The Golden Girls: A Midwinter Night's Dream Part II originally aired Saturday, February 29th 1992.

A huge hit from the very first episode in 1985, The Golden Girls combined creative, topical (and most importantly) funny scripts with what would have to be one of the best ensemble cast of actors ever put together on television. The result, one of the finest situation comedies to come out of that decade and an example of how wonderful television can be when everything is done right. But as is the case with most great tv shows it was the stars of this outstanding comedy that set it head and shoulders above its many competitors. The four main stars, Bea Arthur as the intellectual Dorothy, Rue McClanahan as the over sexed Blanche, Betty White as ditzy Rose and newcomer Estelle Getty as the unrestrained Sophia are perfectly cast in their respective parts and worked so well together that all of this delightful comedy seemed almost effortless (which we know is not the case). This involving comedy about four completely different ladies all living together in their latter years, thru good times and bad is truly classic television, tv comedy at its best.

In this episode (the conclusion of a two part program) Blanche (Rue McClanahan) is throwing a party, with the exception of the girls she has invited only men to come and is expecting to find plenty of romance, but she might get more than she expects. Rose and Miles (Betty White and Harold Gould) have decided to get married, but they are both still very nervous and unsure about it. Miles and Dorothy (Bea Arthur) have also discovered that they might have feelings for one another and are unable to control themselves. Meanwhile Sophia, convinced that her daughter is under the influence of the "curse of the Strayga" must perform three acts to save her daughter from herself, kiss a fool, help a holy man and witness the betrayal of a loved one. She has already performed the first two and now must only complete the last to save Dorothy from the curse and set things right. Sophia is now looking for Rose to tell her about Miles and Dorothy's betrayal so that she can save her daughter from the curse (or perhaps she just wants to tell simply because she's a mean old lady like the paperboy says).

Kristy McNichol has a very small cameo part reprising her role as Officer Barbara Weston from the hit spin off series Empty Nest. She has a short (but very funny) little interaction with Estelle Getty. This is a cute little walk on part that gives Kristy yet another chance to showcase her comic abilities.

Buying note: This episode is not currently available on home video but is due to be released in February 2007 as part of the DVD box set The Golden Girls: The Complete 7th Season.

11-15-2006