Job Hunting

   This is a relatable episode for many, particularly with the economy as it is. Finding work is very important and very stressful when it's not immediately available. This episode addresses issues with finding work in terms of sexism, but primarily in terms of agism. It's an interesting scenario, really. I don't know what the ideal age is for finding work. I'm guessing somewhere in your late 30s and early 40s? Too young and you're seen as lacking experience. Too old and you're considered immutable and a bad investment for the employer in question.

Punching up the resume.

     



     Regardless, Dorothy does a fabulous job of bolstering Rose's confidence during their "come to Jesus moment" in Rose's bedroom. I love when you get to see the girls going out of their way to support each other! True to the nature of the show, the writers manage to squeeze in a comedic moment (at Blanche's expense) during an otherwise sad and stressful moment for Rose.

Dorothy's face when she learns an old crush is in town.
Priceless!

    This all leads to the girls making their way to the kitchen for a late night treat (our 2nd cheesecake moment of the show thus far!). This marks their first legitimate late night discussion about sexuality and, I believe, sets a precedent for the rest of the series. I'm continually fascinated at how the show manages to push the boundaries of women on television. For me, it demonstrates how women interact with one another in private settings, and although Golden Girls stars older women, their behaviors and concerns really apply to women of all ages.

Cheesecake, of course! 

   
     Ultimately, Rose lands a job working as a waitress in a coffee shop. Four days a week, twelve hours a day...12 hour days for a person her age is a lot! It's a lot for anyone, particularly in the restaurant business. This brings me to a major continuity issue, however. There's never again any mention of her working at the coffee shop and they stick to the original story that she works at a grief counseling center for several seasons (until she makes a career move to work in television). The lack of continuity is my only major criticism of the Golden Girls as a series, but this can probably be attributed to having too many writers who weren't necessarily collaborating. That said, Golden Girls was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy series in 6 out of its 7 seasons (winning 2 consecutive years in 1986 & 1987),
and you can't argue with results like that!


References: Dan Rather, Scarlett O'Hara, Buddy Ebsen, Mary Lou Retton, Jimmy Hoffa

Quote of the day:

"I'm as jumpy as a virgin at a prison rodeo." -Blanche

Cheesecake count: 2

St. Olaf v. Sicily: 0 to 1

The Flu (Flu Attack)

I know, I know...I haven't posted in a very long time. But I only have 5 episodes left. I have to finish!

So...

   There's not much to be said about this episode as it is all very straight forward. The girls are preparing to attend a banquet but they all come down with the flu (except Sophia)! They attend the banquet in spite of their shared illness, however. Basically, it's a chance for the audience to laugh at the girls' crankiness and spiteful behavior toward one another.

I have a few thoughts to add, but really there's no need to break this one down at all. It doesn't even have a subplot to address.

-I love Dorothy's flawless grammar. She uses the phrase "I couldn't care less" rather than "I could care less." The latter drives me bonkers!

- The show really is ahead of its time. It features a female doctor, acknowledges the lack of women in the profession, and then goes on to reference transgendered people as well...albeit jokingly, but not in a way that is hurtful or cruel.

-I love how they still pile on the make up despite the fact that the girls are supposed to be sick. Got to love the bright pink lipstick and electric blue eyeshadow!

-I've never looked at pesto the same since hearing the story that it was originally intended as ear salve. I know it's fictional, but it still paints an unpleasant picture!

-The bickering in this episode is legendary! Usually 2 are fighting but it's hilarious when they all are at odds!

-The outfit that was supposedly Don Johnson's was also used in the episode "Nice and Easy." Blanche's niece goes out with a man (Ed) who's obsessed with Miami Vice and he is sporting that same outfit on the show.

