Pretty funny, especially when Rose and Blanche (who is arbitrarily turned into a rube for plot purposes) are confronted with Dorothy's new friend, an intellectually snobby novelist who drives a wedge in the "girls'" friendship. Of course, it all has to be fixed with Dorothy rejecting her new buddy and returning to the fold, but the script's way of arranging the resolution virtually amounts to a deus ex machina. It hardly seems likely that this self-consciously artsy (and undoubtedly liberal) novelist would belong to an anti-semitic club--where would she take Norman Mailer for lunch? It's a jarring false note, and although Dorothy's righteous denunciation gets its obligatory burst of studio audience applause, I was rolling my eyes.
10 Reviews
Dorothy's New Friend (#3.15)
ComedyFan201019 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Dorothy is bored with her life so she gets herself a new friend, the author Barbara Thorndyke. She enjoys conversations about literature and intellectual stuff. but she is very condescending about Rose and Blanche and they can feel it. They plan to go all together to a restaurant, but as Rose's date arrived there is a problem because he is Jewish and the restaurant is restrictive from them. Dorothy is appalled and doesn't want to be friends with her anymore.
A good episode. Rose and Blanche talking with Barbara was pretty funny, and she was a good actor since I disliked her way before we found out that she supports and antisemitic establishment.
A good episode. Rose and Blanche talking with Barbara was pretty funny, and she was a good actor since I disliked her way before we found out that she supports and antisemitic establishment.
Disappointment with the ending of The Golden Girls episode
pjpleon26 June 2016
I have been watching the reruns of The Golden Girls for years and still enjoy it greatly. This is one of the rare episodes that leaves me not laughing. I thought the humour was well done between the actresses as always and Bonnie Bartlett added to the laughs as well. However I was disappointed with the ending - to be watching and laughing for 20 odd minutes and then to have the ending finish in a rather distasteful few moments. I was surprised and disappointed as the writers usually present such great humour throughout the program. When Barbara takes Dorothy into the kitchen to say why they cannot go to Mortimer's the lines are as if they come from another show. I feel sure they could have concluded the episode on a much better and more humorous note. I still wonder why this was done!!
Please note, I don't think this is a spoiler.
Please note, I don't think this is a spoiler.
Right On Target!
tourcreole16 May 2018
THE GOLDEN GIRLS (and DESIGNING WOMEN too, for that matter) frequently dealt with serious topics - they never shied away from health and social issues. THE GOLDEN GIRLS addressed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Reproductive freedom, LGBT relationships and even AIDS. In 1985 the Miami Herald carried a three-part series on the topic of exclusive, anti-semitic clubs in Miami and in 1988 THE GOLDEN GIRLS brought it to the attention of a much wider public. No, they hit a bullseye with this one!
Dorothy Finally Fulfilled, But Then Again......
Camelot_20006 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I have to admit this is indeed one of my most favorite episodes out of The G.G. series. Dorothy finds herself bored with her life and finally meets a friend, novelist Barbara Thorndyke, who she can relate to and have enlightening conversation with.
This "new friend" is a prestigious one indeed who takes her out to eat in the best restaurants around the city and invites her to parties attended by such notables as Norman Mailer. The lunch at that literary themed restaurant was a highlight with the lunch menu in a hardcover book and the meals listed by "a table of contents".
Blanche and Rose, however, can't seem to connect with the upper crust intelligence of Barbara. They feel inferior towards her and try to get Dorothy to see that, but Dorothy doesn't at first. They also feel "left out" by all the things she and Barbara do together.
I admit there's not a fair exchange here. Blanche and Rose apparently had busy social lives, but they never seemed to see the need to include the "stay-at-home" Dorothy in that, but when Dorothy suddenly finds somebody to "pal out with" full time, they feel threatened by that exclusion in her suddenly active social life.
Barbara was indeed an upper class snob who only cared to socialize with those she felt were not inferior towards her. That evidently came when Dorothy found out that Barbara "tolerated" the race restrictions of the "most exclusive club in town". That understandably ended the friendship right there and the famous novelist left the house in a huff.
As good as Dorothy had it with her new friend, she knew that there was some things that couldn't be tolerated, such as racism. That struck a pleasing chord with me at her realization. For Dorothy to give up the opportunity to rub elbows with the likes of Norman Mailer and instead be the "behind" in Rose's horse costume for Rose's masquerade ball at the grief counselling center, says a lot.
That's one thing I always liked about this show was the good points it lays across at the end of each episode and this one highlights that strongly. A true gem.
