Archive

TV Alert: Estelle Getty gets a tribute today

Set your DVR — all day today, Lifetime pays tribute to Estelle Getty with a Golden Girls marathon from noon to 5 p.m. ET, starting with the series pilot. The final episode, airing at 4:30 ET, is the one voted by viewers as their favorite Sophia Petrillo episode. Getty died Tuesday, just three days before her 85th birthday.

Getty and the Girls have been in my bedchamber more than any other woman — and that’s a good thing. For years, The Golden Girls was on opposite the 10 o’clock news and I usually chose laughter as the best way to end my day. At 4’11, Sophia, with her ever-present purse, didn’t cut an imposing figure like her on-screen daughter, Dorothy (Bea Arthur), but she usually won the war of words, no matter which Girl she faced.

Many lovely tributes have been published, including one by our own Dorothy Snarker. Rather than review what others have said, let’s just have a laugh or sing a song. Wait, wrong show. Here are some of my favorite Sophia zingers, courtesy of IMDb.com.

Dorothy: You couldn’t sleep either, huh?

Sophia: No, I’m sleeping so good I thought I’d come try it in the sink.

Rose: Sophia, why are you in such a bad mood?

Sophia: Excuse me, Rose, but I haven’t had sex in 15 years and it’s starting to get on my nerves.

Blanche: How does this dress look on me?

Sophia: What’s the difference? In a half hour, it’ll be crumpled on the floor next to an empty bottle of Jack Daniels.

Blanche: I treat my body like a temple.

Sophia: Yeah, open to everyone, day or night.

Rose: I just found out I’m the most boring person on Earth.

Sophia: Did something happen to Regis Philbin?

I suppose my all-time favorite, though, is from the show in which Blanche finds out a secret about her brother.

Blanche: I don’t really mind Clayton being homosexual. I just don’t like him dating men.

Dorothy: You really haven’t grasped the concept of this “gay thing” yet, have you, Blanche?

Blanche: Well there must be homosexuals who date women.

Sophia: Yeah. They’re called lesbians.

You’ll find a video of Sophia highlights at Jezebel.com and other clips at mylifetime.com. Rest in peace, Estelle. And goodnight, Ma.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button