Cheesecake count: 1

References: Carry Grant, Norman Mailer, Don Johnson

Quote of the day:

"I haven't had to disappoint so many men since daddy tore down the treehouse."- Blanche

St.Olaf v. Sicily:  0 to 1
*Remember that I only count Rose and Sophia stories if they begin with "Back in St. Olaf" or "Picture it. Sicily..."*

Adult Education

Hi, Golden Girls fans! I know I've been lazy about posting so I'm making this promise now: I will finish all of season 1 on or before May 1! I don't want to take more than 1 year to post each season.

OK! On with the show! This episode is actually well-timed as the main plot deals with women and sexuality--a hot topic in politics today, and one very close to my heart.

Blanche with Professor Cooper

The main plot and the subplot are both very easy to summarize. In the former, Blanche's college professor has sexually harassed her, promising to give her an "A" if she sleeps with him. The latter features Dorothy, Rose and Sophia doing their best to score tickets to a sold out Frank Sinatra concert.

I just love how active the girls are! Going back to finish school at 50+ years old is something to be proud of! It's just such a shame that Blanche had to experience it in such a negative way! It's infuriating to me that when Blanche goes and reports her professor's misconduct to Dean Tucker, all he can say is that without any witnesses, there is nothing he can do because "a man's career is at stake." While filling out the formal complaint at least leaves a paper trail, how many women will have to be harassed before people in charge (i.e. the dean) take action against that creep? Three? Five? Ten??! It's disgusting.

Any time I hear that a woman was allegedly harassed or raped and someone says, "Oh, but she could just be making it up to get him in trouble," I roll my eyes. It's not that the statement carries no validity, of course. There are women who make false accusations and that is totally appalling as it makes it harder for women who truly are victims of sexual harassment to get justice. It bothers me because it just adds to the list of reasons why women who are harassed may be too afraid to report their harassment to the authorities--because some tool somewhere inevitably insists on resorting to victim-blaming in one way or another. Let me add briefly that I understand that men are victims of harassment, too. That is equally disgusting, but as this is a blog about an all-female cast, I focused primarily on women as victims.

Unsurprisingly, all of the women in the scene where Blanche reveals that she was harassed have a story about a time when they were harassed also. I will never understand how this show manages to make even harassment merit a laugh--but it does! Rose's story is almost downright hilarious and just so completely appropriate for what you would expect from her!

I thought this was a cute tumblr! :)

I am mildly bothered by Rose's and Dorothy's relative indifference to Blanche when she goes to tell them about her difficulties with reporting her professor to the dean. They are far more caught up in talking about the Sinatra concert tickets, but their lack of enthusiasm for her story contributes to her resolve in putting her professor in his place. It all works out for the best in the end, I guess.

I love Dorothy's attitude when Rose tells her that going to the concert isn't meant to be! She is willing to MAKE what she wants meant to be, and I think that's a great attitude to have--don't give up! Granted, she doesn't get to go to the concert in the end, but no one can say that she didn't give it her all!

Conversely, I loathe when people say, "Life's not fair!" Ever notice that it's always the people who have the power to make a given corcumstance fair who resort to that "life's not fair" line?? Personally, I think that with the exception of freak accidents and natural disasters, life could be perfectly fair! In all other instances, people make life unfair.

Last note: Blanche has on 2 sweaters in Professor Cooper's class. She lives in Miami. It just seemed worth noting!

***

Cheesecake count: 1

References: Don King, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Hope

Quote of the day:

Rose: Sophia, why are you in such a bad mood?
Sophia: Forgive me, Rose, but I haven't had sex in 15 years and it's starting to get on my nerves!

Second Motherhood

     I actually prefer the subplot to the primary plot of this one. It has a feminist twist, but approaches feminism from a comical standpoint--and it works! It's a very low-key episode in that there's no serious drama and nothing terribly dark or devastating occurs, but it still takes on the notion that women can't do household repairs. Actually, they even address some ageist notions, too. I recognize that these are not at all uncommon themes for "The Golden Girls," but it's prudent to pay attention just the same.

