Favorite Blanche Devereaux Quotes

[east side story]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 11:01am

You know you have one, or twelve. Here are mine:

"Now we both knew it was wrong, and we fought our feelings with every bone in our hot, longin', writhin' bodies. Finally, it was just too much for us, and we gave up and checked into a Best Western."

"When I am backed into a corner, I come out fightin' like a wildcat. Unless I've had too much to drink, in which case I slide down the wall and make mad, passionate love on the carpet."

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 11:42am

As a kid, I never quite 'got' Blanche...mostly cause I was a good Catholic boy who was a bit of a late bloomer. But now, I think Rue McClanahan is probably the best, most nuanced actress on that show. There's the classic 'I've never known any, personally...but isn't Danny Thomas one' is a favorite. But the one that has my hear forever is when she laughs three times and says 'God I wish I was dead' after accusing Rose of hiring a little person to get back at her for inviting her doctor boyfriend over for dinner.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 12:03pm

"Dorothy, you're out of the cuhlub."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 12:07pm

Just coincidentally, we've been making our way through these season by season, and while she was never my "favorite Golden Girl" (if I had one), she most definitely is now.

The surprising acting decision she made early on NOT to be insulted by jokes about her sluttiness or outrageous references to it by Dorothy and Sofia never gets old. In fact, as the seasons go on, she begins to have delicious reactions to things that could have been insulting: a little pause, a little smile, a little chuckle to herself, a fraction of second of a sexy memory. Nothing big, nothing that stops the show, but it softens what could have been insult humor on the part of the writers and turns it into a complicated and nuanced character. And it's funny.

Then, of course, there is the depth that she brings to Blanche's brittleness and egotism and narcissism and vanity and self-involvement. Again, these could be cheap jokes but she makes them into character. You know she was a spoiled little girl who grew up into not just a flirt but a sexually adventurous girl and woman. Her pride in her sexuality is exhilarating. And, again, funny.

And then there are the episodes with a dramatic twist for Blanche: her father's death, her brother coming out of the closet. We just watched the one in which her brother gets married to his boyfriend and she can't bring herself to attend the wedding. (And this was how many years before there even WERE gay weddings?) The depth she brings to Blanche's anguish at confronting her own hurtful behavior rises to the level of the kind of acting we've seen in only a handful of sitcoms.

I wish there were more of her on film and video. I want to see her playing Tennessee Williams and Edward Albee. I want to see her in musicals. I want to see her in Shakespeare.

If I had to pick my favorite Blanche expression it would have to be the following (uttered unexpectedly, with immaculate deadpan, after a substantial pause): "Get out of here."

Updated On: 4/24/14 at 12:07 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 12:16pm

She was the best actress of the four, imo.
Way too many to quote, actually for each of the ladies.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 12:27pm

My favorite scene with her is still her with Dorothy at Big Daddy's funeral. Gets me every time.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 12:29pm

Far too many to quote.

Amazing ladies and actresses.

Arguably one of the best ensemble casts on television ever.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 12:56pm

Lesbian? Lesbian. LESBIAN!?!?!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 2:41pm

(Not quotes, but these are some of my favorite Blanche moments

Updated On: 4/24/14 at 02:41 PM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 3:09pm

Blanche's mad scene when she stays up 72 hours writing her book is some of the best television of all time. 'Like little balls of sunshine!'

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 3:14pm

I want to read that book.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 4:42pm

Me too!
"What is she talking about, Dorothy? Is that a poem?!"

That is right up there with Rose's herring circus.

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 8:31pm

My favorite Blanche quote, from when Sophia tries to watch a porn film and Dorothy accidentally gets the remote stuck on fast-forward:

"I did that once! Though, I've never seen it done that fast before."

[HorseTears]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 3:23am

Ah, Golden Girls, the great unifier among confirmed bachelors. It's why a GG moment worked so well in the LOOKING season finale (that's not your cue, Namo.)

I love everything about this thread, especially Pal Joey's post. When I was a kid, I think Dorothy was my favorite because, well, it's Bea of course, and I loved her dry, sharp wit. But I have to agree with PJ, Rue did some of the best work on that show -- often with just sutble flutter of the eyelids or placement of a hand. Just brilliant work. I was on a biz trip last year to a podunk town in Central CA and ended watching most of s1-6 again over that two week period. Beyond the wonderful texture of Rue's performance, I was also astonished at how much Estelle Getty grew over the course of the show. She was, clearly, the weakest of the four, but by the 6th and 7th season her timing and delivery had become impeccable and she'd grown dramatically as an actress.

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 5:05am

Rose: I'm making Scandinavia's oldest and most traditional appetizer treat: cheese and crackers!

Blanche: Cheese and crackers, Rose? Not eggs gafloofen? Ham and guntherhagens? Pigs in a SVENglabuten?!

Rose: No - but you sure know how to make a girl's mouth water!

Perhaps my favorite Golden Girls moment. Rue's delivery and, as mentioned previously in this thread, use of small business to subtly add weight to the lines is genius. Blanche just darts her eyes and furiously goes to town cheesing a cracker. This show probably has my favorite combination of sitcom writing and acting.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 8:02am

Thanks Caroline. I am still crying. Svenglaubruten!!!

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 8:02am

Thanks Caroline. I am still crying. Svenglaubruten!!!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 3:01pm

I was watching reruns on Hallmark Channel this morning and was reminded of this brilliant monologue.

Blanche:
Dear God. I know it's been an awful long time since I've done this. And I'm sorry. You have given me a lot to be thankful for. My wonderful children. My health. A beautiful body. Legs to die for. A face that is stunningly sexy and yet has the innocence of a child, with luscious lips that just ...

Dorothy:
He knows what you look like Blanche!

Blanche:
Yes you know what I look like and I just wanted to say good job. Oh, but dear God, I do have a favor to ask. Could you please spare my friend Rose. Now I know that I haven't been perfect, but if you can just let her live, I promise that I'll try to be a better person. And if, in your infinite wisdom, you decide to start the aging process on me I will understand. And, I promise, I will not have sex with anyone unless they really really need it. Amen.