Latest news with #TheGoldenGirls
The National
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Karen Adam: How we treat the elderly tells us much about our society
I was welcomed with open arms and heard shared stories of lives spent raising families, working locally, and caring for others. Some of them had gone to school in the very places they now live in, worked in the fishing and farming industries, supported the NHS and education sector, or were familiar faces in local community shops before retiring. Many of them had spent their entire lives contributing to their communities. And now, in their twilight years, they ask for just one thing, and that is to stay in the homes and communities they know, with support nearby and companionship around them. And yet, they're facing the threat of closure, and told, in some cases, by nothing more than a flyer or a vague noticeboard announcement about a 'presentation'. People with hearing impairments. People with cognitive decline. People who didn't fully understand what the 'presentation' was about until they arrived and were told, quite bluntly, that their homes may be closed, and they could be moved elsewhere, perhaps 20 miles away, alone. It's heartbreaking. And it's enraging. READ MORE: What to expect from The National as we cover Hamilton by-election this week This, though, highlights something bigger. About how we, as a society, measure our worth. About what kind of Scotland, we are building. Because, for all the policy debates and budget spreadsheets, the real test of a government or a country is how it treats its most vulnerable. And that of course includes our elderly. I have spoken many times about how we don't wait until independence, how we can create what we want now and let our current values and policy shape our independent nation. And this should be a priority, for our wellbeing economy. In those complexes, what I saw wasn't just bricks and mortar. It was a community. It was resilience. It was, dare I say it, exactly the kind of future many of us hope for. One of the workers I spoke to said it reminded her of The Golden Girls, these strong, funny women living together, supporting one another, full of spirit and kindness. But behind the humour is something deeply serious, and that's that these women, and men too, were not just living there, they were thriving. That kind of support, peer support, community care, shared spaces, warm chats in communal lounges, cannot be replicated by handing someone a grant and sending them to live alone in a private flat miles away. And yet, that is the direction some local authority decisions are taking us. We are told closures are about saving money. But that's a false economy. Because we know that loneliness and isolation among older people have a direct impact on health, leading to more GP appointments and higher hospital admissions. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 40%, and the impact of chronic loneliness is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So I have to ask, what are we saving, really, if we end up paying so much more in health and crisis support down the line? One crucial point that an activist who is fighting to keep these complexes open made is that these decisions made in budgetary isolation may save a housing budget some cash, but what about the impact on other areas to pick up costs? Surely this should have a holistic spending approach. Instead of shutting the doors on sheltered housing, we should be flinging them open. Investing in them. Modernising them. Replicating them across Scotland as part of our vision for a wellbeing economy. An economy that values not just profit, but people's quality of life, health, happiness, and community connection. Scotland has an ageing population. It's a fact. And it's one we need to plan for not with fear, but with compassion and vision. What if we saw assisted living not as a burden, but as a brilliant idea for the future of care? What if we offered that model, not just to the elderly, but to others too? What if intergenerational living spaces, communal kitchens, shared gardens and social hubs were part of how we solved housing issues, isolation, and mental health decline all in one go? READ MORE: Scottish Labour by-election candidate flounders after dodging question 11 times The Scottish Government has been leading in embedding well-being into policy thinking. And we've made progress. But stories like the ones I've heard this week remind me how fragile that progress is when local council decisions, or Westminster-imposed funding constraints, undermine the values we hold dear. We can't build a wellbeing economy on crumbling foundations. We must fight to protect and enhance the community infrastructure that delivers that wellbeing in real terms. Sheltered housing is one part of that. Community centres, libraries, bus routes, local surgeries, and social care are all other. They're not extras, they're the glue that holds people together, especially in later life. And this isn't just about 'doing the right thing' for older people, it's also about asking ourselves what kind of future we want. Because all of us are growing older, and most of us, I suspect, would rather spend our later years in a warm, welcoming, communal space with friends than in isolated private accommodation miles from everything we've ever known. One of the women I met said to me: 'We've looked after others our whole lives. Now we just want to be allowed to look after each other.' That stayed with me. Because it speaks to something we sometimes forget, that people are not passive recipients of care. They are active citizens with stories, strength, and something to give. A truly caring society doesn't shut that down. It nurtures it. It invests in it. It sees community living not as a relic of the past, but as a blueprint for the future. Let's not abandon the spaces where people find joy and dignity. Let's build more of them. Let's value what really matters.