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News & ArtsSunday, April 26, 2009
Life / TV I Swear to God I Won't Spend the Rest of My Life Mourning Bea Arthur
Posted by David Schmader on Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 11:32 AM
But I simply must share a couple of clips from her early television career, neither of which would be allowed to air on network TV in 2009, both of which handily sum up her awesomeness.
From 1971, "Cousin Maude's Visit" on All in the Family:
And from 1972, "Maude's Dilemma," from the All in the Family spin-off Maude:
May I remind everyone that 2006's R-rated Knocked Up—a two-hour adult comedy which would only be seen by paying customers over the age of 17—couldn't manage to say the "A" word even once, settling instead for the hilarious but shame-ridden "shmuh-shmore-shun"?
Thanks for help with video curation, Towleroad.
1
Can you imagine what would happen if a modern-day sitcom had the script of that second clip? Good lord... I think James Dobson's head would explode.
2
There is almost nothing from All In The Family that would be allowed on network TV today. It's sad that PC attitudes (from both the left and the right) were allowed to whitewash the airwaves.
3
I still remember seeing this episode for the the first time and watching Maude come on the show and take Archie to the woodshed - sitting there next to my Grandfather laughing his ass off, it was brilliant.
4
This reminds me of Seattle Mens Chorus (semenco) when they did a show of Elton John music and spent the whole show talking about how Elton's homosexuality was expressed by his music and how the words and themes are a touchstone for all of us as gays. Of course the words were not written by a Elton but by a straight guy.
As wonderful as Bea was, lets not forget to mention Norman Lear who put the words in her mouth and got them played on TV
As wonderful as Bea was, lets not forget to mention Norman Lear who put the words in her mouth and got them played on TV
6
@4, great reminder about the fearless Norman Lear.
On your side note: my sister loved SMC until that Elton John tribute show. That night killed her enthusiasm plain dead. She had taken me to it so I could finally see them. My friends at the same show came away all moved and joyful. I accused them of being insufficiently gay to perceive how tragically awful it was. They were all like, but the chorus is so well-meaning! They put so much effort in! And I was all like, what, it's the Special Olympics choir?
To close on topic: it is a comfort to imagine how Bea Arthur would have enjoyed despising that show.
On your side note: my sister loved SMC until that Elton John tribute show. That night killed her enthusiasm plain dead. She had taken me to it so I could finally see them. My friends at the same show came away all moved and joyful. I accused them of being insufficiently gay to perceive how tragically awful it was. They were all like, but the chorus is so well-meaning! They put so much effort in! And I was all like, what, it's the Special Olympics choir?
To close on topic: it is a comfort to imagine how Bea Arthur would have enjoyed despising that show.
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