The year was 1989. It was a Thursday night in September, and “The Golden Girls” was airing its season 5 premiere on NBC at 9 PM. Ronald Reagan had just left office, and “The Simpsons” was about to debut. A gallon of gas cost 97 cents. I settled in to watch my favorite gals, not knowing I was about to witness comedy gold.
This episode, “Sick and Tired, Part 2,” had Dorothy dealing with some serious health issues. But what stuck with me was Rose’s hilarious blunder. She was supposed to place Dorothy’s work ad in the classifieds, but somehow it ended up in the personals section instead.
Dorothy’s face when she realized what happened was priceless!
The ad said Dorothy would do “anything for $8 an hour.” You can imagine the kinds of responses she got! I remember nearly spitting out my Tab cola when a guy named Toto showed up at their door. The way Bea Arthur delivered her lines, with that deadpan expression and perfect timing, had me in stitches.
Then there was the priest who came by, and Dorothy promised to say Hail Marys “until Madonna has a hit movie.” It was the kind of zinger that made “The Golden Girls” so special. They weren’t afraid to poke fun at pop culture or themselves.
A busload of Greek sailors even showed up! I couldn’t help but think of my own misadventures in classified ads back in the day. Though mine never led to quite such entertaining results.
If you haven’t seen this episode, you’re missing out on comedy gold.
The Golden Girls always knew how to make us laugh, even when dealing with serious topics. This episode was no exception, blending heartfelt moments with side-splitting humor in a way only they could.
