Dorothy and Rose are preparing to breed mink for profit. Blanche is very unhappy as she believes she's pregnant - but who is the father? As the mink business fails to produce any mink, Blanche returns from seeing the doctor and announces that her life is over. However, it's not fatal, but menopause. Dorothy suggests a visit to the psychiatrist, but it is a visit from the vet that returns Blanche to her usual self. Although the mink are too old to breed, Blanche insists that they stay.
Guest Stars:
Written by: Susan Harris Witt; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 5-1; First transmitted 27th September 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Friday 17th September 1999
There are termites under the house, and whilst the exterminator treats the property, the girls must move out. Blanche wins tickets to the world premiere of Burt Reynolds new film, and passes to the private party afterwards for herself and two friends. Poor Sophia looses out. They decide to combine the two events and Blanche finds a cheap hotel on Miami Beach. To her surprise, Sophia is invited too, and doesn't have to stay at the house and, "get gased with the termites". She tries several tricks to get a ticket to the party, but as Dorothy, Blanche and Rose go to the hotel bar for a pre-party drink, they are propositioned by several men just prior to a police raid. The girls are taken downtown and charged with prostitution.
Guest Stars:
Written by: Mort Nathan & Barry Fanaro; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 5-2; First transmitted 4th October 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Saturday 18th September 1999
Sophia persuades Rose to go into the sandwich business. Stan arrives at the house and wants a shoulder to cry on because he's lost his business. As Dorothy has a prior date with Jeffrey, a naval officer, she persuades Blanche to go out with him, promising, in return, to introduce her to all of Jeffrey's friends. As Sophia and Rose muscle in on Johnny "No-Thumbs" sandwich patch, Dorothy announces that Jeffrey is to be transferred to a top secret location, but Sophia knows that truthfully he has dumped her. When Blanche returns from another date with Stan, Dorothy feels jealous, and accuses Blanche of sleeping with her ex-husband. Sophia's business is failing because Rose accepts too many IOU's, and things look to be getting worse when Vinnie and Rocko appear at the door. Dorothy travels to Stan's apartment to tell Blanche what she thinks of her - but she receives a surprise, and so do Sophia and Rose.
Guest Stars:
Written by: Kathy Spear & Terry Grossman; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 5-3; First transmitted 11th October 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Sunday 19th September 1999
Sophia brings a raunchy video home. Dorothy's friend Jean comes to stay. She is a lesbian and her female partner, Pat, died a year ago. Rose and Pat discover that they have things in common, they were both brought up on a dairy farm. They both go to see a movie, and when they return, Jean tells Dorothy of her true feelings towards Rose. That night Dorothy tells Sophia and Blanche. The following evening, as Jean and Rose stay up late, playing cards, Jean finally tells Rose how she feels.
Guest Stars:
Written by: Jeffrey Duteil; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 5-4; First transmitted 8th November 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Monday 20th September 1999
Blanche, Dorothy and Rose are going on holiday to a Caribbean island, whilst Sophia stays behind to look after the house and get to know the gardener, Mr Mitsumo. When the girls arrive, their hotel is not quite up to their expectations and so they complain to the manager. Back home, Sophia shares a japanesse meal. Things get worse when the girls discover that they are sharing their bathroom with three men, but they eventually make friends and agree to go on a cruise. When they end up shipwrecked, Blanche has to use her pioneer scout skills.
Guest stars:
Written by: Winifred Hervey; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 5-5; First transmitted 29th November 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Tuesday 21st September 1999
Rose brings home a lost dog that she found at the market. Dorothy isn't pleased, as she hates dogs, but she agrees that it can stay for one night. Dorothy is looking for a part time job and Blanche suggests that she applies for a job at the museum with her. Dorothy gets the job, and a week later, with the dog still with them, Dorothy is receiving numerous compliments about her work from Blanche's boss, which doesn't please Blanche.
Guest Stars:
Written by: Scott Spencer Gorden; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 5-6; First transmitted 12th June 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Wednesday 22nd September 1999
Rose is busy making a cake along with most of the other arrangements for a neighbours wedding when she collapses in the lounge. The girls go with her to the hospital, where she tells them that she died and went to heaven. Not heaven proper, but somewhere in the suburbs! Whilst there, she learnt to make the most of her time on earth, and this gives her a new lease of life - which includes moving out to a new apartment.
Guest Stars: Deborah May as Liz; Rosana Huffman as Stephanie; Nat Bernstein as Dr Wallerstein; Tony Pope as the doorman.
