Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Blind Date S4E12

Synopsis: Blanche woos a man at a bar and doesn't realize he's blind. Meanwhile, Dorothy reluctantly helps notoriously competitive Rose coach a pee wee football team.

Crazy Continuity
Sophia mentions dwarf actor Billy Barty who comically showed up in Rose's dream sequence in “A Little Romance” as a miniature form of her father.

Let’s Get Political
Blanche: “Oh, all right, all right, maybe he's not perfect, but I happen to be in a little dating slump right now. And I'm just happier having a man who isn't perfect than looking around for one who is.”
Dorothy: “That's what Bush told everyone when he was choosing a vice president.”

That’s What She Said
Sophia: “Now eat this.”

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Stanley
Sophia: “Make way for the victors!”
Rose: “You won the big game??”
Sophia: “No Rose, we lost. And we all changed our names to Victor.”

Lewd Ladies
Blanche: “I know it's a little quick, but when Blanche Devereaux wants a man, she does not stand on ceremony.”
Sophia: “Or the floor.”

Insult Watch
Dorothy: “I think I caught something practicing out in the rain.”
Rose: “So did I. Gee, I hope none of the boys caught it.”
Sophia: “Don't worry about it. Those boys can't catch anything. I've seen them practice.”

Sophia: “You're a lucky woman, Blanche. Your guy John is just the type I always figured was perfect for my Dorothy.”
Rose: “Oh, he sure is. He's smart, he's sophisticated...”
Sophia: “I was talking blind.”

Product Placement
Dorothy: “Ma, why are you so cranky today?”
Sophia: “I'm not cranky. I'm gassy. I had one of those Weight Watchers broccoli au gratins for lunch. Boy, that stuff's murder. I'm surprised Lynn Redgrave has a friend in the world.”

Sassy Sophia
Blanche: “Girls, quick. I need some advice.”
Sophia: “Wear half as much makeup and twice as much underwear.”

Best of B.E.D.
Dorothy: “Ugh, feels like we spent the whole day in bed.”
Blanche: “You say that like it's a bad thing.”

Reel References
Rose: “If Billy doesn't play, the team can't win.”
Dorothy: “Rose, rules were made for people like Billy. Little bodies don't like it when big bodies fall on them.”
Sophia: “Which is why Raymond Burr never married.”

Sophia: “Forfeit?? You mean quit? You can't do that, Rose. No member of my family ever quits.”
Rose: “Sophia, I'm not a member of your family.”
Sophia: “Pretend, Rose. I'm going for a moment here. You never saw a Frank Capra film?”

The Boob Tube
Sophia: “Boy, am I steamed! They took Pat Sajak off Wheel of Fortune.”
Dorothy: “Well, that's because he has his own late-night talk show now. Oh, yeah, right. The man spins a big wooden wheel for eight years, suddenly he's discussing détente with Henry Kissinger. What else happened lately? Mike Tyson hosting Masterpiece Theatre?”

Golden Quotes
Rose: “Oh, with your help, Dorothy, we'll kick their butts. We'll chew 'em up and spit 'em out. We'll make 'em eat dirt for breakfast! Because breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

and

Rose: “Now, the tight end decoys, so it looks like we're running a draw play, and then he slips into a soft spot in the zone over the middle, the flanker fakes a screen then runs a reverse behind the halfback, which gives the quarterback two options--
Dorothy: “For God's sake Rose! Eisenhower used less chalk planning D-day!”

and

Blanche: “By the way, I have never asked you what it is y'all have.”
Rose: “Oh, we're not sure. All we know is it makes your skin blotchy, and your eyes puffy, and your cheeks swollen. And you get heart palpitations.”
Blanche: “Oh good thing for those palpitations, otherwise you might never have known you even had it.”

Critique:
Can someone explain to me how a football team, even if they are 10-year-olds, are supposed to practice playing football in their coaches living room? And how exactly does Sophia, a woman we know doesn't have a valid drivers license take the kids to and from their football game? But I digress. I really like this episode. It has a bit of the sappy “special episode” quality to it in that they focus on the challenges of dating someone who is “different” or “disabled.” And what a delicious concept to have Blanche, a character who always depends on her good looks, date a man who can't even see her. They don't go overly sappy like they tend to do and the episode is nicely balanced with an unrelated B story about Rose coaching a pee wee football team. We know how competitive Rose can be (see “The Competition” for proof) and she gets some great lines here (“But if she loses I'll punch her stinking heart out!”). And now that I think of it.. how did John Quinn get to Blanche's house? Maybe Lily gave him a ride. GRADE: A-

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