Picture it: the Bronx, 1985. A young boy, gay before he realizes it, sits in front of the television on a Saturday night. He laughs at the antics of four old broads in Miami, even though he doesn’t always get the joke. For the next seven years, this is his Saturday evening ritual: in his room, usually alone, watching these women crack wise about each other. That young boy was me, and those four women were “the Golden Girls.”
If I told stories in the style of Sophia Petrillo, that’s how one from my childhood would probably sound.
Estelle Getty passed away today just shy of her 85th birthday. She had been battling dementia for years.
It’s weird, I’ve been on a bit of a “Golden Girls” kick lately, watching all episodes in chronological order from my DVD sets. As if I need to really; I’ve been known (sometimes to an annoying extent) to recite lines verbatim while watching it with others. I seem to recall someone telling me, “Okay, that’s scary,” on my recent trip to San Francisco.
11 responses so far ↓
1 Ron // Jul 22, 2008 at 3:29 pm
That was me that said that about you being scary, right? I think I said it mostly because you’re the first person I’ve met whose knowledge of GG scripts was better than mine!
2 Fredo // Jul 22, 2008 at 3:37 pm
@Ron: Why yes. I believe it was you!
3 Dennis // Jul 22, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I am so upset by this I’ve commented on every blog post about her death saying how upset I am. I, too, watched Golden Girls back in the day. I could never explain to anyone or myself why a little black kid loved that show so much.
4 IMGoph // Jul 22, 2008 at 3:52 pm
’tis a shame. i remember how excited i was to see the golden girls’ “house” on the disney/mgm tour in orlando when i was a kid. i could hear the theme music….
5 Clarke // Jul 22, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Ah - it was Ron - I remember it happening, I just couldn’t recall if it was me or him
Memories of watching GG is closely tied with weekend visits to my grandparents house…
6 Fredo // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:01 pm
@IMGoph: Ah yes, Residential Street. It’s too bad they razed it for a different attraction.
7 Fredo // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:03 pm
@Clarke: It wasn’t until I was in high school and watched it in reruns with my step-siblings that I had anyone to watch it with regularly. By then, I finally got the jokes I didn’t understand in the mid-1980s.
8 IMGoph // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:03 pm
fredo: you’re kidding me. they knocked it down?!? i’m floored! my memories of disney are forever tainted now!
9 Fredo // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:04 pm
@Dennis: My father thought it was strange that I watched it. So did my late uncle, but only because I think he figured me out. His gaydar was pretty well intact.
10 Fredo // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:09 pm
@IMGoph: I tell you no lie. I couldn’t remember which new attraction it was until I Googled it. The “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” now sits in its place.
11 IMGoph // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:12 pm
fredo: damn, guess i’ll have to be doubly-depressed today…
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