Written by: Bob Rosenfarb; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 6-1; First transmitted 24th January 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Thursday 23rd September 1999
Sophia is all dressed up because the President is in town. Blanche wants Rose to return the ear-rings that she borrowed last week, but fears that Rose has lost them, after all, Rose can't even find her own watch. Dorothy is giving one of her college pupils, Mario, some extra lessons, and decides to enter his latest composition in the district contest. To say sorry to Blanche, Rose decides to be her personal servant for a whole week. When Mario wins first prize, Dorothy decides to hold a surprise party for him at the house, but a member of the imigration service arrives and announces that he believes Mario is in the country illegally. Mario runs away, but the girls track him down in a local cinema. Dorothy persuades him to face the judge, but the result of the hearing is bad news, Mario is to be deported. Blanches friend Sam, calls by to return the watch and ear-rings that Blanche left at his house. Rose is furious.
Guest Stars:Mario Lopez as Mario; John Braden as Sam Burns; Danny Goldman as man in theatre; Chip Olcott as Burt Nesbitt
Written by: Christopher Lloyd; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 6-2; First transmitted 14th March 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Friday 24th September 1999
The girls are busy collecting names on a petition to save a 200 year old oak tree that is planted on a neighbour, Mrs Frieda Claxton's, property. The girls go to a hearing at the county commissioners office, where a quarrel ensues, and when Rose tells Mrs Claxton to drop dead - she does! The girls feel guilty and decide to arrange her funeral, cheaply, so they go to see Mr Pfeiffer at 'Forever Peaceful'. On the day of the funeral, the girls are joined by only one other mourner, and she is there by mistake! However, all is not lost. Rose scatters Mrs Claxton's ashes around the oak tree and persuades the council not to disturb a persons last resting place - so the tree is safe.
Guest Stars: Nan Martin as Frieda Claxton; Thom Sharp as Mr Pfeiffer; Amzie Strickland as the woman at the funeral; Johnny Haymer as the Commissioner
Written by: Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 6-3; First transmitted 1st November 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Saturday 25th September 1999
Sophia is making a list of potential dates by reading the obituary column of the local paper, and Rose has found out that the Miami Retailers are to sponsor a competition to find the best new song about Miami. As both Rose and Dorothy have had previous experience of writing songs, they decide to have a go and win the $10,000. Blanche receives a call from her father, Big Daddy, who announces that he is coming to visit, and he has a big surprise for Blanche. He has met the widow Margaret Spencer, and decided to remarry. Blanche is delighted and insists that they hold the wedding at the house. The following day, when her new step-mother arrives, Blanche is shocked by how young she is, and refuses to accept her. She tries to convince Big Daddy that Margaret is just after his money, but he is having none of it. Blanche eventually realises that love has no boundaries, and that the important thing is that Big Daddy is happy. Rose and Dorothy come second in the song writing competition.
Guest Stars: David Wayne as Big Daddy; Sondra Currie as Margaret Spencer
Written by: Russel Marcus; Directed by: David Steinburg
Tape 6-4; First transmitted 15th November 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Sunday 26th September 1999
Sophia is eating the snacks that Rose has prepared for the arrival of her daughter, when Blanche returns home having injured her back at her aerobics class. Dorothy's son Michael arrives unexpectedly. When Rose arrives with her daughter Bridget, the girls decide that Bridget and Michael are probably better company for each other, and decide to let them spend some time together. When they discover them in bed together the following morning, both Dorothy and Rose are furious, with each other. Rose feels that her daughter is too good for Michael, whilst Dorothy feels that Bridget is not the goody-two-shoes that Rose thinks she is. Sophia wears black to signify her mourning at the loss of her grandson. As far as she is concerned, he no longer exists. Blanche persuades them both to listen to their childrens wishes, which they do, and Michael and Bridget share a cab to the airport to take separate flights.
Guest Stars: Scott Jacoby as Michael Zbornak; Marilyn Jones as Bridget Nylund
Written by: Winifred Hervey; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 6-5; First transmitted 22nd November 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Monday 27th September 1999
Sophia returns home from her card game, having taken the wrong bus. It seems that all of the girls have dates expect Rose. Blanche suggests that she takes out an advert in the personal column of the community newspaper. When she fails to get any replies, Rose becomes very depressed, and so Blanche contrieves a reply from an Issac Newton! When further letters are exchanged between the two, Blanche convinces Dorothy to help her reply. When Rose decides to finally meet him, Dorothy and Blanche decide that it was time that Issac moved away, but Rose announces that she has invited Issac to a reception that they are all attending, (she found him in the phone book). When he arrives, the girls realise that he is not exactly a suitable partner for Rose, and he is not used to socialising. At the reception, as things start to go wrong, Blanche and Dorothy are forced to confess about the letter. Rose is both angry and embarrased and locks herself in the toilet, until they convince her that although Issac may not love her, they do.
