GOLDEN GIRLS, THE: GOLDEN MOMENTS {PARTS 1 AND 2} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about four older women -- two widows, and a divorcee and her mother -- who share a home in Miami and help each other to cope with growing older and being single again.
In this two-part episode, which contains several scenes from other episodes, Sophia abruptly announces that she is moving out, intending to go live with her ne'er-do-well son Phil, who has split up yet again with his wife. The other women are shocked, remembering the night that she arrived to live with them when her assisted-living facility burnt down. They recall how she immediately made herself at home, offering her blunt opinion on Blanche's fashion choices and her "scuzzball" date for the evening. They attempt to talk Sophia out of leaving, saying that she will get no privacy in Phil's trailer home, but she points out that she gets little privacy in their home anyway, recalling the evening in which she was forced to share a bed with Dorothy. Their late-night talk turns to Jean's crush on Rose, and a shocked Blanche weighs in as well. On another cold night, the women were forced to huddle together after Rose failed to repair the furnace, and she then kept them up all night with her chatty prayers. Dorothy argues that Phil simply made a poor choice of a wife, but Sophia points out that they are all guilty of questionable dating as well; they then reminisce about the "variety of men" they have dated, including Blanche's younger beaux, Dorothy's "saintly" love interest, and Rose's diminutive psychiatrist date.
When Sophia refuses to listen to their pleas, the other three gather around their traditional cheesecake to discuss the problem, noting that their pastry-centered conversations often turn to the topic of sex. They recall the evening they discussed their "first times," with Rose revealing that she waited until marriage, and another time during which they debated the pros and cons of going through "the change." Over another cake, Rose tells a ridiculous story about "The Great Herring War," much to the amusement of Dorothy and Blanche. When Dorothy points out that Sophia is likely to spend most of her time arguing with Phil, Sophia notes all the disagreements that the four of them have had in the past, including tiffs about Rose's poor songwriting skills and Sophia's grumpy demeanor. Sophia admits that things are "never dull" in their household, however, remembering the time that Rose nearly shot Blanche and her date, thinking them intruders, then recalling the morning when Rose's overnight guest turned up dead, and a memorable mishap of Blanche's involving an inflatable bra. Nevertheless, Sophia remains committed to leaving. Dorothy tells the others about her mother's habit of making up stories to "draw on" as inspiration when needed, including tales of her life back in Italy. Finally, just as the other three conclude that they need Sophia's presence in their lives, she reveals that Phil has reunited with his wife and that she will be staying, admitting that things are "pretty terrific" in their home. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: February 13, 1988 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:13856
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Friendship
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1985-1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Paul Junger Witt … Executive Producer
- Susan Harris … Executive Producer
- Tony Thomas … Executive Producer
- Kathy Speer … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Terry Grossman … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Mort Nathan … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Barry Fanaro … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Marsha Posner Williams … Co-Producer
- Terry Hughes … Director
- Susan Harris … Created by
- Winifred Hervey Stallworth … Writer
- George Aliceson Tipton … Music by
- Beatrice Arthur … Cast, Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak
- Betty White … Cast, Rose Nylund
- Rue McClanahan … Cast, Blanche Devereaux
- Estelle Getty … Cast, Sophia Petrillo