This "new friend" is a prestigious one indeed who takes her out to eat in the best restaurants around the city and invites her to parties attended by such notables as Norman Mailer. The lunch at that literary themed restaurant was a highlight with the lunch menu in a hardcover book and the meals listed by "a table of contents".
Blanche and Rose, however, can't seem to connect with the upper crust intelligence of Barbara. They feel inferior towards her and try to get Dorothy to see that, but Dorothy doesn't at first. They also feel "left out" by all the things she and Barbara do together.
I admit there's not a fair exchange here. Blanche and Rose apparently had busy social lives, but they never seemed to see the need to include the "stay-at-home" Dorothy in that, but when Dorothy suddenly finds somebody to "pal out with" full time, they feel threatened by that exclusion in her suddenly active social life.
Barbara was indeed an upper class snob who only cared to socialize with those she felt were not inferior towards her. That evidently came when Dorothy found out that Barbara "tolerated" the race restrictions of the "most exclusive club in town". That understandably ended the friendship right there and the famous novelist left the house in a huff.
As good as Dorothy had it with her new friend, she knew that there was some things that couldn't be tolerated, such as racism. That struck a pleasing chord with me at her realization. For Dorothy to give up the opportunity to rub elbows with the likes of Norman Mailer and instead be the "behind" in Rose's horse costume for Rose's masquerade ball at the grief counselling center, says a lot.
That's one thing I always liked about this show was the good points it lays across at the end of each episode and this one highlights that strongly. A true gem.
a great episode
den-8639727 December 2015
A great episode, with emphasis on an important subject - and I was thrown by how much the guest star reminds me of Lauren Lane, from the Nanny - though it turns out not to be - another great written show - with great performances by all -
As always, funny lines, thought provoking subjects, and great sets. This has to be one of the classic TV series of all times.
This is one of the series that would be great to have the whole set on DVD, you can watch these episodes over and over and see new things each time that you didn't notice before.
It is hard to be able to envision anyone else doing these rolls as well as the 4 stars, plus the guest stars seem to give impeccable performances.
As always, funny lines, thought provoking subjects, and great sets. This has to be one of the classic TV series of all times.
This is one of the series that would be great to have the whole set on DVD, you can watch these episodes over and over and see new things each time that you didn't notice before.
It is hard to be able to envision anyone else doing these rolls as well as the 4 stars, plus the guest stars seem to give impeccable performances.
New Best Friend
skmcg_man26 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Dorothy admits she is stuck in a rut and decides to do something about it. She meets a local writer Barbara Thorndyke (Bonnie Bartlett) and a friendship develops at the expense of her friendship with Rose and Blanche. Dorothy starts spending a lot of time with Barbara - Dorothy even says she will not attend the girls' favourite masquerade ball - and as a result Rose and Blanche feel left out. Dorothy then tries to smooth things over by involving Rose and Blanche in her plans with Barbara. This attempt is unsuccessful at first because they feel Barbara is snooty and difficult to talk to, but when Barbara invites the girls to the Mortimer Club all is forgiven. All goes well until Sophia's date, Murray Guttman, arrives. Barbara assumes he is Jewish, and reveals to Dorothy that the Mortimer Club is restricted. Dorothy then throws Barbara out and an embarrassed Dorothy agrees to go to the masquerade ball.
The cuckoo in the nest.
Sleepin_Dragon9 May 2023
Blanche and Rose are put out when Dorothy's friendship with local author Barbara Thorndike gets serious, she's rude, superior and treats the girls with a degree of contempt. Dorothy has to decide between an event with the girls or Barbara.
It is yet another very different episode, it is a plot device that had appeared before and after, but for the girls, it's it feels very different. It was successfully used in Absolutely Fabulous, where Edina's friend Betina arrives, putting Patsy's nose out of joint.
Sophia definitely gets the best one liners, that scene where she is introduced to Barbara is hilarious, clearly not impressed, Sophia had some side splitting lines.
Bonnie Bartlett was excellent as Barbara, and fair play she looked stunning in that dress.
8/10.
It is yet another very different episode, it is a plot device that had appeared before and after, but for the girls, it's it feels very different. It was successfully used in Absolutely Fabulous, where Edina's friend Betina arrives, putting Patsy's nose out of joint.
Sophia definitely gets the best one liners, that scene where she is introduced to Barbara is hilarious, clearly not impressed, Sophia had some side splitting lines.
