Thank You For Being a Friend

This summer I am watching A LOT of "Golden Girls" reruns.  Although I would prefer fewer insults among these Miami ladies, I find the show both funny and comforting.  Binging on "The Golden Girls" has highlighted the similarities between the four friends featured on that show and the ladies from "Sex and the City."

Here are the character break-downs, as I see them. I am certainly not the first person to suggest that the ladies from "Sex and the City" owe a debt to their "Golden" predecessors, but I may be the first to work "The Wizard of Oz" into the discussion.

Dorothy Zbornak & Carrie Bradshaw: The Dorothy

The central "girl" of each group.  Dorothy is an English teacher and Carrie is a writer.  Both are witty and sarcastic.  Dorothy put up with her ex-husband Stan's garbage for over thirty years, while Carrie continues to put up with Big's nonsense through the series and movies.  Perhaps most importantly, Dorothy and Carrie are the glue in their respective friend groups.

Sophia Petrillo & Miranda Hobbes: The Brains

This is the most strained comparison, in my opinion.  Nevertheless, Sophia and Miranda both tell it like it is and are good at dispensing advice.  Miranda, a lawyer, tends to be very rational, while Sophia, an elderly Italian immigrant, favors embellished stories from her youth in Sicily.  "Picture it. . . ."

Rose Nylund & Charlotte York: The Heart

The sunny, naive friend.  Rose is a grief counselor and Charlotte is an art dealer.  While Rose is portrayed as not very bright, this isn't the case for Charlotte.  However, both are sweet and optimistic.

Blanche Devereaux & Samantha Jones: The Nerve

The friend with an insatiable appetite for men.*  Blanche works at a museum and Samantha works in public relations, but their identities are totally wrapped up in their sexual conquests.  These two women are bold and they would not hesitate to add that they are fabulous.


*Note: I am not suggesting that the Cowardly Lion was into dudes.  The king of the forest may have been gay, but if I had to guess, I would say that the Tin Man was the "Friend of Dorothy" in that group.  (The Tin Man is also my favorite.)