Golden Girls - Rue McClanahan on Reading for Blanche and Rose (Paley Center, 2006)

Actress Rue McClanahan (Blanche) describes her first reading of the script as Rose and then as Blanche.
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[@walterajimenez9466]

The Golden Girls is one of the best American sitcoms ever.

[@ryanbeaty4893]

Agreed. One of the best tv shows period. Not to sound old, but that kind of talent is rarely found anymore.

[@samanthamanley4624]

Andres Jimenez yes it is

[@somebody9633]

It really is.

[@JerjerB]

It's THE best

[@jamesriccardo2225]

Rue's impression of Bea Arthur's baritone voice is hysterical. "I'm not interested in doing Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens" :-D

[@Me-nh1fz]

Lol at Rue, her impression of Bea. Glad they switched roles. Betty is a perfect Rose and Rue is a perfect Blanche. Bea is a great Dorthy, kinda the same character personality as Maude, but awesome and amazing. RIP ESTELLE, RUE AND BEA. Stay strong and healthy Betty

[@xzizzo]

+Jonathan Riley Thank God they swapped roles for serious. I couldn't imagine watching either of these two ladies playing the other's role against Bea's "Dorothy"

[@jeffcaldwell30]

They've played very similar roles so the switch was great and showed versatility.

[@j-life8502]

Jeff Caldwell mmm

[@betalife90]

Me 2016 dorothy is spunkier than maude hahaha

[@biruss]

Bea had good sense in casting

[@jazzymoni7750]

I love how Betty just sat there quietly beaming while Rue told the story, and the affection they show for one another. You can tell there's great respect between them. #rip Rue. She was a real queen. 👑

[@djdb1214]

I love it too!!!! Usually Betty would interrupt someone (she did to Bea a lot) but not with her "Roozy"! ❤

[@02chevyguy]

"...and we WOWED them!" They did more than that! The four of them knocked the execs at NBC, the writers, producers, the studio and TV audiences into orbit!

[@briabba123]

Rue is so funny doing her imitation of Bea

[@lenwelch2195]

All four actresses knew what they were doing , they made the script better in their delivery - producers landed a gold mine in hiring these 4 ladies

[@pacerguy01]

And she said, "" lol great Bea impression!

[@kwilcox1126]

RIP RUE, ESTELLE, AND BEATRICE

[@shakeyraware6147]

God I miss them 😢💖💔

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

Rue: And we WOWED 'em!

[@artisan06]

I'm glad they allow Rue and Betty exchange roles! Rue knocked that role out of the universe playing Blanche! I don't think the show would've lasted the many seasons it did had the two were typecast!

[@CAvideoFAN]

I love how she imitates Bea Arthur!

[@Oneofthedolls]

Every single one of those women were truly amazing. Me and my grandma would watch them all the time.

[@ivyvines6708]

You still keep me in stiches Rue dear. RIP.

[@tieiatalks]

I miss Rue...😔

[@jessicaaaaaaaaaaa95]

This reminds me of a line Dorothy said in the episode "Adult Education." "Take a lesson, Rose. That's how you tell a story."

[@kene301187]

Jessica L. "Boy, can you tell a story!"

[@gwen7205]

About winning the Sinatra tickets. Love that one!

[@1thetvzone]

Love how Rue tells Bea about the changes and in (Rue's voice does Bea Arthur.)

[@TD-il6ju]

Lol

[@davidmills3332]

RIP, dear lady

[@grtan793]

RIP all gorgeous ladies, When I was born in 90s, their show was on in our country for many years. They are a beautiful part of my childhood and they will always be remembered

[@Dan97LHS]

I love these ladies. God Bless all four of them. Rest In Peace-Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, and Rue McClanahan. They will always live on in the Golden Girls and in our hearts.

[@anduinemor1]

this made me cry. love rue and the golden girls. great impression of Bea, too. it sounded like having the three of them sitting together and telling the story.

[@101beastmode]

love that show me and my parents still watch it

[@AemySD]

Blanche without her southern accent!!!

[@robert3302]

Rue did that herself. It was not in the script, but she felt since Blanche was a Southerner, she should have the accent. Rue was born and raised in Oklahoma, so she knew how to do it right.

[@djdb1214]

@@robert3302 You got it!

[@TheEwing69]

AquaCatClaws Rue was from Oklahoma

[@quintondavis9420]

I'm the Golden Girls. My grandmother & I use to watch it together in 1986.

[@calibblythe8605]

I absolutely love the series. I have been there through every episode. Sofia showing up in the pilot all the way to dorathy leaving and I have to say this show was and still is very great

[@mgblue]

love the chemistry they had still

[@hairyscotman]

God, BLESS her in heaven...she brought so many laughs to our lives....

