The Golden Girls: Season Six – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 14, 2006
Number of Discs: 3
Number of Episodes: 26
Running Time: 615 Minutes
MSRP: $39.99

Creator:

Susan Harris

Cast:

Beatrice Arthur……….Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak
Betty White……….Rose Nylund
Rue McClanahan……….Blanche Devereaux
Estelle Getty……….Sophia Petrillo

The show:

Bea Arthur. Betty White. Rue McClanahan. Estelle Getty. The perfect combination of crotchety old women who live together and make sarcastic remarks to one another constantly. Whether talking about their sex lives or listening to another one of Rose’s Ft. Olaf stories, The Golden Girls is sure to entertain.

One of the surprising things about this show is how well it holds up. Most shows from that time period (late 80’s to early 90’s) are very dated and the jokes are old and stale. And while there certainly are dated moments, like a guest appearance from Sonny Bono, many of the subjects they tackle are still relevant today. Be it Blanche dealing with her daughter’s decision to be artificially inseminated or Sophia dealing with her sons cross-dressing, The Golden Girls always seems to be able to get to the heart of the situation and load it up with quick, snappy, smart-alecky quips that never get old.

The shining star of the show has to be Betty White as the simple-minded Rose Nylund. Any word that comes out of her mouth – the stupider, the better – is sure to bring a laugh, and while most of that credit can undoubtedly go to the writers, it’s Betty’s impeccable comic-timing that really nails the humor home.

Most shows coming into their sixth season (second to last for these girls) have grown old and stale and the jokes all seem to be repeats of seasons past, but The Golden Girls managed to pull through this season fresher than ever!

Episodes:

Disc One:

“Blanche Delivers”

Blanche’s daughter wants to give birth in a birthing center rather than a hospital and Blanche is worried what everyone will think since her daughter was artificially inseminated.

Birthing Center Tour Guide: Sounds like there’s a mommy in the making.
Rose: It sounds like there’s a mommy on fire.

“Once, in St. Olaf”

Rose is shocked to meet her father, a monk from St. Olaf. Meanwhile, after a surgery Sophia gets lost in the hospital.

Blanche: Did you find Sophia yet?
Dorothy: Yes Blanche, I’ve found her a half-hour ago, and now I hidden her again so you can find her. No I didn’t find her yet!

“If At last You Do Succeed”¦”

Dorothy’s ex husband, Stan has made it big with a new invention, while Rose and Blanche fight over some war bonds that could bankrupt St. Olaf if cashed.

Blanche: Good God, what do you have in those boxes?
Rose: As we say in St. Olaf, crapola in a box

“Snap Out Of It”

Dorothy helps Sophia with her meals-on-wheels program and meets a man who hasn’t left his apartment in over 20 years. Meanwhile, Blanche is upset because her birthday is coming up.

Sophia: Let me give you some advice Blanche, you get old, you sag, you get over it!
Blanche: Sophia!
Sophia: So what if you knew Jesus personally.
Blanche: My mistake. I thought since you looked like Yoda, you were also wise.

“Wham, Bam, Thank You, Mammy”

Blanche is surprised when her childhood nanny come to visit. She is even more surprise when she learns they were lovers.

Sophia: Strictly hypothetical, let’s say a man wants to take you out on a date?
Dorothy: Why is that hypothetical?
Sophia: Check the date?

“Feelings”

Rose thinks she was molested by her doctor while under sedation, while Dorothy fights a football coach over failing his star player.

Dorothy: I really don’t get it. Am I the only one who thinks diagramming sentences is fun?
Sophia: You say that on dates, don’t you.

“Zborn Again”

Stan begins courting Dorothy again and as much as she hates it her old feelings for him start to return.

Dorothy: You and I could argue about this till the cows come home
(Rose and Blanche come walking in)
Rose: We’re home!

“How Do You Solve A Problem Like Sophia?”

Sophia decides she’s going to become a nun, while Blanche gets into a car accident with Rose’s car!

Dorothy: (referring to Sophia saying that she sees holy things in the inkblots) She’s only saying that to get into the convent. Anybody can see that is John Forsythe naked in a pool of honey.
Nun: Well…that does look a little bit like John Forsythe.

“Mrs. George Devereaux”

Blanche is shocked to learn that her dead husband isn’t as dead as she thought. At the same time, Dorothy is torn between two men: Sonny Bono and Lyle Waggoner!

Sonny Bono: How many gold records do you have?
Lyle Waggoner: None…I was never married!

Disc Two:

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”¦Before They Die”

Due to a drought in St. Olaf Rose must remain celibate. Blanche starts dishing out relationship advice, which backfires for both Rose and Sophia

Dorothy: Ma, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
Sophia: I think I crossed that line when I had a date.

“Stand By Your Man”

Blanche makes a date with a man before learning he’s in a wheelchair and must decide if she still wants to go through with the date.

Blanche: I sure grew up around some pretty ignorant people though. You know what horrible things they did in my neck of the woods when I was a youngin?
Dorothy: You mean besides use terms like “neck of the woods” and “youngin”?

“Ebbtide’s Revenge”

Dorothy has to give a eulogy at her dead, cross-dressing brother Phil’s funeral, and Sophia finally has to come to terms with who her son was.

Angela: Maybe I could show Blanche how to correctly apply her makeup.
Dorothy: I’d like that.
Angela: I hope she doesn’t get offended.
Dorothy: That’s the part I like.

“The Bloom Is Off The Rose”

Rose is bored with her boyfriend Miles, so to spice things up she signs them up for sky diving lessons. Meanwhile, Blanche refuses to acknowledge that she’s in a relationship with an abusive man.

Rose: Charlie had a theory. Even a trip to the bank could be exciting, if you where a ski mask.

