Mr. Terrific S3E23

Synopsis: Rose is dating a creepy, local children's TV personality named Mr. Terrific but things take a turn for the worse when Dorothy accidentally gets him fired; Blanche shops for a new bed.

80s Flashback

Rose: “Dorothy, how’s the show going?”

Dorothy: “Terrible. But better than ‘thirtysomething’”

Let’s Get Political

Rose: “I really met Mr. Terrific, at the mall. He was signing autographs in an empty storefront that used to be Jack Kemp’s campaign headquarters.”

That’s What She Said

Blanche: “Just slap the handcuffs on me. The bed's this way!”

Lewd Ladies

Sophia: “Didn’t you see that enormous thing in her bedroom?”

Rose: “I thought she’d stopped seeing Roger?”

Picture It

Sophia: “Hey we had comic books in Sicily. My favorite was Benito the Hood. He lived in the forest with his band of merry thugs. Benito was very popular.”

Rose: “You mean because he stole from the rich and gave to the poor?”

Sophia: “I said Benito the Hood, not Benito the Idiot. He stole from everyone and kept it for himself. Didn't even share it with his band of merry thugs. He was the idol of many a Sicilian youngster.”

Zbornak Zingers

Rose: “How’s he doing?”

Dorothy: “I’ll be honest, Squeaky Fromme has a better grasp on reality.”

Insult Watch

Mr. Hastings, the producer: “Dorothy, I read your memo. I like the way you think. You’ve got a lot of modern ideas for a woman your age.”

Dorothy: “Oh you’re just saying that.”

Mr. Hastings: “No, no I mean it, I really think you’re old.”

Sassy Sophia

Blanche: “I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks. Every time I climb into bed I feel guilty.”

Sophia: “Take down the video equipment.”

Back in St. Olaf

Rose: “Don't worry Dorothy. I was trained in psychology back in St. Olaf.”

Dorothy: “That doesn’t count Rose. In St. Olaf, they think Freud is a way to cook chicken!”

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Stanley

Rose: “Sophia, she can't keep that bed. That'd be like stealing.”

Blanche: “It's only stealing if they find out. Well the bed's in my bedroom, who's gonna know??”

Sophia: “Everyone who knows the bunt sign on the New York Yankees.”

Literary Intelligentsia

Blanche: “The bed I wanted cost more than the original down payment on my first house.”

Sophia: “In Sicily, beds were dirt-cheap. Of course it was because you slept on dirt. Just an observation. If my name were Mark Twain, you'd be writing this stuff down.”

Dorothy: “Mister Terrific, I think that Lex Luthor and The Joker are harassing an old lady in the stairwell. Could you come in and melt them with your X-ray vision?”

Rose: “Mister Terrific doesn't have X-ray vision.”

Dorothy: “Please, Rose! This is no time to point out his shortcomings!”

The Boob Tube

Rose: “Don't tell me you've never heard of Mister Terrific. 'Mister Terrific's Clubhouse??' Every weekday afternoon, one full hour on Saturdays?”

Sophia: “You don't mean that clown with the kiddie show?”

Rose: “No. He's not a clown, he's a superhero. You're thinking of Bozo.”

Sophia: “I'm talking to Bozo.”

Neiman Marcus Marker: 5

Blanche: “That bed back there must cost exactly what I paid for the one I ordered. They made a mistake. They charged me for the inexpensive bed!”

Sophia: “Merry Christmas from Neiman Marcus.”

Golden Quotes

Rose “You have no idea what it’s like dating a super hero.”

Dorothy: “Sure I can, why my Stan and Superman had a lot in common. They were both faster than a speeding bullet.”

and

Blanche: “Dorothy, what do you think I oughta do with my bed?”

Dorothy: “Put it in the Smithsonian, Blanche. It has more miles on it than the Spirit of St. Louis.”

Critique: This is one of the more unmemorable episode. There’s nothing really bad about it but it’s ridiculously corny, even by Golden Girls standards. Most fans find little to love about it. Everything about Mr. Terrific is just sort of, weird. He's just plain unpleasant and unlikable. Blanche’s subplot about having the wrong bed delivered doesn’t seem to fit in whatsoever until the episode’s last gag where Mr. Policeman shows up. Sophia also, yet again, feels way too underutilized here which is unfortunate. I do love Dorothy here with another one of her trademark “WOAHS!” after allegedly being flashed by the hand puppet Kolak. And strangely enough this episode contains the second reference this season to Baryshnikov. This is an episode for die-hard fans only; it can easily be skipped by others; still not as bad the dreaded clip show, however. GRADE: B-