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Flashback: The Golden Girls on Gay Marriage

TresSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0700

The Golden Girls were wise beyond their collective years. (And that's really saying something!) In this snippet, Blanche's brother is marrying a man (you could do that then, apparently) and the Southern belle is not charmed. But leave it to Sophia to dole out the only argument ever really needed for gay marriage: they love each other. And, then of course follow up with a smart-ass bang! Whoa. Pun definitely not intended.

Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:30:29 -0700

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music, and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points!

In the Golden Girls episode "To Catch a Neighbor," the ladies work with two detectives to find out if their new neighbors are criminals. Name the actor who played the younger detective, Bobby Hopkins.

Saying Goodbye to Bea Arthur

BuzzSugar — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:30:23 -0700

I was heartbroken to learn that Bea Arthur died this weekend in her LA home at the age of 86. Already the Web is overflowing with tributes to the distinguished comedic actress, which says so much about her great talent. Reading through some of them, I realize that an entire generation came to know and love her as Maude Findlay. Some even remember her for her stage accomplishments, for which she won a Tony Award.

For me, though, she was the razor-sharp, doting daughter to Sofia on The Golden Girls. Just thinking about the character Dorothy brings a smile to my face, and even when I watched the show as a kid it was clear that only someone of enormous talent could make a character that prickly so likable and hilarious.

In addition to the tributes, it's heart-wrenching to read statements from those who knew her best. Betty White, who played Rose on Golden Girls, told Entertainment Tonight: "I knew it would hurt, I just didn't know it would hurt this much. I'm so happy that she received her Lifetime Achievement Award while she was still with us, so she could appreciate that. She was such a big part of my life."

It's so sad she's gone and amazing how many lives and generations she touched. After the jump, I've included one of my favorite Dorothy and Sofia clips to remember them by. To watch, read more.

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Thank You For Being a Friend? Miami Has the Least Volunteers

CitizenSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:00:28 -0700

Though the quintessential Miamian, the late Sophia Petrillo, might disapprove -the Southern city has just been found at the bottom of the friendly heap. Miami comes in dead last in a study of volunteerism in 50 major US cities. Possible causes for the falloff could include traffic, an exploding number of new immigrants, or the better offer of time on the beach.

Miami might be last, but nationally the US isn't doing so well either; the volunteerism rate fell last year for the second year in a row to about 26 percent. Miami's volunteer rate is 14.5 percent. Who's best at giving back? Minneapolis-St. Paul, at a solid 39 percent. Stellar states include Utah, Nebraska, and Alaska with New York, Florida, and Nevada on the bottom tier.

The chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service says, "with more people in need - losing houses, losing jobs - there are more people to serve. You have fewer people helping and more people needing help."

Both Obama and McCain have stressed the need for public service in this campaign - is volunteerism just the balm we need to soothe these challenging times? What kind of catalyst will it take to spark an upward trend in service? Do you give back?

Lifetime Remembers Estelle Getty With Golden Girls Marathon

BuzzSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:30:15 -0700

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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Farewell, Estelle!

GiggleSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0700

We love us some Golden Girls here at GiggleSugar, so it was very sad to hear that Estelle Getty, my favorite Golden Girl, passed away yesterday, three days before her 85th birthday. Estelle got her start in the Yiddish theater and as a comedian in the Catskills' "Borscht Belt." Her star began to rise when she played Harvey Fierstein's mother in the Broadway production of Torch Song Trilogy, but it was her role as the wise-cracking, take-no-prisoners Sophia on The Golden Girls that made her a comic legend. Kvetching and bitching, Sophia gave as good as she got and made being a senior citizen look cool. "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her," Bea Arthur was reported as saying in the LA Times. Betty White, who played Rose on the show, said "The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us."

Which Golden Girl Beauty Are You?

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:30:27 -0700

So sad! Estelle Getty died today, leaving behind her legacy as sharp-tongued senior Sophia Petrillo in The Golden Girls. In tribute to her, why not take the quiz to find out which Golden Girl character shares your beauty philosophy?

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Where do you keep your mirror?

On the nightstand

In the bathroom

In my makeup compact

Over the bed

Would you enter the Shady Pines Mother/Daughter Beauty Contest?

Yes, and I'd dress up like Cher to do it.

Yes, but only to trounce my rivals.

No, but I'd help my friends do it.

No - I'm too young to enter a senior-citizen beauty pageant!

You start seeing more wrinkles than before. What's your response?

Clean the mirror. It must be dirty to give such a false appearance to this face.

Nothing much. It happens to all of us.

I'd tell a story about a wrinkled woman from back home.

Whaddya mean, "start" seeing wrinkles? They've been here all along!

Do you wear red lipstick?

Absolutely.

Nope.

When you reach your Geritol years, what color would you like your hair to be?

Bright white

Silver-fox gray

Blonde

Red

In high school, people picked on you for your...

Hairy legs

Handsome features

High school?! Back in Sicily, I was married at 14!

Unbridled gorgeousness

We'll Miss You, Estelle Getty

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:25:29 -0700

Sad news this morning, Buzz readers: Estelle Getty (a.k.a. Sophia from The Golden Girls) has passed away at the age of 84.

Best known as Sophia, the snappy, sarcastic mother of Bea Arthur's character Dorothy, Getty endeared herself to audiences everywhere for being hilariously no-nonsense - effectivey shattering the stereotype of the sweet old lady. According to the AP, Getty initially didn't get the part of Sophia because "she didn't look old enough to play 80." She later told an interviewer, "I could understand that. I walk fast, I move fast, I talk fast."

The AP article also includes this interesting tidbit:

Getty had gained a knack for one-liners in her late teens when she did standup comedy at a Catskills hotel. Female comedians were rare in those days, however, and she bombed.

Well, thank goodness she wasn't discouraged from continuing in the business; we'll all remember her as hilarious, sarcastic and spunky. We'll miss you Estelle Getty.

To check out a clip montage of classic Sophia moments, read more.

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Sex and the Assisted Living Facility

GiggleSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:00:00 -0700

The open secret's out! The Golden Girls was really the original Sex and the City. Here, Miranda's voice issues forth from Sophia's mouth, and the other ladies weigh in on a, uh, non-vanilla sex act her boyfriend performed on her. (I wonder what Bea Arthur thinks about all this? But, then again, I always wonder what Bea Arthur thinks about anything. Incidentally. . . It's Bea Arthur's birthday today! Happy Birthday, Beatrice!)

Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:30:52 -0700

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! What is the name of Dorothy's ex-husband on Golden Girls? (Just the first name is fine, though you can include a last name if you'd like!)