Golden Girls: The Complete Third Season

By the 1987-88 third season, this brash sitcom created by Soap's Susan Harris had established itself as a clever show distinguished by sharp writing and first-rate performances. Bea Arthur's independent-minded Dorothy, Betty White's bubble-headed Rose, Rue McClanahan's oversexed Blanche, and Estelle Getty's tart-tongued Sophia comprised one of the best-liked casts in network television, and the scripts written under Harris' supervision tackled some of the era's most contentious subjects: sexism, ageism, homosexuality, abortion, and even the spread of AIDS. Although season three saw a gradual drop in creativity, some of the 25 episodes here ranked among the series' best. In “The Housekeeper,” the girls hire a housekeeper who may have magical powers, and then fire her when they appear to be cursed. “Letter to Gorbachev” finds Rose sending a missive to the Soviet Union's then-leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, about nuclear war. “The Audit” provides a showcase for recurring guest star Herb Edelman—who plays Dorothy's conniving ex-husband—this time in trouble with taxes. In “The Artist,” the girls pose nude for an artist, and in the hilarious “Grab That Dough,” they appear together on a game show. The season's standout is “Mixed Blessing,” in which Dorothy's son abruptly announces his engagement and drops another bombshell as well. Boasting an excellent transfer, DVD extras on this set include character clip montages. A strong optional purchase. [Note: newly available from Warner Home Video is The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series, a single-disc compilation of four biographical profiles of the stars, priced at $14.98.] (E. Hulse)