     Rose would be the one to have all the know-how about plumbing, wouldn't she? She may be a bit dippy, but growing up on a farm can give a person some serious skills. I enjoy watching her and Dorothy get excited about their project as they prepare to install the toilet! I equally enjoy watching Dorothy push that nasty plumber out of the house when he insists that the girls' age and their gender will prohibit them from being successful! Not only is it rude of him, it strikes me as an unwise method of attracting customers. If I were in their place, his insistence that I couldn't accomplish a task would make me try all the harder to achieve it. In true Golden Girls fashion, the girls are successful in the end, but not entirely. The toilet is installed and working, but the shower water operates from the bathroom sink. So everything works (mostly) but the writers keep the flow of the show both funny and cute. In keeping with the idea of approaching sexism but balancing it with comedy, I do find it interesting that on more than one occasion Dorothy and Sophia point out that it's pathetic to be more excited to install a toilet than to go on a date. It's interesting because the idea that this should be more exciting to Dorothy than accomplishing a task she's never done before is inherently sexist, so in that way, the show seems to contradict itself, but it's a half hour sitcom so I'm willing to give a bit of leeway there. ;)

     The main plot is too standard to really break down so I'll only comment on a few things that I believe to be worth mentioning. First, I was surprised to hear Blanche say that Richard (her love interest in this episode) is "the sweetest, kindest, most handsome man [she's] ever met." I thought George was the love of Blanche's life. Also, there's a mild inconsistency when we hear Blanche say that she doesn't want to be a mother again. In a later episode she states that she would certainly like to be a mother again because she didn't feel like she had been attentive enough the first time around and even mentions that her children had a nanny growing up. Blanche is a better person than she gives herself credit for, though. I think she breaks off her engagement with Richard with class and graciousness. It's cute how she tries to walk away after calling off the wedding (casually forgetting that she's on a private jet). I think it's a nice touch and an easy way to lighten the mood of an otherwise somewhat sad/disappointing circumstance.


Some quick notes:
1. Someone in that live audience has an interesting laugh....
2. I never realized it before, but Rose's future St. Olaf stories are given in season1 as "on the farm stories." Same basic wackiness but only the lead in changes (remember the lead in is all that counts for the tally I keep!)
3. Great one liners all throughout this episode. I would call it a must see of season 1!
4. Not crazy about Blanche flopping around in the chair on the jet. She's is too classy and too experienced to let that happen on a date. Plus, I don't find it funny.

***
Cheesecake count: 1

St. Olaf v. Sicily: 0 to 1

References: Little Richard

This is so good that I found a clip and linked it for you! Enjoy! :)

Lots of great quotes in this one, but this was the easy pick for today! Quote of the day:

Rose: Dorothy, if the Egyptians built the pyramids, now, we can move this toilet!
Dorothy: Fine. Get me 20,000 Hebrews and I'll have it out of here in no time.

The Operation

There are a number of "Golden Girls" episodes that involve facing surgery--this is one of them. Dorothy is terrified of having surgery and the girls have to help comfort her as she prepares to go under the knife.

I didn't make this, but I found it and thought I'd post it anyway! ;)

It's very unusual for Dorothy to be the irrational one. Generally, she is the practical, level-headed one of the group, but I suppose this demonstrates that even the strongest, most sensible people have their personal fears and struggles. In this respect, I think it's wise to show that Dorothy can become frightened despite her general propensity to remain calm and collected. On a more personal  note, I find the idea of having surgery quite frightening, too. I guess Dorothy and I share that phobia.

The girls are all so caring and supportive of Dorothy, but I think Sophia's attitude is the sweetest of all. She didn't leave Dorothy's side for a moment in the hospital (such a good mother!). Blanche's tender side comes out in this episode, too. Usually, she is depicted as selfish and not too concerned about that which does not directly effect her, but here she is perfectly compassionate. Dorothy's roommate in the hospital is wonderful, too. The show almost always goes back to how the girls get each other through difficult times, but I think it's refreshing that the roommate is such a source of comfort for Dorothy. That little addition just goes to show that people can have a profound impact on your life and your experiences even if your time spent with them is fleeting.