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulu's 'Mid-Century Modern' Furthers Gay Representation in Both Big and Small Ways
Hulu's 'Mid-Century Modern' Furthers Gay Representation in Both Big and Small Ways originally appeared on L.A. Mag. When Mid-Century Modern —starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham, and developed and created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan of Will & Grace fame — premiered March 28 on Hulu, the gay pedigree had already been signed, sealed and delivered. The sitcom, which includes Ryan Murphy among its executive producers, was touted as the heir apparent to the (still) wildly popular NBC show The Golden Girls (1985-92). Yet that sobriquet felt unfair — partly because the two generations of programming are most dissimilar. Forty years ago, when The Golden Girls premiered, Blanche, Dorothy and Rose — three heterosexual women — were dealing with gay storylines in a very different way. They responded with utter shock upon finding out a longtime friend was a lesbian, or a brother was gay, or to the very difficult and very real AIDS crisis that was affecting its core audience in real time. But the show was seen then as groundbreaking television and the representation mattered. Almost a half-century later, it still does. So, specifically, what do the two sitcoms have in common? Not a lot, actually, unless you consider an inhumanely hot location as the setting. Miami was the home of The Golden Girls, while Palm Springs is the backdrop for Mid-Century Modern — complete with a seemingly endless supply of fabulous robes worn by both Lane's character Bunny and the always fab Arthur, played by Graham. When the cost of those robes is brought up at my recent sit-down with the three actors, Bomer — who plays Jerry, often seen in short-shorts and tank tops — quips, 'What they save on Jerry's wardrobe, they put into the robe budget.'It's clear the three actors have developed an easy chemistry off-camera as well as on, with Lane — who has a wealth of experience playing famously gay characters on both stage and screen — effortlessly taking the role of den mother, much like Bunny on the show. When asked what drew him to the project, he cites the cast as well as the subject matter. 'I get to work with these people,' he says. 'It's just about trying to do good work, and with a story and characters that I don't think you've seen that much of: gay men who are getting older; men in their 40s, 50s and 60s trying to navigate life. I think that's what makes it new and refreshing. And if we're entertaining folks and making them laugh, it's the best way to get your message across.' Lane feels viewers can relate to the same fear of aging with which his character grapples. 'I'm just like you: I don't like getting old,' he says. 'How do I deal with it? Am I still viable in the marketplace? Can I still get a date? You see why [Bunny] wants to live with these two men who have been his closest friends all these years. It's interesting how they've all come together. I sort of force the issue impulsively and say, 'Move in with me, and I'll pay for everything.' Which is kind of crazy, but they do it. We're not making some grand statement — but I think subtly we are. Even people who might not agree with us politically, [I hope] that they enjoy who these characters are and laugh. And that is a statement in itself.' For Graham, ubiquity is key to furthering gay representation. 'Some of us do parades, some of us write op-eds, some of us do podcasts,' he says. 'My thing is, if someone sees me doing something positive, then that's my activism, to always show up, to be that glamorous cockroach that never dies. [I love that I] always, always, always hear, 'There's that bitch again! There she is again.' You can't get rid of me.'Graham gets pride in helping others in similar situations navigate life. 'If you feel seen in any way, or if you feel good after watching our show, the mission is accomplished. If you're going through it that day [and] you put on an episode of our show, and you get through the next three hours because of it, well then, we've done our job. That is why it's so important to have a show like this on right now.'Bomer, who was coming off the melodramatic, decades-spanning Showtime miniseries Fellow Travelers, which follows closeted political staffers from the McCarthy era through the AIDS crisis, sees Mid-Century Modern as a welcome shift in tone. 