Dorothy talks her out of it .The remainder of the episode deals with a late night card game and afterwards a discussion between "Rose" and "Jean" about the loneliness of being widows and then later some misunderstandings and then the resolve, which is done in the best of good taste and kindness. I watch this episode throughout the year. Next is Season 1's "Blanche and The Younger Man" and "A Little Romance". Seasons 2's "End Of The Curse", "Twas The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "It's A Miserable Life" (the ending of this one is very funny and touching). Season 3's "Old Friends" (which deals with Alzheimer's), is also a touching and sobering episode. And another of my all time favorites is "Mothers Day". Each of the girls describes her favorite Mother's day with their own mothers. "Rose's" story is my favorite. Season 4's, "Scared Straight" and "High Anxiety". Season 5's, 2-parter "Sick and Tired", "Not Another Monday" and "Clinton Avenue Memoirs". Season 6's, "Snap Out Of It", "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Sophia?", "Mrs. George Devereaux" (the ending is a real surprise that I love) "Sister Of The Bride", 2 parter "Never Yell Fire In A Crowded Nursing Home" and "Henny Penny- Straight No Chaser" (a simply delightful episode). And Season 7's, "Hey Look Me Over", "The Case of The Libertine Belle", "Room 7", "From here To The Pharmacy", "Goodbye Mr. Gordon", "The Commitments", "Journey To The Center Of Attention" (which still makes me laugh), and 2 parter "A Midwinter's Night Dream". There's no better way to say this than to say "I love "The Golden Girls". Add this wonderful and witty series to your DVD collection. I very highly recommend this series!!

It's absolutely amazing how a TV comedy about 4 pensioners, made and set in the mid-1980's, is still so fresh and so funny today, almost 20 years later.Dororthy, Blanche and Rose all share a house in Miami, and are joined by Dorothy's octogenarian mother Sophia, when her retirement home burns down. The adventures and misadventures of these four women makes for the most entertaining and episode-for-episode funniest DVD collection I've ever had the pleasure of owning.So where to start? Dorothy (Bea Arthur) is a jewel, a grim and urbane tank of a woman with a voice like Barry White and an attitude like Leona Helsmley, a relief school teacher, and is plagued by her philandering ex-husband and irked by the antics of her earthy, mischievous mother Sophia (Estelle Getty). Blanche Devereaux, the house owner and a grand southern dame in the manner of Blanche DuBois, is, as Dorothy puts it, 'classified by the Navy as a friendly port', and Rose (Betty White) is the personification of midwest naivete, full of stories and foolishness and expert comedic timing.Actually, I think timing is what it's all about. Although the dialogue in places may lack some of the polish and finnesse of later seasons (but this is true of all TV sitcoms, really), it's an absolute joy to watch four established performers on a brilliantly-written, outlandishly funny stage. The one-liners and put-downs come ninteen to the dozen and the heart and warmth of the show is thrown into relief because of this.The costumes and overall 'look' of the show is mired so awfully in the excessive 80's (padded collars, padded shoulders, pastel synthetics, LOTS and LOTS of yellow crepe) that it becomes sort-of timeless, but it's a testimony to both the quality of writing and prestiege of the performers that they do not become charicatures of themselves.All in all, this is a collection that no comedy fan can afford to be without. Treat yourself for the holidays and relax with 601 minutes of one of the best that American television has ever had to offer.

My mom could watch this show every day, all day. A true classic!