Thursday, October 8, 2015

My Brother, My Father S3E17

Synopsis: Sophia’s priest brother Angelo comes to visit she makes Dorothy and Stan pretend to be still married. Meanwhile, Rose and Blanche audition for a local production of The Sound of Music.

80s Flashback
Dorothy: “Phew, it’s really coming down out there.”
Rose: “What’s coming down?”
Dorothy: “The Liberace marquee at Caesar’s Palace.”

Musical Moments
Stan: “I've got a crush on you/Sweetie pie/All the day and nighttime/Hear me sigh.”
Dorothy: “Oh Stanley Zbornak, I don't believe that you're trying to charm me.”
Stan: “Is it working?”
Dorothy: “I don't think so...”
Stan: “Embrace me/My sweet embraceable you/Embrace me/You irreplaceable you.”

Crazy Continuity
This is the first episode where Sophia's brother Angelo appears and from now on, her sister Angela (who made two appearances in Season Two) seems to have never existed.

Let’s Get Political
Sophia: “Stanley, think of me as the Berlin Wall. Try to climb over me, and you'll know what barbed wire between your legs feels like!”

That’s What She Said
Stan: “You leave me no choice; I’ll have to pull out the big gun.”
Dorothy: “You’re wasting your time Stanley, I’m familiar with the big gun.”

Picture It
Uncle Angelo: “Picture it: Sicily, 1914. I promised our dear sainted mother on her deathbed I'm-a gonna join the priesthood. On my way to the seminary in Palermo, I stop off at a local trattoria for a glass of Chianti. The waitress bring drink to the table is a vision. Luscious lips, full bosom and a behind so round, so firm, you got to fall down on your knees and cry out at its magnificent regal beauty. I'm-a butt man. Anyway, my devotion to God doesn't waver. But suddenly, the idea of living with a bunch of guys in itchy robes doesn't seem quite as appealing as that tuckus. So I tear up my priest application, ask Philomena to marry me, and we lived the next 72 years in wedded bliss.”

Zbornak Zingers
Stan: “I was a little disappointed that Michael didn't want go into the novelty business with me.”
Dorothy: “Yes. It was a crushing blow when he decided to join the Boston Philharmonic instead of selling rubber dog poop door-to-door.”

Insult Watch
Angelo, to Dorothy about Stan: “He still make you laugh like he used to?”
Dorothy: “Not really, but then again I haven’t seen him naked lately.”

Product Placement
Stan: “Stan Zbornak doesn't have to beg a woman to get into bed. Women come to me!”
Dorothy: “Yeah, right after they get the approval number on your MasterCard.”

Dorothy Zbornak is My Spirit Animal
Stan: “I'll take a slice, darling.”
Dorothy: “No problem, sweetheart.”
Stan: “Hurry back, dumpling.”
Dorothy: “My feet have wings, barf bag.”

Sassy Sophia
Dorothy: “I don’t know where he is, you know Stan is always late. He was even late for our first date.”
Sophia: “And then you were late.”

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Stanley
Blanche: “A gay theatre director, did you ever hear of such a thing.”
Dorothy: “It’s absolutely shocking; next think you know they’ll have Black basketball players in the NBA.”

Best of B.E.D.
Blanche, on the phone: “Hello. Hi, Walter. How are you? Yeah, I feel like a caged animal in heat too. Oh! Walter, you naughty boy! Keep on talkin'. What am I wearing? Well, to be perfectly honest, a nun's outfit!”

Golden Quotes
Stan: “Hello, Mama Bear. Papa Bear's back in the cave.”
Dorothy: “I could vomit just looking at you.”

and of course:

Rose: "I'm Sister Rose."
Blanche, pretending to be a nun while holding her underwear: “I’m Sister Blanche. We’re here, uh, collecting lingerie for needy sexy people.”

Critique: You guys, where the hell is Aunt Angela? She said everyone else back in Sicily is dead! So, who the hell is this Uncle Angelo? There's something rotten in the state of Denmark. And I'm not talking about their cheese. But I digress. This really is a classic episode. It has a totally typical sitcom storyline with characters pretending to be something they’re not, but it really makes for some fun dynamics. Stan and Dorothy pretending to be married is a hoot as is the sight of Rose and Blanche as nuns. The two stories come together perfectly. Everyone has a standout moment here. Blanche’s lingerie line is still one of my all-time favorite Blanche quotes. Sophia getting confused when Rose runs her Sound of Music dialogue is simply hilarious. Bea Arthur is particularly strong here as evidenced by her Emmy Award-winning performance for this episode. A

1 comment:

  1. Next to "Stan Takes a Wife," this might be Herb Edelman's best episode. Both times, we get an idea of how Stan and Dorothy could have lasted decades without her throwing him out, bald head first.

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