A Golden Role

Actress Rue McClanahan passed away yesterday.  She was 76.  McClanahan was best known for her role as sassy seductress Blanche Devereaux on the unmatched 90’s sitcom, The Golden Girls.

I’m not a big television fan, but I have a special affinity for television sitcoms.  One of my dreams is to be a part of the production of one one of these days.  There’s something about the marriage between a perfect cast and phenomenal writers with a mere 22 minutes to craft a memorable story and make you hurt yourself with laughter that simply can’t be explained.

With this in mind, I’ll confess.  I loved the GG’s!  From time to time I still watch old episodes when I want to indulge in the art of a well crafted sitcom or when I need a good laugh and a great escape!

McClanahan, probably better known as Blanche Devereaux, had countless other roles to her credit.  However, it’s doubtful any of them will stand out, after her death, more than the character Blanche Devereaux.

So who was Blanche Devereaux?  By the way “that’s french for Blanche Devereaux.” LOL….  Only a GG fan will get that….  She was a sexy, seductive, southern belle whose main hobby was, well, MEN!  Probably one of the most illustrative examples of her character’s lifestyle was the episode where she thought she was el prego at age 50 or so.  Her 5 sexual partners over a 10 day span had erected quite the blockade to determining who the father might have been.  Wow!  Sure she was also a loyal, supportive friend and roommate, a loving daughter and sister (although she hated her sister Virginia, lol; another nugget for members of the GG fan club), a thoughtful mother, and just an all around charming woman.  Yet the promiscuous character of her character is undoubtedly what we most remember about Blanche Devereaux.

Of course,  “Blanche” was a fictional character, McClanahan breathed life into this role as only a superb actress can do.  I don’t know much about McClanahan, personally, but I would guess she was a fine woman.  She was a phenomenal actress – Golden Girls and beyond – and I’m sure her passing leaves its own significant void within the creative community.  But her passing on yesterday led me to these thoughts and questions:

1.  You’re a beautiful woman, a great friend, a loyal and loving sister, daughter, mother, aunt, and an all around charming woman.  In the role you’re playing in this sitcom called Life (which is certainly filled with more reasons than one to laugh), what will people remember most about your character?

2.  What “character” are you breathing life into.  Is it wisdom?  Virtue?  Maybe “Ruby”?

3.  Will you leave your mark as a wise, virtuous, and valuable woman?