‘The Golden Girls’ rarely had holiday episodes. However, in season 2 of the classic NBC sitcom, the girls celebrated Christmas together.
One of the memorable moments from the Christmas episode was Blanche Devereaux’s gift of a calendar to the ladies. But curious minds often wonder what was inside The Men of Blanche’s Boudoir calendar?
The Golden Girls is a timeless sitcom that still provides lots of laughter 36 years after its premiere. One of the most famous scenes is Blanche Devereaux’s (Rue McClanahan) Christmas gifts to her roommates. The Men of Blanche’s Boudoir generated lots of laughs from fans and the cast. Read on to learn what was inside the calendar.
‘The Golden Girls’ cast members Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Bea Arthur with guest star Terry Kiser dressed as a gun-toting Santa.
‘The Golden Girls’ Blanche Devereaux’s calendar did have pictures of men
In Season 2 of The Golden Girls, Christmas came to Miami. The episode titled “Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas” has the women making plans to head home to spend the holiday with their families. The night before their trips, the ladies gather to exchange gifts.
Blanche’s special present to her roommates is The Men of Blanche’s Boudoir calendar. The gift received hilarious reactions. Who could forget Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) yelling “whoa” at Mr. September?
The scene is one of the funniest in The Golden Girls‘ history. Fans have often wondered was there anything inside the calendar. Yes, there was. According to IMBD.com, the crew filled the calendar with photos of themselves in little clothing and exotic poses.
The crew’s prank had the cast roaring in laughter
The calendar photoshoot was so top secret that none of The Golden Girls cast knew. However, the ladies were in for a surprise when it came time to rehearse the scene. Upon opening the calendar, they were treated to the hilarious sight of the crew’s photos.
Some of the pictures consisted of the men dressed only in towels posing in the girls’ kitchen. One of the funniest photos was of a crew member bent over wearing a saddle with another man on his back. The prank was a hit with the cast.
In Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind The Lanai, production associate Robert Spina recalled the day of rehearsal. “I think Betty was the one to go first, and she keeps talking as she’s flipping the pages, but the look on her face is ‘oh my God!’”
But Arthur’s reaction is the one Spina remembers most. “And then Bea got hers, and they all just dissolved into laughter. Bea laughed so hard that she cried for nearly five minutes.”
The ladies got to take home the calendar
The calendar prank is one of the best behind-the-scenes stories from The Golden Girls. The women loved the calendar so much that they got to keep it. A special touch was added when all the crew members signed the gift.
McClanahan, whose character was responsible for the iconic Christmas gift, held on to the treasured calendar. Following McClanahan’s death in 2010, many of the actor’s belongings were auctioned off. The calendar was sold for $4,000. Somewhere out there, a fan is enjoying the Men of Blanche’s Boudoir photos.