“Sisters Of The Bride”

When Blanche’s gay brother Clayton shows up and introduces her to his fiancé she is forced to come to terms with this. Meanwhile, Rose is hoping to win a Volunteer of the Year award, now that her biggest competition is dead.

Blanche: I don’t mind Clayton being homosexual, I just don’t like him dating men!
Dorothy: You haven’t quite grasped the concept of this gay thing, have you?
Blanche: Well there must be homosexuals that date women.
Sophia: Yeah, they’re called lesbians

“Miles To Go”

When Miles learns that The Cheeseman, a notorious mobster, is dead he reveals to Rose that he’s been in the witness protection program. Sadly, it turns out the death was faked and Miles must go into hiding again.

Rose: Robert Frost is the guy who interviewed Richard Nixon on TV.

“There Goes The Bride Parts 1 & 2”

This two-parter follows Dorothy and Stan as they decide to get married despite Sophia’s despising the idea. However, in part two Dorothy starts to realize that maybe remarrying Stan might not be the best idea.

Dorothy: The stripper used to be a cop and the cop always wanted to be a dancer. Now they’re wearing each other’s hats and it’s getting really weird.

“Older And Wiser”

Worried about leaving Sophia home alone, Dorothy gets her a fake job as a activities coordinator and an old folks home. Meanwhile, Blanche and Rose are excited to be models for a Penny Saver.

Dorothy: Ma, if you want to make a good impression, wear matching shoes.
Sophia: They should match my purse?
Dorothy: No, they should match each other.

Disc Three:

“Melodrama”

Blanche wants to take her relationship with a one night stand to the next level while Rose tries to get a job as a TV reporter. Her assignment is a dog show that ends up getting robbed at gunpoint!

Dorothy: (talking about the refrigerator) The little man who lives in there who turns the light on and off, he’ll tell you.
Rose: I’m not in the mood for jokes. Especially about the little man, he scares me.

“Even Grandmas Get The Blues”

A man mistakes Blanche’s granddaughter as her daughter and she does nothing to correct him. Meanwhile, Sophia prepares for the Festival of the Dancing Virgins, a celebration of mothers and daughters but Dorothy wants nothing to do with it.

Sophia Silly Rabbi, tricks are for kids.

“Witness”

Moving on with her life, Rose gets a new boyfriend, Carl. However, Miles returns still under protection from the witness protection program. Things turn bad when it is revealed that Carl is really The Cheeseman and he was just using Rose to get to Miles!

Rose: Although, lately I’ve been having this one dream that both Carl and Miles are in.
Blanche: Oh”¦. And?
Rose: All right, and Captain Kangaroo too!

“What A Difference A Date Makes”

The man who stood Dorothy up at her senior prom shows and she learns that it was Sophia that sent him packing. Meanwhile Blanche goes on a diet to fit in her wedding gown.

Blanche: Time for today’s sensible meal. Where’s my tuna quiche? You heard me: I said Where’s my tuna quiche? I get five ounces of solid food a day. I want my tuna quiche!
Rose: You mean that little pie?
Blanche: Little pie? Little pie!
Rose: I wanted a snack
Blanche: A snack?
Rose: I thought it was little fishy.
Blanche: (starts shaking Rose) You ate my sensible meal! You ate my sensible meal!

“Love For Sale”

The girls participate in a Children’s Hospital Bachelorette Auction and Dorothy is surprised when Stan shows up and starts bidding on her. Meanwhile, Sohpia’s brother, Angelo, arrives broke and with no place to go.

Dorothy: Wait, why is any of this your business?
Sophia: He’s my brother.
Dorothy: I’m your daughter!
Sophia: Please, I’ve known you, what, 60 years? Angelo, I’ve known 85. Frankly, I’m not sure I trust you yet.

“Never Yell Fire In A Crowded Retirement Home Parts 1 & 2”
(be forewarned, this is the obligatory flashback episode)

The deathbed confession of an ex-patient of Shady Pines reveals that she and Sophia started the 1985 Shady Pines Fire! Threatened with jail time she decides to go back to Sicily.

Sophia: I don’t even know what s’mores are.
Rose: You remember Sophia, they’re the graham crackers with chocolate.
Sophia: And marshmallow don’t forget the marshmallow…whoops.

“Henny Penny—Straight, No Chaser”

Dorothy is in charge of a school play, Henny Penny, but the entire cast is quarantined so the girls step in so the show will go on!

Rose: I just wanted you to know, there are monster living under all your beds!

The DVD:

VIDEO: How does it look?
(Presented with a 1.33:1 full screen aspect ratio)

These episodes look about as good as you’d expect. Not terrible, but nothing special either.

AUDIO: How does it sound?
(Dolby Stereo)

The sound is fine. The laugh track isn’t annoying because it’s subtle and the show is actually funny so it doesn’t seem forced or out of place.

EXTRAS:

A Conversation with Betty, Rue and others: If there’s any doubt to how funny Betty White really is, then just watch this interview. You get some interesting behind the scenes stuff here but mostly it’s just a joy to watch Betty.

THE INSIDE PULSE:

This is a funny funny show and this season is a fine example of it. Sadly it’s a little shy on the extras front, but shouldn’t deter you from checking out these fine episodes.

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for The Golden Girls: Season Six
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE SHOW

8
THE VIDEO

7
THE AUDIO

8
THE EXTRAS

6
REPLAY VALUE

8
OVERALL
7.5
(NOT AN AVERAGE)

Mike Noyes received his Masters Degree in Film from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. A few of his short films can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebnoyes. He recently published his first novel which you can buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Years-Mike-Noyes-ebook/dp/B07D48NT6B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528774538&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+days+seven+years