Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 3 July 2019
'Golden Girls' appears to get better with pop culture age

By TERRY TANG often talk. He also stages
Associated Press drag shows as Sadie Pines,
Alexandra Wilkinson was a riff on the fictitious Shady
only 2 months old when Pines retirement home
"The Golden Girls" ended its where Sophia used to live.
television run in 1992. He calls the show "timeless
But she became a fan last in a lot of ways because
year while taking a course they weren't necessar-
called "Women and Aging: ily topical in the jokes they
Lessons from the Golden did."
Girls" at California State Uni- Maria Claver, a gerontol-
versity, Long Beach. Now ogy professor who cre-
she streams episodes on ated the CSU Long Beach
Hulu. She owns a "Golden class with colleague Long
Girls" T-shirt. And when she Wang in spring 2018, thinks
graduated recently with nostalgia is one reason
a master's degree in ger- "The Golden Girls" endures.
ontology, she decorated Many fans who watched
her cap with a picture of when it originally aired are
"Golden Girl" Sophia along now in or facing their gold-
with the sardonic Sicilian's en years. And the episodes
trademark phrase, "Picture have been helpful illustra-
it." tions for her students.
"I was amazed at how "I think one of the strengths
this TV show from before I This Dec. 25, 1985 file photo shows the stars of the television series "The Golden Girls" , from left, of using a show like 'Gold-
Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Betty White during a break in taping in Hollywood,
was born really related to Calif. en Girls' is that you can ad-
so many topics I'm learn- Associated Press dress sometimes uncom-
ing about right now," said fortable or difficult topics
Wilkinson, 27. "It doesn't Estelle Getty and Betty unofficial Lego set of the of laughter, full of sarcasm with humor," Claver said. "I
even matter what they're White, who is the only liv- women in their home. Next and it can be quite joyful." think that makes students
talking about, whether it's ing cast member at age 97 February, a "Golden Girls" Unlike the '80s fashions comfortable to talk about
a serious concept or not. (White, through her agent, theme cruise will launch worn in the show, the dia- things like sexuality among
Their personalities just have declined an interview re- from — where else? — Mi- logue still holds up, Williams older women." The weekly
a way of bringing humor quest). The show aired on ami. said, resonating with many class touched on subjects
into everything." NBC from 1985-1992. Marsha Posner Williams, a people, from the gay com- like menopause, addic-
The class, which finished Just in the last few years, co-producer on the series' munity to millennials. tion, sexuality, dementia
its second year in May, is however, there's been a first three seasons, said the "All the issues are so real and caregiving. Claver
the latest example of the wave of merchandising, creators simply set out to that they talk about, even and Wang would screen
surprising pop culture lon- from a trivia game to Chia tell stories about an often- though it was 35 years a relevant episode and
gevity of Dorothy, Blanche, pets. Funko, known for its overlooked segment of the ago," she said. then lead a discussion.
Rose and Sophia. Pop dolls of sci-fi and fan- population. H. Alan Scott of Los Angeles There were guest speak-
The Emmy-winning series tasy characters, created "This was a way of show- has co-hosted a "Golden ers, including Williams. As a
revolved around four older "Golden Girls" figures, a ing that even though you Girls" podcast for four years super-fan, Claver also can't
women living together in limited-edition cereal and, might be of a certain age, called "Out On the Lanai," help but delight in turning
Miami. It starred Bea Ar- most recently, PEZ dispens- you're not dead," Williams a reference to the patio students on to the show's
thur, Rue McClanahan, ers. In 2015, a fan built an said. "You're full of life, full where the women would entertainment value.q

'Evergreen' is a textured, emotionally charged tale

By BRUCE DESILVA inherit the chore. were rumors that the car ed to a Ku Klux Klan rally, a
Associated Press Readers of Howard Owen's crash was no accident but car bombing and a series
"Evergreen," by Howard underappreciated Wil- has no details. of betrayals by friends and
Owen (Permanent Press) lie Black novels already Old newspaper files are no relatives who were threat-
When Willie Black was 15 know that Willie's father help. The death of a black ened by racist police offi-
months old, his father, Artie was black, that his mother man didn't merit a news cers unless they talked. The
Lee, was killed in an appar- was white, and that they story in 1961 Virginia. result is a conclusion that is
ent automobile accident. weren't allowed to marry Patiently, Willie squeezes both wrenching and satis-
That's all Willie — police re- in 1960s Virginia. But in "Ev- a few minor details from fying.
porter for a Richmond, Vir- ergreen," the eighth book townsfolk old enough to Readers seeking the thrills
gina, newspaper — knows in the series, they'll grow as remember Artie. Each time of most popular crime fic-
about his dad. He's never curious as Willie about what he gets a scrap of informa- tion won't find it here. In-
been curious about the really put Artie in his grave. tion, he circles back, tell- stead, they will find a tex-
man. Finding out is no easy task. ing the witnesses what he tured, emotionally charged
That changes when Wil- Willie's mother won't say knows and teasing out a bit tale about coming to terms
lie's aunt on his father's side and urges Willie to drop it. more. with growing up biracial
summons him to her death- Artie's old pals reminisce He does this so skillfully that in America told in the pre- This cover image released by
bed. She's been tending about his saxophone play- it is a pleasure to watch him cise language of a writer Permanent Press shows "Ever-
Artie's grave in Evergreen, ing but clam up about his work. who honed his craft during green," a release by Howard
an abandoned cemetery, death. Eventually, he learns that 44 years in the newspaper Owen.
and now it's up to Willie to The police chief says there Artie's death was connect- business.q Associated Press