Bea Arthur died the other day. Funny, funny lady. Til the other side.
Here’s what I’ve found funny…the way men have been asking to make sure it was okay to say you were bummed out that Bea died. Of course. It’s life, man.
What they were trying to figure out was whether it was okay to admit an affection for The Golden Girls. And, duh, the answer is yes.
It’s not just because The Golden Girls was really funny. It certainly was. It’s because all dudes my age got on The Golden Girls the same way — because we had no say-so over the television.
Golden Girls came on Saturday night. On Saturday night, until you hit high school, your social life is entirely dependent upon what your mama wants to watch. And based on the ratings, she wanted to watch The Golden Girls. So you watched. And you laughed.
I’ve talked to multiple people that discussed being in rooms with dudes when The Golden Girls came up in conversation. There would be an awkward silence until someone admitted an affection. From there, everyone would let loose.
And why? Cuz our mamas were all just about the same, watching TV and hoping they were still getting laid once they got gray. We just happened to watch…and see old ladies that were getting laid long after they were gray.
Yuck.
But it was funny.
So fellas, it’s OK. Be sad. Talk about The Golden Girls. And, if need be, you can always say it’s not your fault. Your mama wanted to watch, right?
See, just that simple.
7 thoughts on “Bea Arthur's Death Leaves Men Confused”
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Church.
Saturday night NBC was IT back then. I was down with the Empty Nest, too.
I’ll even take it a step farther. My wife (no really it was her) had the reruns on one Saturday morning and the show holds up. Just as funny as when it first aired. Actually funnier since I get all of the jokes now.
The Greensboro Library has the show on dvd. The looks I got when checking them out was well worth any potential embarrassment.
I hated that show when I was young, but learned to like it some as I got older and picked up on some of the jokes.
However, Bea Arthur’s Adam’s Apple has been a point of contention for some over the years.
I got an aunt that acts like Blanche, another that acts like Rose and my mother is mother-hennish like Dorothy.
The show has became a snapshot of my family gatherings on my mom’s side. I shudder the thoughts every time they get together and look for the nearest cooler to booze it all away.
Dude I am old enough to have watched and REMEMBER freakin’ “Maude,” Bea’s first show. I was already in high school when “Golden Girls” premiered and I watched it. I wasn’t forced to watch it though (hmmm), I actually enjoyed watching it with my grandmother on Saturday nights. It’s a lot funnier to see even now but I think back then I saw some of my grandmother in those chicks so I was down for it. Oh well… I wouldn’t say I was exactly broken up about her passing but I was definitely shocked- I didnt realize she was almost 90- damn!!!
Fred, are you aware of the Rich Eisen joke once retold to Tony Kornheiser about Bea Arthur during his radio show?
http://www.thiswebsitestinks.com/downloads/eisen_arthur.mp3
I’m with RevMood… Been watching Bea since her Maude days–while drooling over Adrienne Barbeau. Was a little old for watching the Golden Girls based off of being in the room while it was on, but the episodes I did see of it were funny as Hayell!
I love the show. Still watch the reruns. Much luv and respect to Bea, but Estelle Getty (Sophia) stole the show for me.
“Picture it. Sicily, 1935…”