'I'm just so grateful that we were able to put this show out and to try and bring some joy to the world and bring some visibility as well,' Bomer says. 'These are real people in real conversations in a fun way.' He says he feels the show's occasionally zany sugar coating is a plus. 'Sometimes, for me as an audience member, if I can laugh when I'm hearing any type of messaging or identifying with another person, it sinks a little bit deeper than if it's too earnest or on the nose,' he says. 'So that's one of the things that really appealed to me about being a part of something like this.'Bomer explains he's tired of hearing questions about the obstacles LGBTQ entertainers face. 'People always want to talk about the 'problem' [of] what it's like to be a gay actor, but I'm so much more interested in the solution,' he says. 'And I think it's [in giving] our voices to something like this — that people can identify [with] or feel seen or get a release of some kind from watching it. That's meaningful to me and makes it worthwhile.'When the conversation turns to the tragic loss of beloved actress Linda Lavin during production, the guys disclose that the cast and crew were tasked with the unimaginable feat of producing an episode that dealt head-on with an unexpected death. Lavin portrayed Lane's character's mother, Sybil, and Lane has to play the scene from a raw place that's both personal and immediate. The episode mixes the very real, sad emotions with the humor that's often needed in diffcult times.'You could hear a pin drop when we got to that section of the show,' Lane recalls. 'It was emotional, but it felt very satisfying and gratifying, because I felt they had paid tribute not only to the character, but to Linda, the great actress.'For Bomer, the depth of the loss struck backstage. 'I remember when it really hit me that Linda was gone,' he says. 'We would always be together behind the curtain when they'd introduce us before the show. And one of my favorite things about this whole experience is being with these actors: Linda Lavin, who's a legend; Nathan [Lane]; and Nathan Lee — all theater icons. And we're all still just as nervous to go on stage before the show starts, and that's something that I'll hold so near and dear to my heart. Then, not having Linda there that day really drove it home to me.' In contemplating a possible Season 2, all three men grow animated when describing how they'd like to see their characters evolve. 'I'd love to meet Jerry's ex-wife, his mom [and] the congressman he slept with!' Bomer exclaims. Graham has some guest stars in mind. 'We got to get these black ladies lined up,' he says: 'Jenifer Lewis, I think she's the auntie. Maybe Phylicia Rashad is the mother.' Lane feels more time is needed to fully uncover the show's ties to past sitcom glory. 'I'm the real Golden Girl,' he says of Bunny. 'I'm the one who spent his whole life in [the] business and never had that major relationship. So that may not happen. I mean, it possibly could, but … we need to explore all of those things.' Lane believes a second season of Mid-Century Modern would allow the series to continue to deepen its characters and their connection to the audience. 'I think with the unfortunate passing of Linda, and how we treated that happening, [it's] indicative of how the show can and will move forward — with serious subject matter that happens in real life,' he says. 'And [it'll explore] why this chosen family is now even more important.'At the end of our time together, one thing is abundantly clear: These three actors have helped diffuse the stigma of the label 'openly gay actor' for members of the generation that follows. The show has also proven that the sitcom may actually be alive and well. The format still has new stories to tell, new families to visit, new life experiences to share … with a few 'F-bombs' and 'C-words' thrown in for good measure, all while 'filmed in front of a live studio audience' — just like The Golden Girls. Photographed by Irvin RiveraPhoto Assistant: Avery Cefre @dinoschmoodio; Nathan Lee Graham: Groomer: Steve Schepis (@steve_schepis); Styling: Clint Spires; Nathan Lane: Groomer: Angella Valentine (@angvalentine); Styling Team: Sam Spector @samspector Styling; Assistants: Katie Vaughan @kvaughan1 & Esther Pak @pakesther; Matt Bomer; Groomer: Jessi Butterfield @jessibutterfield; FASHION: 1ST LOOK, Nathan Lane: teal suit, white shirt: Suitshop; tie: Seaward and Stearn of London, pocket square: Tie Bar, shoes: Greats; 2nd Look: Vince Jacket, Vince pants, Brooks Brothers shirt, Marc Fisher shoes This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Metro
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix's new 'charming' film with 'giant heart' is your perfect weekend watch
