On Golden Girls (26 Oct. 1985)

Blanche's belligerent grandson David comes to visit.

Director:

Jim Drake

Writers:

Susan Harris (creator), Liz Sage

Stars:

Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Bea Arthur	...	Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak
Betty White	...	Rose Nylund
Rue McClanahan	...	Blanche Devereaux
Estelle Getty	...	Sophia Petrillo
Billy Jayne	...	David (as Billy Jacoby)
John Hostetter	...	Policeman
Karl Wiedergott	...	Boy #1

Storyline

Blanche's belligerent grandson David comes to visit.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1985 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, Touchstone Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the run of the series, we meet a total of seven grandchildren (Michael and Kate, Sophia's grandkids, Charlie, Rose's granddaughter, and David, Melissa, Aurora, and Sarah, Blanche's grandkids), eight siblings (Gloria, Dorothy's sister, Holly and Lily, Rose's sisters, Angelo and Angela, Sophia's brother and sister, and Virginia, Charmaine, and Clayton, Blanche's two sisters and brother), three parents (Big Daddy, Blanche's father, Alma Lindstrom, Rose's mother, and Sophia's mother), and seven children (Michael and Kate, Dorothy's kids, Janet and Rebecca, Blanche's daughters, Gloria, Sophia's other daughter, and Bridget and Kirsten, Rose's daughters).

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Quotes

David: Why should I stay here when I have all this crappy stuff to do? And nobody likes me anyway.
Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak: You know first of all buddy boy, life is FULL of crappy stuff to do; it's everywhere so you better get used to it, the president has crappy stuff to do. Second of all your grandmother happens to like you, my mother likes you, she doesn't hit anyone unless she really cares, take it from me, and I like you.

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Connections

References First Blood (1982)

User Reviews

Closing the generation gap

Blanche gets a visit from her teenage grandson, who turns out to be nothing but trouble from the moment he arrives...

"On Golden Girls" probably has the most peculiar title of an episode. I know that this is likely a reference to the film "On Golden Pond" but it just seemed rather redundant. It's not really one of my favorites either.

As usual, even the dullest Golden Girls episode is elevated by some well-written jokes and this episode is no exception, but too much of the plot revolves around Blanche trying to connect with her rebellious grandson. The whole episode seems to have an after-school special vibe to it and the grandson doesn't evoke much sympathy. It does, however, set the stage for Blanche's regret of her estrangement from her children which would make for some good Blanche moments later in the series.

Being a sitcom, there are a few funny moments but they're few and far between here. The major standout moment would have to be Dorothy's priceless reaction at a teenager's rattail, but Bea Arthur was always the undisputed queen of the reaction shot.

Overall, this isn't one of the show's best episodes but it's not the worst either.