Guest Stars: Paul Dooley as Issac Q. Newton; Colin Drake as Wilfred Whitney Cheswick
Written by: Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 6-6; First transmitted 13th December 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Tuesday 28th September 1999
Blanche has been out Christmas shopping, and brings Santa home to show him her Christmas stocking. Dorothy and Rose return home from their Christmas shopping trip, tired and exhausted. Sophia has been shopping too, with Dorothy's credit card. Dorothy is amazed at the commercialism of Christmas, and so Rose suggests that they make their Christmas presents this year - St Olaf style. Rose gives Dorothy a wooden maple-syrup spigot and Blanche gives each of them a calendar of men in her life. As they each prepare to return home to their families for Christmas, the girls call to collect Rose from her work at the crisis centre to go to the airport, when disaster strikes. A disgruntled client holds them all hostage, until Sophia points out that he only has a toy gun. At the airport, there is another disaster when all of their flights are cancelled due to bad weather. When they run out of fuel on the way home, they visit a nearby diner for coffee, depressed at the fact that they won't be celebrating Christmas with their families. Then they realise that they are family, and offer to keep an eye on the diner whilst the owner goes home to spend Christmas Eve with his family.
Guest Stars: Terry Kiser as Santa Claus; Craig Richard Nelson as Thurber; Teddy Wilson as Albert; Sam Anderson as Meyer; Buddy Daniels as the Airport Mendicant
Written by: Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 7-1; First transmitted 20th December 1986
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Wednesday 29th September 1999
Sophia is sitting in the dark, because she is depressed about her forthcoming birthday. Blanche knows what Dorothy is getting her mother, but Rose doesn't, because they are afraid that she cannot keep a secret. Dorothy asks for their help to keep Sophia busy, whilst she collects Sophia's sister Angela from the airport, as she is the present. Sophia tries every trick in the book to find out what her present is. At her party, Dorothy brings in the present, and Sophia is shocked. She hates that woman. Angela believes that Sophia kissed her husband during Christmas 1955. Sophia believes that Angela told everyone at the party that she kissed another party-goer. As the sisters are brought back together, another quarrel ensues. Dorothy pleads with them to be civilised. They are both old and have been arguing for 30 years. Wouldn't they like to remember each other on happy terms? It turns out that there 30 years of hate have been caused by a misunderstanding and mistaken identity. The sisters are re-united!
Guest Stars: Nancy Walker as Angela
Written by: Christopher Lloyd; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 7-2; First transmitted 3rd January 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Thursday 30th September 1999
Sophia arrives home wearing a raincoat. Dorothy asks her to take it off, revealing a pirate outfit. Sophia explains that she has a job at Captain Jack's Seafood Shanty. Rose and Blanche arrive to tell Dorothy that Patrick Vaughn is to star in the community playhouse's latest production. Each of the girls is determined to be his leading lady. At the auditions the following day, none of the girls are choosen for a leading role, but as they leave, each girl is secretly offered a date by Patrick. As Patrick & Blanche return home from their date, Dorothy arrives, followed by Rose. It is only then that Patrick realises that the girls live together, but are each unaware of each others dates. On the first night, Rose and Blanche discover that Patrick has been dating another member of the cast. As the production continues, they all discover his secret, and Blanche confronts him live on stage. The girls return home, feeling humiliated.
Guest Stars: Lloyd Bochner as Patrick Vaughn; Janet Carroll as Phyllis Hammerow; Frank Birney as the stage manager
Written by: Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 7-3; First transmitted 17th January 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Friday 1st October 1999
Dorothy and Blanche are dating twins Bob and Rob, when Stan calls by. He has some papers that they have to sign before his heart bypass surgery. Sophia points out that surgery is the easy bit. Who is going to care for him afterwards. As Sophia points out, he lives on his own and nobody likes him. She suggests that he comes to live with them. The night before the operation, Stan confesses to Dorothy that he was unfaithful to her several times whilst they were still married. Whilst waiting at the hospital, Dorothy reveals that although they are divorced, if Stan was to die, she would still feel like a widow. Stan presence during his recovery is driving them all mad. He splits up Blanche and her boyfriend and breaks Rose's great-great-grandma Nylund's wedding plate. They all agree that he must go, but Dorothy points out that he is still sick. As the day when he is due to leave arrives, Stan suffers a fake relapse to prolong his stay. Dorothy discovers this, and suggests that he is scared and must grow up and face the world.