[@alvin3535]

Thank you for being a friend "Blanche". R.I.P. We all love you.

[@melaniedaniels3431]

That was just adorable! I love Rue and all the girls, what chemistry they had! I get so sad sometimes when I watch the show knowing that all but Betty are gone :( Never again will there be a show like it...

[@JM-jt2zd]

God bless you and thanks for all the laughter...🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏👋🌹

[@lilmissmusic2012]

LOL I love it when she does that deep voice! She sounded just like her!! XD

[@MJLeger-yj1ww]

Well, those 3 (then 4) wowed us all! I never got to see it when it was a series but I watch it every day now! Such consummate professionals, those gals were. Great plots, (even if some of them were relevant to the times more than now) and superb acting by all! Thanks ladies, for the memories and we're still loving all of you!

[@ThaPrincess2008]

It's so sad that we're down to one Golden Girl, but Betty is still going strong! God bless our Golden Girls! R.I.P. Estelle, Bea, and Rue!

[@bubblyburberry24]

I miss them all :( Estelle in 2008, Bea in 2009, now Rue in 2010, I hope we don't lose Betty in 2011 :(

[@Firestarhk]

I love this show. I can't imagine Betty as Blanche and Rue as Rose though.

[@abichristina786]

Firestarhk no way :(

[@alexmcclanahan4073]

God bless them everyone ❤️

[@kenzer114]

I about fell off my bed when she impersonated Bea!

[@Brisco1]

I only wish that they could have done a few more seasons! Just a few more!!!

[@aaron31967]

... and they have been wowing us ever since.

[@Boyonspace]

This got my eyes watery : )

[@paulonius42]

I had such a huge crush on Blanche when I was a teenager! :) All my thoughts to Rue's family and friends.

[@Jadeperkins]

These lovely ladies gave us so many tv memories and lives on in the heart of so many. Its so sad that only one of them is still alive.

[@AnonYMous-pv3py]

I love how enthralled Betty is with Rue telling the story. Great show with very talented women.

[@joepassive]

my favorite golden girl. RIP

[@ther1rida]

My grandmother made my sister and I watch this from the ages 6-9. I really never understood as a child how brilliantly written and delivered the content is in Golden Girls. I really miss her. When I watch re-runs, I feel like she is on the other couch laughing with me now. Love you Grandma, THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND 😇😇😇

[@TheRealDrayBreezy]

Now that's how you tell a story! Twain would be proud

[@imjustme0925]

I love that story 💛

[@kittyantix]

I miss all of them! GG forever

[@bigbigbazza]

I love this show! been watching it a few years im only 20! Cant believe there is only 1 left.. estelle died 2008 Bea died 2009 and now Rue.. :-( RIP

[@billmalec]

And you wowed us for years!

[@GreenEyes-gv6zj]

A whole lot of Talent in one room !!! How Lucky were they !!!! God Bless Ladies!!! 💜💜💜💜

[@odiornespeare3065]

Both women did have experience playing sultry characters as well as sweet characters. Rue was sweet and naïve as Maude's neighbor Vivian, but she was definitely sultry in All In The Family as the "spouse swapper". Betty, however, had less of a balanced background, having played mostly sultry characters (Sue Ann Nivens in Mary Tyler Moore, later on as a Hollywood actress in The Betty White Show, and then as Eunice's snobby sister Ellen in Mama's Family). The producers wanted to avoid resurrecting their most famous roles (Vivian and Sue Ann), so Rue took on the sultry role while Betty took on the sweet character.

[@briLady7]

Exactly! I feel like they were being typecast with the original casting decision. Betty had already played a sultry woman on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and Rue had already played a naive woman on "Maude". I'm glad they switched so people could see their true acting talent and range.

[@snoopy64116]

@@briLady7, also, they both appeared on Mama's Family. Betty was Mama's snotty daughter, Ellen, and Rue was Aunt Fran (Mama's unmarried sister). That's another reason why they may have been concerned about typecasting.

[@rain73ful]

Such lovely women. That's why the Golden Girls was so successful. A lot of wonderful talent there.

[@JahnoKestt]

You know, I got into the show when they had re-runs in 1997-98 locally. I was 16 at the time, and my friends gave me a good ribbing when I let it slip that "Golden Girls is my favorite sitcom". I couldn't help it, they were funny and the chemistry between them was excellent. Love them all!

[@bens.4420]

The Golden Girls was the best show and it is going to remain the best show through the rest of time and all eternity! Betty White is still alive and god bless her!

[@LoveOnTheInsidex3]

R.I.P I can't believe she's gone :(

[@chrisliam2]

So happy I grew up watching this show with my family , even though I'm in my 20's now I still love watching the golden girls , it never get's old , It always puts a smile on my face and makes me laugh , I just get sad knowing there is only one left , I wish they were all still with us.