The tap dancing subplot adds a nice flare to the flow of the episode. It's very cutesy to see Blanche and Rose's tap routine and their costumes are so cheesy and fun! Betty White has great legs for a woman in her 60s (at the time of filming)! The best scene, however, is easily the one set in the kitchen where Blanche tells Rose about her fear of performing. When Rose's tough, no-excuses side comes out, it's always a hoot!

Two closing thoughts: 1) Blanche is sure spraying that perfume on thick when she's seated at the vanity in her room. How much perfume does one woman need? 2) One inconsistency deals with Blanche's phobias. In this episode, we learn that she has a fear of performing and a fear of flying. In a later episode, however, she says she has no phobias other than a recurring dream...but we'll not see this for a few seasons.

***
Cheesecake count: 1

St.Olaf v. Sicily: 0 to 1

References: Pat Sajak, The Lone Ranger

Quote of the day:
Blanche: I have a fear of performing (in front of groups, that is)...When I was five, mama enrolled me in a tap dancing class...and then finally it came time for the night of the recital...and then they opened the curtain and the music started and 12 little girls started to dance--and one little girl went her pants. That girl in the puddle was me.

Rose: Hey! We've all got our sad stories...Now you're not going to wimp out on me! You're going to go to that recital! And if you end up in a puddle tonight, well, you just better break into "Singing in the Rain!"

Nice & Easy

I don't enjoy this episode as much as a lot of the others. Why? I don't care for Blanche's niece (Lucy). Her accent is just awful and her character just seems so moronic. I like her more than I like Blanche's grandson David from "On Golden Girls" but that's really not saying a whole lot. Regardless, my four girls are as brilliant as ever and that's more than enough to make up for Lucy's shortcomings!

Lucy, Blanche and Sophia

Per usual, it would be difficult to misunderstand the plot. Lucy is promiscuous and Blanche has to decide whether or not she will intervene in Lucy's VERY active sex life. Blanche does intervene and it's decidedly for the best, in my opinion. I can accept that people have their own ways of living, but Lucy's decision to become intimate with all those men is based on her lack of self-esteem. I think ultimately Blanche's conversation with Lucy is good for her not simply because she was behaving irresponsibly, but because she needed someone who loves her to remind her that she is more valuable than she believes herself to be. I also do not approve of her sleeping with her college interviewer. That's certainly shady in my book. And who flies out of the country with someone they just met that afternoon? That's not just promiscuous, that's totally dangerous! She's lucky to have an aunt who is so willing to love and support her. Honestly, the thing that bothers me most of all about Lucy's behavior, though, is that she would spend next to no time at all with Blanche during her visit! That's no way to treat your favorite aunt! 

Lucy at Ed's apartment.

I really love the Rose stories in this episode! She's such a nut! I just love her! First of all, Larry the mouse??? Come on! Then Rose's "bad girl" story is adorable because she thinks it's so scandalous and the other girls are completely unimpressed. Remember, Dorothy was a pregnant teen and Blanche has never been a saint, so their reactions are completely understandable (and funny)! 

I want to point out a slight inconsistency--or at least something that makes so little sense to me! In the episode just before this one, Blanche confesses that her worst lie was in telling her sister Charmagne that she was actually the daughter of gypsies and that she even helped Charmagne try to track down her gypsy birth parents. In this episode, however, Blanche says that Charmagne was her older sister. How can a younger sister pull a prank like that on an older sister? It seems unlikely to me. 

Things that caught my attention:

-Naming the character "Lucy" couldn't have been a mistake (Loosey, get it?).

-She really does annoy me with that awful accent.

-The mouse subplot is great! Rose walking in on Dorothy talking to the mouse is especially funny. 

-This is the first episode where Blanche admits to exaggerating about her sex life. 

