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The Golden Girls article
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Barbara Thorndyke is a major one-off character in the 1985 NBC sitcom The Golden Girls. She is an acclaimed novelist who befriends Dorothy at a creative writing lecture, but is condescending towards Rose and Blanche. Dorothy can't see the kind of person Barbara is, but she eventually ends the friendship when she learns Barbara is okay with a country club's anti-Semitic policies.
Barbara appears in the Season 3 episode "Dorothy's New Friend", She is portrayed by veteran actress Bonnie Bartlett.
Personality and Traits[]
Barbara is a well-read and intelligent person, but she is notably condescending and snobby towards people she believes are her intellectual inferiors.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Barbara became a well-known novelist in Miami, Florida, and set all of her novels in the state, such as Evil Wind Over Pensacola. She also gave creative writing lectures at colleges and high schools around the state.[1]
At some point in the past, Barbara became a member of The Mortimer Club, a high-class country club that didn't allow Jewish people to join. While Barbara said she didn't agree with the policy, she attended the club for the good breakfast and free parking.[1]
Meeting Dorothy[]
While giving a lecture at a high school, Barbara met Dorothy Zbornak and the two immediately struck up a friendship. Later, Dorothy invites Barbara to meet her roommates, Rose Nylund and Blanche Devereaux. However, Barbara is snooty and treats Rose and Blanche condescendingly. Rose and Blanche try to warn Dorothy about Barbara, but she doesn't believe them and accuses them of being jealous. Dorothy declines an invitation to the movies as she already made plans with Barbara, and Blanche and Rose decide to invite Barbara over for dinner to give her another chance.[1]
After dinner, Barbara and Dorothy get along. Trying to fit in, Blanche tells Barbara about the novel she picked up the other day. Barbara then asks if there's any problem with her book. Blanche said that she had a problem with those "waves." Before Barbara leaves, she invites Dorothy out for the writers' symposium on Friday, despite the masquerade ball at Rose's counselling center being the same day. Dorothy and Barbara go out to eat at Barbara's hangout. Dorothy talks Barbara about the tension between Blanche, Rose and herself. Blanche and Rose don't feel included enough in their hangouts, so trying to make everyone feel included, Barbara invites everyone to a restaurant called the Mortimer Club.[1]
As the girls get ready go to the Mortimer Club, Sophia's date, Murray Guttman, arrives wearing a flashy tuxedo. Barbara takes Dorothy into the kitchen, and tells Dorothy that they have a little problem with Murray. Dorothy thinks it's about his tuxedo, but Barbara tells her that Murray can't come to the Mortimer Club because he's Jewish, and the club is "restricted." Dorothy asks Barbara why she's a member of a club like that, and Barbara answers that they "serve a great breakfast and the parking is free". Barbara tells Dorothy that she tolerates a lot of things, including Rose and Blanche because of her relationship with her, and she suggests that they go to another restaurant. Dorothy realizes that Rose and Blanche were right about Barbara, and that she was not the kind of person she wants as a friend. Dorothy tells Barbara to go to the Mortimer Club by herself. Barbara leaves, and Dorothy apologizes to Rose and Blanche, and they go to the Masquerade Ball.[1]
Relationships[]
Dorothy Zbornak[]
To be added.
Appearances[]
The Golden Girls (1985 - 1992)[]
Season 3
| |||||
| 1. "Old Friends": | Absent | 14. "Blanche's Little Girl": | Absent | ||
| 2. "One for the Money": | Absent | 15. "Dorothy's New Friend": | Debut | ||
| 3. "Bringing Up Baby": | Absent | 16."Grab That Dough": | Absent | ||
| 4. "The Housekeeper": | Absent | 17. "My Brother, My Father": | Absent | ||
| 5. "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself": | Absent | 18. "Golden Moments, Part 1": | Absent | ||
| 6. "Letter to Gorbachev": | Absent | 19. "Golden Moments, Part 2": | Absent | ||
| 7. "Strange Bedfellows": | Absent | 20. "And Ma Makes Three": | Absent | ||
| 8. "Brotherly Love": | Absent | 21. "Larceny and Old Lace": | Absent | ||
| 9. "A Visit from Little Sven": | Absent | 22. "Rose's Big Adventure": | Absent | ||
| 10. "The Audit": | Absent | 23. "Mixed Blessings": | Absent | ||
| 11. "Three on a Couch": | Absent | 24. "Mister Terrific": | Absent | ||
| 12. "Charlie's Buddy": | Absent | 25. "Mother's Day": | Absent | ||
| 13. "The Artist": | Absent | ||||
Trivia[]
- Barbara is an almost-direct reference to Joanna from the 1972 Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Some of My Best Friends Are Rhoda." In the episode, Mary gets chummy with a woman named Joanna, which annoys her friend Rhoda. At the end of the episode, Joanna looking for a fourth to play doubles tennis with at her exclusive country club and balks when Mary suggests they invite Rhoda. The club is revealed to be anti-Semitic, prompting Mary to end her relationship with Joanna.