Guest Stars: Herbert Edelman as Stanley Zbornak; Rob Sabbe as Rob; Odil Sabbe as Bob; Steven Kramer as Dr Stephen Deutsch; Mario Machado as the Sportscaster
Written by: Directed by:
Tape 7-4; First transmitted 10th January 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Saturday 2nd October 1999
Sophia is eating pasta for breakfast, as she is in training for a charity walkathon. Rose has signed the other girls up, not to walk, but to baby-sit for the other participants children. Rose has prepared home-made Mr Potato heads for the children to play with, as Sophia departs as walker 151. Norman Henderson is the first child to arrive, complete with his list of dislikes. With the house full of children, Norman starts to rip pages out of a book, and Dorothy shows us how a professional teacher would deal with the situation. At the end of the day, the girls are left with one baby, Emily, whose parents have failed to collect her. It finally dawns, that Emily may have been abandoned. The following day, Emily's father arrives, and announces that he phoned and spoke to Sophia. His wife had triplets and so he was unable to collect Emily until today. This brings out the maternal feelings in all of the girls, and encourages Blanche to call her own child, Janet, to arrange a visit.
Guest Stars: Christopher Burton as Norman Henderson; Nat Bernstein as Emily's father; Ray Combs as Bob Henderson; Ariana Richards as Lisa; Scott Curtis as Timmy
Written by: Russell Marcus; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 7-5; First transmitted 31st January 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Sunday 3rd October 1999
Sophia and Rose are both cooking in the kitchen. Dorothy announces that her Uncle Vito is coming to stay, whilst Rose has invited her cousin. The problem is, where are they all going to sleep? This causes a series of flashbacks to when they have slept together, including:-
the night that the heating failed so they all shared Sophia's bed,
the night that Rose heard some news on the radio so she slept with Blanche
the time that Dorothy had a chest infection, and Sophia stayed up all night with her
the night they spent in a railway station having missed their train
Guest Stars: Randy Bennett as the Stationmaster
Written by: Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan & Barry Fanaro; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 7-6; First transmitted 7th February 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Monday 4th October 1999
Rose is following everyone with her video camera. She is making a documentary for her class at the junior college. She wants all of the girls to be part of it, but Dorothy is not so sure. Blanche receives an invitation to a school reunion and cannot wait to show her old friends how beautiful she has remained. When Blanche returns, she is very upset. All of her friends had had face-lifts, and she wasn't the centre of attention, and nobody said that she wasthe prettiest. This makes her believe that her beauty is starting to fade. Her feelings are confirmed when Rose shows them her video, so she decides to get extensive plastic surgery. When the other girls go to visit Blanche in hospital, they get a surprise! Blanche has discharged herself before the surgery. She has dated the surgeon, and decides that she doesn't need it after all.
Guest Stars: Joseph Whipp as Dr Taylor;
Written by: Winifred Hervey; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 7-7; First transmitted 28th February 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Tuesday 5th October 1999
Rose has encountered road-rage on the way home, and Sophia is getting the kit together for an important bingo game, but she can't find her lucky handkerchief. Dorothy has spent the last two Saturday mornings working with Frank, a new colleague, and wants to ask him out on a date. Blanche suggests a way of asking him, but Dorothy decides to do it her own way. He agrees to come round to the house for a meal, and they settle on bingo night, so that he won't have to meet Sophia. The night arrives, and Sophia leaves with her handkerchief, (it was hidden in her bra to impress the butcher!). When Frank arrives, and Blanche answers the door, we discover that he is a priest. Although the evening doesn't quite go as the girls expected, Frank and Dorothy decide that they can still be friends, but when he announces that he is thinking of leaving the church, Dorothy gets the wrong idea.