[@MrVerliebtinyeah]

I love them !

[@001GenLee]

Yes you did WOW Us! TV now days has lost that WOW factor..totally! :( TV from the 70's & 80's, ya just can't beat. We won't see TV like that anymore i'm afraid. :(

[@MooJoo5555]

they wowed a lot of people!!

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

RIP Ms Rue

[@Dominique913]

She was awsome! :'-(

[@kevinhagan17]

RIP Rue!

[@TheSilverphoenix88]

Aww

[@michaelleacy]

Those women with all their years of comic timing and experience - bring them together - and you've got the best sitcom in all history. I doubt - very much - we'll see one as good ever again

[@AlongtheFarClimbDown843]

♎ In "The Wandering Jew" (an 1844 novel by the French writer Eugène Sue): Rose and Blanche are twin Rennepont orphans coming from Siberia.

[@djdb1214]

This video was posted the day Rue passed away. Damn.

[@apriljscales]

i don't think anyone else could have played those roles the way those 4 did. I love this show and all the characters, I miss u all.

[@KarlyC]

i cant believ she did, she was on tv literally 3 weeks ago

[@USAjock9]

Yes, it is sad but look at it this way none of them were young when they agreed to do the icon series "Golden Girls" and thankfully none of them died while the show was still in production. Can you image how awful that would have been. We have all the wonderful memories of them full of life in syndication. They were sheer perfection!

[@littleshyboy6010]

i have this teary eyes..

[@lovea06]

Shoot, this show got me through some rough nights in high school. It showed late, and when I was depressed during an all-nighter, I'd turn this on and feel like my grandmas were cheering me up

[@ccg1171]

R.I.P. Rue now people are laughing in heaven...God Bless....

[@hannahwilliams5681]

Her voice was so soft 🥺

[@wins.8073]

Perfect chemistry

[@wntoply6]

we love you rue

[@8lilchan8]

I miss all of them :C

[@jeanemail7]

wow Rue you are an inspiration.

[@nomercy3000]

at 2 47 they look so happy:D only one left its sad but i wish he others were still here.

[@CantStayAway]

I love her impression of Bea Arthur...:):P

[@Morty2264]

She looked very good!

[@Corinne6531]

the best golden girl !

[@scorpionwoman34]

Betty White was the oldest on the show, but it seemed like she was always the one who aged the least. She looks exactly like she did (:

[@djdb1214]

I looooove Rue's voice. I have a huge smile on my face watching this! 😊 We love and miss you Blanche!! 😅❤❤❤

[@BdoFilms2]

It is true Rue's character on Maude is more like Rose and Betty's character on the Mary Tyler Moore Show was more like Blanche. I'm glad they changed it.

[@mhbamhba5780]

The joke of golden girls is timeless

[@perth45]

sorely missed on modern TV.....

[@SimmerInJuly]

Blanche & Rose were the twins in Eugene Sue's "The Wandering Jew."

[@stevarino1989]

I kind of love how Rue refers to Rose as “the nitwit.” 😹

[@tnargtnarud]

@callofdutygamer20111 - Oh god, they're all good friends. I'm sure she wasn't mocking her to insult her.

[@artisan06]

They let the right actress play Blanche! Rue McClanahan had taken that role out of orbit!

[@brianabouttown256]

Magic

[@02chevyguy]

Betty in 2019 is 97 If they were alive today..Bea 97 Estelle 84 Rue 85

[@snoopy64116]

Bea has been gone for 10 years, Rue has been gone for 9, and Estelle has been gone for 11. :-(

[@gregrak9389]

you're off on Estelle's age.

[@kacygagnard88]

it's 2006

[@wotan10950]

Betty was open to playing the part of Rose because she had already played a sex-crazed man-eating vamp on Mary Tyler Moore. Bea was right that they shouldn't repeat the same kind of roles again. The result was great.

[@lrjtmntfan]

@FootlooseOmega12 she actually did, in some episodes she appeared on Maude.

[@mrarabesque]

I miss her... R.I.P. she was so funny. Dorothy: "do you know what your biggest mistake is?" Blanche: "Of course not!!"

[@seleehwekim]

@jacobrooks101 I know what you mean, jacobrooks101. Shows like The Golden Girls have gotten many of us through some hard times----and sometimes high school can be especially rough..

[@bubblinbrownsugar616]

LMFAO!! I just had to take a drink of water the minute Rue imitated Bea's voice. I spit the water all over my computer!! That was too damn funny!! It just sucks knowing Betty White is the only one still here.

[@asit1]

Can we ever get something like this again? I am optimistic generally, but I know this is just something that happens once in a milennium.