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| V - E - H One-Off Characters in The Golden Girls
| |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | Al Beatty • Alma Lindstrom • Arnie Peterson • Augustine Bagatelli • Bonnie • Charley Adams • Chrissy Zbornak • Coco • Danny • Dave • David Blackmore • Dean Tucker • Dirk • Dr. Harris • Dr. Revell • Dr. Richmond • Ed Collins • Elliot Clayton • Gladys Barton • Harold • Harry • Jonathan Newman • Leonard Barton • Lester • Lily Lindstrom • Lou • Lucille Beatty • Lucy Warren • Madame Zelda • Milton • Mr. Peepers • Professor Cooper • Raoul • Richard • Security Salesman • Tommy Cochrane |
| Season 2 | Albert • Apalapachobie Stationmaster • Bob Henderson • Bob • Bobby Hopkins • Bobby Spina • Bridget Nylund • Burt Nesbitt • Burt Reynolds • Carl • Chuck • Dr. Barnsfield • Dr. Escobar • Dr. Parks • Dr. Taylor • Dr. Wallerstein • Ed Kletner • Ed • Emily’s Father • Emily • Father Callahan • Frank Leahy • Frieda Claxton • George Corliss • Isaac Newton • Jacques de Courville • Jake Smollens • Jean • Jenny Corliss • John • Lisa • Liz • Margaret Spencer • Mario Sanchez • Martha McDowell • Meg • Mr. Allen • Mr. Ha Ha • Mr. Hinkley • Mr. Meyer • Mr. Pfeiffer • Mr. Thompson • Mr. Thurber • Norman Henderson • Oliver • Patrick Vaughn • Phyllis Hammerow • Ramone • Renee Corliss • Rick • Rob • Rocco • Sam Burns • Santa Claus • Stephanie • Stephen Deutsch • Thomas McCoy • Timmy • Tony (Forgive Me, Father • Long Day’s Journey into Marinara) • Toshiro Mitsumo • Vinnie • Walter • Wayne • Wilfred Cheswick • Winston Hardwick III |
| Season 3 | Al • Alexei Bovanov • Alvin Newcastle • Anna Egerman • Baby • Barbara Thorndyke • Black Crow • Buddy Rourke • Candy • Carl • Chester T. Rainey • Daisy • Dave • Dr. Ashley • Duncan • Edna McCracken • Edwin Newman • Eleanor • Elizabeth Hollingsworth • Ernie • Floyd McCallum • Freddy • Gil Kessler • Greta • Guy Corbin • Hastings • Jacob • Jeremy • Jerry • Jody • Kolak • Laszlo Glagorian • Libby • Linda (Letters to Gorbachev • A Visit from Little Sven) • Lorraine Wagner • Marguerite • Marty • McCracken • Midge • Mister Terrific • Mr. Escobar • Mr. Murray • Murray Guttman • Nancy • Nancy • Olga Nordstrum • Priscilla • Raymond • Rocco • Russell • Sandra Newcastle • Sven Lindstrom • Theodore Zbornak • Trudy • Victor • Vincenzo • Willard • Yolanda Zbornak |
| Season 4 | Abe • Ben • Billy • Bob Hope • Charley • Claire • Dan Cumming • Dominic Bosco • Don Angelo Grisanti, Sr. • Dr. Cauley • Dr. Jerry • Dr. Stewart • Dr. Watkins • Eddie • Edgar • Eduardo • Elaine • Ernest • Ernie • Esther Weinstock • Esther • Father Campbell • Fidel Santiago • Fred • Frieda • Gary Tucker • Gina Bosco • Gonzales • Ham Lushbough • Heather • Holly Lindstrom • Ida • Jack McCann • Jackie • Jasper DeKimmel • Jim Shu • John Quinn • Julio Iglesias • Katherine O’Conner • Kenny • Lillian (Sophia’s Choice • Dancing in the Dark) • Lois • Major Barker • Marla • Max Weinstock • Mildred • Misha • Mr. Yakomora • Mrs. Leonard • Pepe • Philomena Bosco • Phyliss • Porter • Raymond • Sam • Sid LaBass • Stan Wojno • Steve • Sy Ferber • The Donatello Triplets • Timmy • Toppelkopper Triplets (Ben • Len • Sven) • Trudy McCann • Wanda • Yvonne |
| Season 5 | Agent Bell • Buzz Mueller • Caroline • Charmaine Hollingsworth • David Patton • Doug (The Mangiacavallo Curse Makes a Lousy Wedding Present • All Bets Are Off) • Dr. Manning • Dr. Stevens • Dr. Strien • Elise • Father Avery • Francis Lillestrand • Fred • Gayle • Gloria Schmidt • Guiseppe Mangiacavallo • Harv • Helen Budd • Howard • James • Jamie Devereaux • Jenny • Jimmy • Joey • Ken Whittingham • Lewis Budd • Maddy • Magda Yitchinson • Malcolm • Maria • Martha Lamont • Mary-Ellen • Mary • Merril • Michael Chang • Mr. Hernandez • Mr. Kane • Mr. Lillestrand • Mr. Morelli • Mrs. Lillestrand • Oliver • Paul • Peter • Roger • Simon • Steven • Terry Franco • Thomas |
| Season 6 | Abby Wolf • Andy • Angela Petrillo • Arthur Nivingston • Bill • Brother Martin • Coach Odlivak • Detective Parres • Don the Fool • Doug Hollingsworth • Dr. Bob • Dr. Tess • Dr. Warren • Errol • Father Monroe • Father O’Mara • Father Salerno • Frank Nann • Gladys • Herb • Irving • Jack • Jason Stillman • Jimmy • John Noretti • Kevin Kelly • Lou Norgan • Louise • Lucille • Lyle Waggoner • Marvin Mitchelson • Mel Bushman • Mickey Moran • Mother Superior • Mr. Lewis • Mr. Ninervini • Mr. Percy • Mr. Porter • Mrs. Contini • Mrs. Taylor • Mrs. Ward • Myra • Rex Huntington • Sarah • Sister Anne • Sister Claire • Smokey • Sonny Bono • Susan Dodd • Tamara • Ted Tanner • Terry • Tony DelVecchio • Truby • Viola Watkins |
| Season 7 | to be added. |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Golden Girls, Season 3, Episode 15, "Dorothy's New Friend". Speer, Kathy and Grossman, Terry (writers) & Hughes, Terry (director) (January 16th, 1988)