Melissa,
As you and some of our Kitchen Table readers know, I periodically update my Facebook status with a reference to the The Golden Girls, the 1980's sitcom and my absolutely favorite television show. So today when I heard about the passing of Bea Arthur, aged 86, I was so saddened. Arthur played Dorothy Zbornack, my favorite Golden Girl.
I've tried to explain to people how a black girl growing up in Brooklyn becomes a devoted fan of a sitcom about four senior citizens living in Miami, Florida. But I'm not sure how it happened. All I know is that even today, this show makes me laugh out loud. I've seen every episode so many times, I can quote the lines. Frankly, I'd much rather watch a rerun of this show than most any new sitcom on television. I sing the show's opening theme in the shower; it's one of the few songs I can actually bang out on the piano. Maybe it takes another The Golden Girls fan to really understand what a great show this was.
At times, I've identified with all of the characters: Rose: the innocent and naive do-gooder; Blanche: the sultry and sophisticated Southerner; and Sophia: the wise mother figure. But I always felt a deep connection with Dorothy, Bea Arthur's character. Dorothy was the Golden Girl most likely to be home with a book on a Friday night. As a former educator, she was always in "teacher mode." I loved that Dorothy's wry sense of humor and sarcasm cut like a knife - all thanks to Bea Arthur's impeccable comedic timing. Taller than the other women on the show, and with a deep voice, Dorothy didn't physically "fit" into the conventional role of a little old lady. As a character, Dorothy was big and proud, witty and smart, but also a little lonely and a little socially awkward. Even though I had enjoyed Bea Arthur's characters on Maude and All in the Family, she is forever Dorothy Zbornack in my memory.
The Golden Girls highlighted four women who were devoted to each other and who deliberately chose to spend the remainder of their lives together. It was a show about a love that was thicker than blood ties. It was a show about the power of friendship; about how people who may be fundamentally different can still create a sanctuary for themselves. It was show that taught that women can be healthy, sexy, funny, and witty at any age.
Perhaps why I love this show is because it reminds me of the power of friendship and that "family" is not necessarily composed of people related by blood. Or perhaps I love this show because there was nothing that could not be solved with some cheesecake. Either way Melissa, it reminds me to tell you "thank you for being a friend." And since we just spent most of our afternoon talking about our two respective best friends who are near and dear to our hearts, I also wanted to tell Myriam "thank you for being a friend." I can think of worse fates than for a bunch of us to end up living together in our old age. Perhaps when our nests are empty, we can all channel characters from the The Golden Girls. I'll be Dorothy...
Yolanda
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11 comments:
OK, you can be Dorothy, but I am definitely Blanche. I'd be happy to share old age with you and our best friends. Thanks for the nice tribute.
Yolanda, Thanks for the memories, it's one of my very favorite shows as well. I just read the news today and had many of the same feelings. In fact, I have been watching the Golden Girls regularly lately and needing to have some laughs and some cheesecake instead of the latest news reports. I knew we had a few things in common! Love the picture you posted.
Thank you for being a friend, at the Kitchen Table !!!
Cate
Before there was Khadijah, Regine, Max and Sinclaire
Before there was Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte
Before there was Joan, Toni, Mya and Lynn
There was Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia - the original gal pals. I LOVE them most of all.
To me, Bea will always be Vera Charles, whom she played to absolute perfection in both the Broadway and movie versions of Mame, both productions of which she worked with my mom, Onna White, who choreographed both. She was an absolute pistol; that timing and those takes were there in real life, too.
Very nice comments here from the insightful and obviously kind-hearted Professor Pierce . I seldom watched Golden Girls but when I did , I always enjoyed the show . My favorite character was always Blanche .
Bea Arthur lived to be eighty-six ... that's a long time ... God Bless her . She will surely be missed by many .
And speaking of entertainment ! Brutus watched the film Obsession ( Beyonce ) last night . I watched it in my favorite theater ( because no rats ) located in Battery Park City ... NYC .
The theater was packed and packed with a lot of African American women . Looked like a typical crowd from an a Anita Baker concert . And based on how they roared and applauded , I would say they enjoyed the film .
Brutus didn't enjoy the film ! In fact , for me , the best part of the film was when it ended !
I want my money back !!!
LOL !!!
You just posted my thoughts! Love, love, love Golden Girls and that song is beautifully written. My husband was sure to tell me about Arthur's death right away. I saw a list of her stage and screen appearances--what a full life.
Thank you for this post. And thanks for my friends.
Thank goodness for Bea Arthur and the Golden Girls, if not for shows like that and the People's Court, etc. my summer's as a junior higher would have been even more dismally dull
Isn't there a little of each of them in all of us? That is what I always thought and why it ws one of my favorite shows as well. I still watch the re-runs - better than most of what is on TV now anyway. Thank you for a wonderful and thoughtful post.
Crystal
RIP Bea Arthur, I loved that show.
My mother used to watch Maude, and I was a faithful watcher of GG, even though I was barely a teenager. I wasn't aware of Bea Arthur's death until now. I am glad that she had a good, long life.
I have always wondered how many table cloths were used in the kitchen setting in Golden Girls. I have counted 12 different ones so far. Does anyone know?
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