Bonnie Bartlett was excellent as Barbara, and fair play she looked stunning in that dress.
8/10.
One of the most flawed of the truly classic episodes.
mark.waltz30 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
There's a lot of laughs and much to like in this episode that has a great set-up but a major letdown towards the end. Dorothy, feeling that her life is meaningless, goes to a lecture on literature and befriends novelist Barbara Thorndyke (Bonnie Bartlett) whose intelligence is foreign to Rose and Blanche (both acting even dumber than normal) and exclusion makes them uncomfortable. Then there's the invitation that Bartlett makes to try to smooth things over and invites them to the "restricted" Mortimer Club which has a damper on it thanks to Sophia's Jewish date.
The scene at the first restaurant where the menu refers to classic novels is a classic, but having Rose even dimmer than ever is uncomfortable. If I was Dorothy, I wouldn't want to be the back end of a horse either. The recurring metaphor references are very funny with even Rose getting a good one in. Barbara isn't necessarily anti-Semetic, but I do agree that supporting a club policies of such obvious racism is not a favorable quality. By Dorothy rejecting her without allowing any real explanations makes her Dorothy as judgmental as Barbara is towards Blanche and Rose who gets one of her funniest St. Olaf stores ever in the story of mean old lady Hickenlooper.
The scene at the first restaurant where the menu refers to classic novels is a classic, but having Rose even dimmer than ever is uncomfortable. If I was Dorothy, I wouldn't want to be the back end of a horse either. The recurring metaphor references are very funny with even Rose getting a good one in. Barbara isn't necessarily anti-Semetic, but I do agree that supporting a club policies of such obvious racism is not a favorable quality. By Dorothy rejecting her without allowing any real explanations makes her Dorothy as judgmental as Barbara is towards Blanche and Rose who gets one of her funniest St. Olaf stores ever in the story of mean old lady Hickenlooper.
Dorothy encounters an author with pretensions of grandeur
Eventuallyequalsalways5 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Sophia is cooking lasagna when Blanche comes into the kitchen. Rose comes in with her new costume for the masquerade ball, a zebra. She cannot decide whether or not she wants to be the front end or the rear end. Dorothy comes in and announces her life is totally boring. Blanche tells Dorothy she cannot help being boring, God did this to her to provide variety on the earth. Dorothy says there is a lecture at the school that evening. Novelist Barbara Thorndyke is speaking and she may attend. Later that evening, Dorothy reveals that she had a good time at the lecture and she introduced herself to the author. She has invited Mrs. Thorndyke over to their home. Barbara arrives and she gives Dorothy an autographed copy of her latest book. Dorothy is thrilled. Barbara seems to be upset at some of Rose's remarks. Rose has said a few things which reveal she is not as sophisticated as perhaps Barbara expected from Dorothy's roommates. So she unexpectedly leaves their home, and Dorothy asks to accompany her to her car. Next day, Barbara asks Dorothy to go to the experimental theater downtown, and Dorothy agrees to go. Rose and Blanche decide to invite Barbara over for dinner. Blanche reveals she has read Barbara's book, and she has had problems with some of the metaphors, particularly the waves. Sophia leaves on a date, and Barbara leaves right behind her. Barbara invites Dorothy for an event on the coming Friday night, but Rose is upset because that is the night she planned on Dorothy being the "behind" in her zebra costume at the masquerade ball. Dorothy replies that there is finally a choice in her life: she can either mingle with literary idols or be the rear end of a horse staring at Rose's ass. She says she intends to go to Barbara's soirée. On Friday night, Blanche and Rose are teasing Dorothy about Barbara, and then they admit that they do not like the woman. Rose tells Dorothy she is making a mistake about Barbara. At the restaurant, Dorothy and Barbara are dining and looking over the menu which is much like a book. Dorothy reveals there has been some tension in their home since Barbara came into her life. Barbara suggests that she invite everyone to a grand dinner at the Mortimer Club. Barbara shows up at their home with a date, Norman, who looks like a long-haired teenager. Sophia's date, Murray Guttmann, arrives as well. Barbara asks Dorothy to meet her in the kitchen. She reveals that the Mortimer Club restricts their guests, and they do not allow Jews into the club. Dorothy reacts with horror that Barbara is anti-Semitic. Dorothy tells Barbara that she cannot be friends with someone who is prejudiced. Barbara storms out of the house. Rose and Blanche ask Dorothy if she will go to the masquerade ball after all, and she replies that, after her performance the last few days, she will be honored to be the horse's behind.
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