Second Motherhood (S1E19)

Synopsis: Blanche dates the man of her dreams but is concerned he's looking for a mother for his kids and not a wife; Rose and Dorothy try to repair the bathroom.

Crazy Continuity

Rose: “First of all, the kids would wake me up by brushing our cat, Mr. McTavish, against my ear.”

And yet again we get another story about Rose owning a cat, yet in season four Dorothy says Rose has never had any because she's allergic.

Musical Moments

Blanche: “Even little Richard came up to me and said, 'Now, don't worry. This happens all the time.”

Rose: “Little Richard was in Bermuda!?”

Dorothy: “Yes, Rose. He was burying Fats Domino in the sand.”

That’s What She Said

Rose: “Grasp the valve tightly with your hand. Turn it clockwise until, scum gathers on your elbow joint.”

Zbornak Zingers

Sophia: “Was that a plumber?”

Dorothy: “No Ma, no, it was a little girl selling Girl Scout toilets.”

Product Placement

Rose: “I think I might have stumbled on something that could change the face of plumbing as we know it!”

Dorothy: “Great, Rose. Call the Ty-D-Bol Man. He'll jump in his boat and spread the news.”

Sassy Sophia

Sophia: “Great, my unmarried daughter wants to spend her weekend with a toilet. Now I can die in peace.”

Dorothy Zbornak is My Spirit Animal

Dorothy: “Honey, do you know what's behind that wall that you're banging on?”  

Rose: “A lateral fusion pipe!” 

Dorothy: “And do you know what's on the other side of that lateral fusion pipe? MY HEAD!!”

Back in St. Olaf

Rose says they used to do all their own plumbing on the farm, but she didn't even get plumbing until she was 18.

Golden Quotes

Rose: “Dorothy if the Egyptians could build the Pyramids now can move this toilet.”

Dorothy: “Fine, get me twenty thousand Hebrews and we'll get it out of here in no time.”

and

Lou, holding a toilet: “Plumber.”

Dorothy: “Could I see some identification please?”

Critique: Can I again just say how hilarious Rue McClanahan is when it comes to physical comedy? The scene of her fighting with an automatic airplane chair is just so good. It's such a random, minor bit but she sells the crap out of it. I've always preferred the B-story line in this episode. There is so much humor gained from watching Dorothy and Rose try to fix the bathroom, and a great little bit with Rose sitting on the toilet in the living room. And Rose spouting out meaningless plumbing words is downright amazing. There's a funny gag about Dorothy and Rose not being able to move the new toilet. But how exactly did they move their old one out? GRADE: B+