The Golden Girls premiered on NBC some 35 years ago. It was on September 14, 1985 that the first chords of the now iconic theme song “Thank you for being a friend” entered our eyes. Even though it ended its run in 1992, it lives on in our hearts ( and also on Hulu and TV Land) - Bea Arthur played the grounded, smart and oftentimes sarcastic Dorothy Zbornak. Here are our five favourite Dorothy moments from the show.
The episode is called “Dorothy’ New Friend”. (from Season 3) Barbara Thorndyke ( Bonnie Bartlett) , an author visiting town who makes friends with Dorothy. Then she introduces her to Rose & Blanche. Barbara is very condescending to them, even going so far as to call them both ‘limited’ - after feeling that there just might be more to them, Barbara invites them all to the very exclusive Mortimer Club. It’s when Sophia’s date Murray Guttman shows up that Barbara shows her true colours and then Dorothy puts her in her place.
What made the Golden Girls such an endearing program was the writing and the timing in which that dialogue was delivered. Season 2’s “ Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas” is a great example of that. Plans are ruined when the Girls are held hostage by a man at the Grief Counseling Center who is dressed as Santa Claus. Now that they have to spend Christmas at home, they decide to have a simple gift exchange, since it’s felt the holiday has gotten way to commercial. When Rose gives her homemade gift to Dorothy, the dialogue and timing is our gift from them
Season 6’s episode “Witness” while Miles returns to see Rose, it’s when Blanche discovers some upheaval to the roots of her confederate family tree, it’s Dorothy who gleefully gets to give Blanche the bad news. Add to the mayhem Sophia’s appearance in the kitchen with her ‘new glasses’ Did I mention her last name was Feldman?
Even though Blanche unknowingly makes a date with a man in a wheelchair in the episode called “ Stand By Your Man”. The meeting between them takes place in a library. The exchange about library cards between the librarian and Dorothy is classic. This is another one of my favorite scenes. Who are you to judge me?
Mixed with comedy, came the poignancy. That was most often in the scenes with Dorothy and her ex-husband Stanley Zbornak. Season 2 started off with the episode “Guess Who’s Coming to the Wedding” The end of the episode Dorothy gives Stanley a piece of her mind in a speech which resonates to this day.
Thanks for reading. What is your favorite Dorothy Zbornak moment? Let us know in the comments below...
Photo via NBC
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