The news of Estelle Getty's death has really put a cloud over my week. Since her passing, I keep finding myself wandering over YouTube to watch classic Golden Girls clips (the best are the ones with Getty's feisty old Sophia giving Blanche hell). It just reminds me of what a touchstone The Golden Girls really was.

YouTube clips may be convenient, but they hardly do the show — nor Getty — justice, which is why I'm thrilled Lifetime is running 10 Sophia-centric episodes in a marathon this Friday from noon to 5 p.m. (check your local listings for the exact times in your time zone). The final episode of the marathon with be the No. 1 “Sophia episode” as chosen by fans voting online.

Are you excited? Will you set your TiVo, DVR, what have you? To see a description of the episodes competing for the title of Sophia's best, read more.

"It's a Miserable Life"
The girls make a petition to save a 200-year-old oak tree. Everyone agrees on saving the tree, except for Frieda Claxton, the meanest lady in the neighborhood. Rose tells her that if she doesn't like the plans to save the tree, she should just drop dead. Coincidentally, Mrs. Claxton drops dead.

"Sisters"
For Sophia's birthday, Dorothy flies in her sister, Angela, from Sicily as a surprise. The trick soon becomes how to keep Sophia's surprise a surprise as she pulls out every trick in the book to find out. However, Dorothy's the one who's surprised when Sophia's reaction is that of disgust.

"Old Friends"
Sophia meets an old black man on the boardwalk and becomes quick friends with him. However, his strange behavior signals that he has a medical condition, Alzheimer's disease. Meanwhile, Blanche accidentally gives away Rose's teddy bear at a garage sale.

"My Brother, My Father"
Sophia's brother, Angelo, a priest, is coming to Miami for a visit and he doesn't know Dorothy and Stan are divorced. So in order to spare his feelings, Sophia convinces Dorothy and Stan to pretend to be married. Meanwhile, Rose and Blanche prepare to star in a play, The Sound of Music.

"Old Boyfriends"
Sophia goes out with Marvin, a man she met through the personals, who likes moonlit nights and romantic Italian dinners and remembers when Sinatra was skinny. Marvin arrives for their date with his sister, Sarah, in tow. Due to his poor eyesight, his sibling drives him about. Wanting to be alone with Marvin after several dates, Sophia invites him to the house, where she instigates some hanky-panky. Uncomfortable, Marvin blurts out that Sarah isn’t his sister, she’s his wife! Meanwhile, Rose gets a visit from Thor Anderson of St. Olaf, who has been smitten with her since high school, but she doesn’t remember him at all.

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