"The Golden Palace" Season 1, Episode 2. My Take

FYI: "The Golden Palace" is the magical unicorn that was born after Dorothy left the other three "Golden Girls." (But you already knew that). It's hard to believe that it only lasted one season, but maybe after changing nights and networks no one could find it. I found it. I remember it. Some of us will never forget.

Anyway, "Golden Palace" replaced Dorothy with Don Cheadle, Cheech Marin, and a kid with a New Yawk accent. Imagine if Jerry left and George, Elaine, and Kramer opened their own "Top of the Muffin To You!" franchise. Imagine if Dunder Mifflin's Jim, Dwight, Kevin, and Phyllis opened their own Kinko's style copy store. Imagine if Carrie and Big moved to Paris, leaving Samantha, Miranda, Charlotte, and Stanford to run an internet fashion blog. "The Golden Palace" is like that, but better- because it happened.

Episode 2 (of only 24) saw Blanche clashing with Don Cheadle over how to run the hotel. It also saw Bobcat Goldthwait guest-starring as a crazy killer who'd booked a room at the Palace. Meanwhile, Rose showed everyone that she may be from St. Olaf, but can still come up with hotel-saving ideas.

This episode also showed us that midnight talks in the kitchen still happen at the hotel.
But that's not all . . .

Sitcoms of the 1980's

If you've got some time to kill on the internet, you may want to head HERE and read an in-depth look at the sitcoms of the blessed decade of the 1980's. It was then that the sitcom nearly died and then was reborn bigger than ever, thanks primarily to The Cosby Show.

Some of my favorite shows were created then (Roseanne, The Golden Girls) and nearly every show mentioned warms me with a misty nostalgia, just as one of the best of the decade- The Wonder Years- would want. Even the shows they toss of as being "less than stellar," like Mr. Belvedere, Growing Pains, or The Facts of Life make me long for the days of poofy shoulder pads and New Coke. And don't you agree with the 10 year old me, that Mike Seaver was super cute, right? I mean before he became over-the-top born again?

*Okay I will admit that Full House is awful. I LOVED it as a kid- even had stacks of VHS tapes full of what I called my favorite show- but unlike those gals in Miami or the denizens of Lanford, IL- Michelle and her outs-cream haven't aged well.

Golden Award (etc.)

This January the Screen Actor's Guild is going to give Betty White a much deserved lifetime achievement award!!

She is one of the greatest entertainers in TV history, a woman who has literally worked in the medium since it was invented! Congratulations are in order!! As Lynn Rose would say, "Bravo Betty White, Bravo."

(Note: I just thought that picture was really funny!)

Que Beauty! Dios Mio!

I can't wait to see Penelope Cruz in her new movie- which, judging by this photo, is a Bea Arthur biography!!

Rose and Blanche Remember Dorothy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Goodbye, Pussycat . . .

The one and only Bea Arthur has passed away. She died of cancer at the age of 86.

She was much beloved and will be missed!!!!

We'll Always Love You Sophia!

Estelle Getty passed away early this morning at age 84. She had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for years, but will forever be remembered as Sophia Patrillo- the feisty octogenarian on TV's "The Golden Girls." Her son had this to say: "She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents." It's true!

Call someone a "yutz" today in her honor!

Movie + TV = GOLD

Last year was the summer where every film was the 3rd in some sort of movie franchise ("Pirates 3," "Shrek 3," "Spiderman 3," with the notable exceptions of "Harry Potter 5" and "The Simpsons Movie 1"). But for 2008 Hollywood has found another well of pre-existing and fondly regarded characters: Television.

This means we will be treated to films based on the shows "Sex and the City" and "The X-Files." And I must say I am quite excited about both. I wanna know how many shoes Carrie has bought since '04 and I want to know if the Truth is Still Out There with Mulder and Scully and I'm pretty sure they had a baby together, but since I can't afford the complete series DVD set I'll have to hope for a Sci-fi channel marathon to refresh my memory. (To refresh your memories about these shows click here for: "Sex and the City" and here for "The X-Files."

So in honor of these hotly anticipated (by me) releases, here are some other shows that I want movies made from (with the real characters, not a movie based on the show like "The Beverly Hillbillies" or "Miami Vice.")

"30 Rock"

Obviously the best show on television would be the best movie in the theaters! Imagine this scenario: Jack forces Liz and company to write/produce a new movie for Tracy. There are already plenty of options for what film this could be, from Tracy's proposed Jefferson movie to Phat Bitch 2. Maybe even a sequel to the Rural Juror, but with Tracy edging Jenna out as the star, just like on the show!

"Arrested Development":

This has actually been discussed several places, and is maybe more than a dream for the show's loayal cult. I don' t know what the plot would be, but it would be funny! Bring back Ann!

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show":

Hurry! Mary and company (sadly, minus Ted) have only a few good years left- and what better way to spend them than by shooting "The Mary Tyler Moore Show Movie"? I know they made a TV movie about Mary and Rhoda and it was wonderful, but left so many questions unanswered. Where's Phyllis? Does Lou still work for that newspaper even though he's nearly twenty years past retirement age? Is Sue Ann still a sexpot since she's now an octogenarian? Is Murray dead? Tell us Mare!!

"Strangers with Candy":

I know they already made a movie too, and a theatrical release nonetheless. And even though it was good- they deserve another shot. If there was ever a show that could be the next show-turned-movie-turned-film-series (like "Star Trek") it is "Strangers with Candy." C'mon, Jerri Blank lights up the screen!

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer":

Following in the tradition of movies-turned-musicals-turned-back-into-movies, "Buffy" is a show that was a movie turned show that should go movie again! The fans are still rabid, and hankering for another trip back to Sunnydale (nevermind that when we left it, Sunnydale was nothing but a large crater). And what with crash diets and special effects, Angel and Spike could look really close to not a day older than when we met them. I think we need to know if Cordelia is still a god, Willow is still a lesbian, and if Anya is still dead.

"The Golden Girls":

Of course some zing would be gone now that Sophia is no longer able to be in the film. It could be dedicated to her though, and would still assuredly be the highest grossing film of all time. People would line up weeks before the release, dressed as their favorite Girl in shoulder padded pastel suits. People love funny old broads!! It's true, just looks at uh, "The Golden Girls"! It was the original "Sex and the City" and still holds up today as it did then. Hurry Hollywood- the clock is ticking!

dear god, why did you make mondays?

My, how the tables have turned! It was only a few months ago that I would get a call from Kendall as he was driving home from work, and he would ask "so what did you do today?"

I would reply, "well, I woke up around 1:30 and went to the library where I checked out some DVDs and then I watched one of those DVDs and then I laid here in the heat (it was summer in New York without air conditioning) and the I ate some stuff and then you called."

This is because I was unemployed. Horribly, torturously, tediously, terrifyingly unemployed.



Now the roles have been reversed. I have a job (not a career, there's a big difference) and Kendall's at home everyday. He's got a career, but momentarily no job.

It happens. 'It' being 'life' and 'shit.'

But that brings me to now, MONDAY. Typically, this non-career-job I have is the epitome of easy. And today is no different, except for the fact that every 'easy' task I've undertaken has been an ordeal not unlike old whats-his-face pushing that boulder up Mt.-whaddyacallit.

I suppose without Mondays, Fridays wouldn't seem as sweet. That's what Kendall would say. Although I know that when out of work, everyday seems like every other day and Mondays, Fridays, its all the same. I don't miss not working. Not in the least. But sleeping until 2 in the afternoon on a Wednesday, now that gives me a reason to look forward to retirement.