-Ed (Lucy's 3rd and final date during the show) wears an outfit that appears again in a later episode of the series. Ed admires Don Johnson of Miami Vice and in the later episode, the outfit is said to have belonged to Don Johnson. Just a fun fact for you! :)

***

Cheesecake count: 1

St Olaf v. Sicily: 0 to1

References: O.J. Simpson

Quote of the day:

"If you don't like yourself, you can't respect yourself. And if you can't respect yourself, neither can anybody else." -Blanche Devereaux 

The Truth Will Out

This is one of those episodes that has a lot of great one-liners so keep an ear out for them as you watch!

All the girls with Rose's daughter (Kirsten) and granddaughter (Charlie)

Rose's daughter (Kirsten) and granddaughter (Charlie) come for a visit! Kirsten is the daughter whom the audience hears about the most frequently of all of Rose's children. Kirsten is played by more than one actress as the seasons progress, but that sort of thing happens a lot on this show in terms of casting. Rose has great relationships with her children. I'd say that compared to the other 3 girls, Rose seems to have the best relationships with her children. However, it's difficult to be certain about that because it's undetermined how many children she really has! That is, you hear a few names over the course of the show, but not all of them are spoken of consistently. Blanche discusses a lot of children, too. While it's uncertain how many children Rose and Blanche have, Sophia and Dorothy definitely have 3 and 2 respectively (Sophia has Dorothy, Phil and Gloria. Dorothy has Michael and Kate). 

A bit of tension arises between Rose and her daughter when Rose reveals the family will to Kirsten. Rose had always told her children how wealthy and hard-working their father was when in fact he was not a good businessman at all! When Kirsten saw that there was not a lot of money in the family will, she was surprised. Rose lied to Kirsten again by telling her daughter that she had squandered the money away on get-rich-quick schemes. Kirsten was very upset, of course. Rose finally realizes that she has to tell Kirsten the truth--that her father was a wonderful, kind man, but a terrible businessman and not a wealthy man at all. 

Late night kitchen table chats! I love it! :)

Even though I am not a fan of lying (in fact, I detest it), I think it was very sweet and selfless of Rose to make herself look like the bad guy in order to make her late husband (Charlie) look like a successful man. She only confesses the truth once she decides that his memory is better honored by being honest about his character. I think she would have gone on letting her daughter hate her forever if she would have believed that to be the best way to honor his memory. That's a real testament to the selflessness of her character! I really think the love that Rose, Blanche and Sophia still carry for their deceased husbands is very beautiful. They always speak so fondly of each of their men and it's heartwarming to me! :)

I feel that Kirsten was a bit too hard on Rose on hearing the news of the family's will. Actually, I was surprised that Kirsten didn't find unfitting when Rose told her that she had squandered away the family fortune. You'd think that Kirsten would know her mother well enough to know that she's not an extravagant woman. However, Rose is also generally an honest woman, so perhaps Kirsten was taking Rose at her word? Things are always trickier when an honest man lies, I guess!

Closing observations:

-Sequin socks? Wow! I mean...not just with sequin frills but totally sequined from top to bottom! This isn't "A Journey Through Sequins and Shoulder Pads" for nothing!

-I agree 100% with Sophia when she says that insurance is a racket!!!

-I love watching the girls share their problems and secrets around the kitchen table late at night! This time they share the biggest lies they've ever told! Blanche's lie is my favorite! ;)

-Rose's granddaughter looks a little old to be having imaginary dates with imaginary princes...

***

Cheesecake count:1

St. Olaf vs. Sicily: 0 to 1

References: Frank Sinatra and Miss Piggy

Quote of the day:

Rose: A lie is like a snowball. You start out with one little harmless lie, and then you have to tell another one to cover up the first. And then another and another...and then before long you've got an entire snowman built out of lies.

As an additional treat for this week, I've linked a clip from the episode if you didn't see it yet! I am thinking about trying to make this dessert as an experiment and posting my experience to the blog as a supplement post! ;)

Maple syrup honey brown sugar molasses rice krispies log!