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If you want something to warm the cockles of your heart this weekend, we have just the thing. This 2025 release has been widely praised by viewers, acquiring an 89% score on review site Rotten Tomatoes and being compared to legendary 80s sitcom The Golden Girls. Starring Hollywood legends Susan Sarandon and Vince Vaughn, Nonnas is a comedy-drama film with a charming story, directed by Stephen Chbosky. Filmed in 2023 in various locations in New Jersey, it is based on the life of Jody 'Joe' Scaravella, a New Yorker who owned Staten Island restaurant Enoteca Maria, where grandmothers (aka nonnas in Italian) from all over the world are invited to work as chefs. While the women in the movie are fictionalised, the concept is firmly based on a true story and the risk Scaravella took after losing two of his most cherished people. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Vaughn, 55, stars as restaurant founder Scaravella, 69, who opened the 35-seat eatery in 2007 as a tribute to the Italian women who helped him fall in love with cooking. This included his grandma, Domenica, a confident home cook who died shortly before turning 100, and his mother, Maria, after whom the place was named. Scaravella quickly grew to miss the authentic Italian cooking of the matriarchs in his family following their deaths, telling the New York Times in 2017: 'I wanted to try to recreate that, you know, grandma in the kitchen cooking.' Despite having zero experience in the restaurant business, he set up Enoteca Maria by way of 'comforting' himself, having previously worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for over a decade. Oscar winner Sarandon, 78, plays one of the elderly female chefs in Nonnas, along with Talia Shire, 79, Lorraine Bracco, 70, and Brenda Vaccaro, 85. After watching Nonnas, which was released just this week on May 9, critics flooded Rotten Tomatoes with praise, describing the story as 'heartfelt' and one that will make you 'tear up and smile' in equal measure. 'A warm, wise and wonderful delight that will nourish your heart, mind and soul. It's the cinematic equivalent of comfort food,' writes Avi Offer. 'It all could easily have been played for cheap laughs or schmaltzy tears. Instead, we get something much rarer: a story that respects both grief and joy as necessary companions on the journey back to life,' adds Joe Botten. Meanwhile, over on X, audiences are already demanding more. 'Loved this wonderful sweet Netflix movie. Please make it a series…the new 'Golden Girls'!', wrote @MMMPrinceton. 'It should be on your watchlist for this weekend!', said @Jp_Juan_1. 'Do it for the love of your grandma'. @msbreviews added that while the film is not 'reinventing the genre,' it makes up for its lack of originality with 'giant heart and emotional sincerity'. 'It's a heartfelt tribute to family, culture, the women who raised us & the power of food to bring people together & heal old wounds', they said. Enoteca Maria still exists away from the small screen, and you can actually go there to eat a delicious meal crafted with love. Initially, all of the cooks were Italian, but in 2015, Scaravella welcomed a woman from Pakistan into the kitchen. This altered the restaurant's future permanently, as it became known for its 'Nonnas of the World' and began hiring women from all over the globe to add their touch to the menu. More Trending At any given time, two nonnas are working in the kitchen, one as head chef and the other as sous chef, usually from different cultures. 'Most of these ladies, their husbands have passed away, the children have grown up, and they've moved out,' Scaravella previously told People. 'They're packed with culture, and they need an outlet. And that's what we do—we provide that outlet.' Stream Nonnas on Netflix. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: John Legend pinpoints exact moment mentor Kanye West's 'descent' began MORE: Donald Trump to be shown in much 'kinder' light with new $100,000,000 biopic MORE: Hollywood legend smiles as he watches Victory Day military parade in Moscow
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrating the Golden Girls: 33 years after the Finale with Patrick Hinds
Celebrating the Golden Girls: 33 years after the Finale with Patrick Hinds Jeremy Rabe visits with Patrick Hinds, Host of 'The Golden Girls Deep Dive' podcast on about the pop culture significance of The Golden Girls 33 years to the day the Finale aired. Here are some of his favorite moments and some behind the scenes stories as well. Be sure listen to both his podcasts including his 'True Crime Obsessed' podcast and his book 'Failure is Not Not and Option' is available now. Want to stay up to date and involved with Unscripted? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or click below! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
Tortoise hatchlings named after legendary Golden Girls
Four tortoise hatchlings born at the Philadelphia Zoo now have names. Over 13,000 people voted for the zoo's youngest stars to be named after the four main characters from TV's "The Golden Girls" -- Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia -- the zoo announced in a Facebook post Tuesday. The four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises were born to Mommy, who is estimated to be about 97 years old, and Abrazzo, about 96 years old, according to the zoo. A zoo spokesperson told "Good Morning America" via email that the tortoise hatchlings "are doing well" and said the zoo welcomes guests to visit all four of the babies at its Reptile & Amphibian House.
