Rue McClanahan, one of the stars of The Golden Girls, once gushed about how much she loved playing the iconic Blanche Devereaux.
Blanche, one of the main characters in the series, was known for her lustful appetite and massive personality. She co-starred alongside Betty White, Estelle Getty, and Bea Arthur. The four all shared a close bond during their time on set.
When asked if playing Blanche was fun, she said that it was “one of the top three roles of my entire life. I don’t see how anything could top Blanche,” she told Pop Goes The Culture TV.
She adored playing the hilarious character and wanted to play her right away. Thankfully, she got the part. For 180 separate episodes, McClanahan delivered absolutely hilarious and sometimes touching moments as Blanche.
One of McClanahan’s Favorite Moments on ‘The Golden Girls’ Embodied Blanche
During a Paley Center event, the actress described her favorite moment from the show. It truly embodied who Blanche Was as a character and is still hilarious to watch. All she had to say was “the grand piano scene” and everyone knew what she was talking about.
In the iconic Golden Girls scene, Blanche, whose determined to impress men at her favorite bar, climbs on a grand piano, and sings “I Wanna Be Loved By You.” While the character was clearly trying to look graceful and sexy, she looked awkward and clumsy. The hilarious scene must have been a riot to film.
When she starts to make her way around the room, after stumbling over the piano, she sits on the lap of a man who just had hip surgery. Then, she fumbles again, asking a man, “Well… hello big boy…is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
The man proceeds to take a gun out of his pocket. It’s a hilarious three minutes of television, but it certainly isn’t the only funny moment from the show. Each episode is packed full of comedy gold. Its premise centering around four older women exploring dating and aging was unlike anything else on TV at the time, and its uniqueness proved incredibly fruitful.
McClanahan passed away in 2010. Now, Betty White is the only remaining cast member at 99 years old. McClanahan’s work as Blanche made her an essential part of TV history. The Golden Girls continues to entertain in its re-runs and on streaming. The timeless comedy truly remains one of the best.