Guest Stars: John McMartin as Father Frank Leahy; Barney McGeary as Father Callahan; Charles Summers as Confessional Priest; Chalres Erikson as Tony
Written by: Kathy Speer & Terry Grossman; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 8-1; First transmitted 14th February 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Wednesday 6th October 1999
Dorothy and Blanche are watching the Nightly News, as Sophia returns home with her new boyfriend, Tony, having won the Sons of Italy Dance Contest! Rose is looking after a friends piano-playing chicken, Count Bessie. Sophia's sister Angela arrives from rural Sicily, and Dorothy persuades her to move to Miami and stay with them until she finds her own place. This concerns Sophia who is worried that Angela will never leave. As Sophia becomes more and more irritated by her sisters presence, all of the apartments she views are too small, not enough light and no room for a goat! Angela cooks them all a meal and as the girls are sitting down to a delicous looking chicken meal, Rose rushes in and announces that Count Bessie is missing. Rose had left her in the garage, nut the cage is empty. Dorothy asks Angela where she found the chicken for the meal, "the garage", she replies. Rose is upset and deeply depressed. She will never find another Count Bessie. There is good news - Angela has finds an apartment, and her new room-mate is about to arrive and help her move. As she is about to leave, Sophia and Angela declare a truce, but Angela's new roomate turns out to be Sophia's boyfriend Tony. As Rose continues to search for a replacement chicken, Sophia confronts Tony, and it transpires that he is being unfaithful with a third person! As the newly united sisters return home, the sound of Bessie playing the piano is heard from the lounge. It turns out that Angela got the chicken from the freezer in the garage and Bessie had just escaped.
Guest Stars: Nancy Walker as Angela; Joe Alfasa as Tony; Esther Larner as the other woman
Written by: Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 8-2; First transmitted 21st February 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Thursday 7th October 1999
Sophia is buying a date for Dorothy at the hospital charity banquet. As the girls make the arrangements for the party, Jake is hired to do the catering, and take Blanche out on a date. As Dorothy and Rose audition musicials, Blanche appears, frustrated, as Jake is late for their date. When he arrives, he tells them that he stopped to help a female motorist whose car had broken down. Rose has booked a jazz band, and Sophia has posted her shoes instead of invitations G-L. Whilst waiting for Jake to arrive for their next date, Blanche announces to the girls that she won't be taking him to the banquet, as he is not a suitable partner for such a glamourous evening. When he finally arrives, he proposes to Blanche. The other girls think she is dump to turn him down, and describe their perfect second husbands. At the banquet, Rose's jazz band turns out to consist of transvestites, but they all agree that Jake looks great in his tuxedo. Blanche apologises, and tells him that she made a mistake. He feels that he nearly made one, and that they would be better off apart. Blanche feels depressed, but Dorothy tells her that she will always have men running after her.
Guest Stars: Donnelly Rhodes as Jake Smollens; Vince Trankina as Mr Hinckly; Mike Muscat as the waiter; Glenn Shadix as the musician; Howard Witt as Hunter McCoy
Written by: Jan Fischer & William Weidner; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 8-3; First transmitted 21st March 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Friday 8th October 1999
Blanche and Rose are getting ready for an all night "I Love Lucy" special on TV. Dorothy is getting ready for a visit from her daughter Kate, and she feels that she has a secret to tell her. Dorothy is convinced that she is going to become a grandma, as Kate and her husband Dennis having been trying for a baby. Kate has let Stan know about her visit and he arrives to see her, but when Kate finally arrives, she has different news, she has left Dennis because he had an affair. As Blanche is explaining the Lucy Show to Rose, Dorothy enters, looking for a friend to talk to, but the other girls are too busy laughing at the TV. They finally sit down to enjoy some ice cream and have a talk. When Dennis arrives, all he wants to do is talk to Kate. An hour later, he goes to fetch a suitcase from the car. Kate can live with his apology, and she says that Dorothy should too. Dorothy tries to talk to Sophia about Dennis. She feels that her daughter is making a big mistake, and Sophia tells her to stay out of her daughters life. The following morning, Dorothy warns Dennis not to let it happen again, or she'll break every bone in his body, and she's not joking!
Guest Stars: Herb Edelman as Stanley Zbornak; Deena Freeman as Kate; Jonathan Perpich as Dennis
Written by: Harriett Weiss & Patt Shea; Directed by: Terry Hughes
Tape 8-4; First transmitted 11th April 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Saturday 9th October 1999
Plot
Guest Stars:
Written by: Directed by:
Tape 8-5; First transmitted 2nd May 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Sunday 10th October 1999
Sophia appears as she was 50 years ago as the girls remember their most memorable birthdays
Guest Stars:
Written by: Directed by:
Tape 8-6; First transmitted 9th May 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Monday 11th October 1999
The girls try to patch up their neighbours failing marriage
Guest Stars:
Written by: Directed by:
Tape 8-6; First transmitted 16th May 1987
Showing in the UK on Carlton Select at 17:30 on Tuesday 12th October 1999