Why is this so compelling?

First a note on last evening's 'Gossip Girl'. No redeeming value what-so-ever, but just a solid mindless hour following a tough Fantasy Football finish. Let me tell you folks, if you need to know whether or not to bet the over, just call me and find out if I need a low scoring game in order to win. Anywho, 'GG' is as good as ever now that they are back in Manhattan. Dan and Serena still bring everything to a grinding halt, but when Blair, Chuck, Nate, Rufus, or Jenny are on-screen, this show is very entertaining. The people are good looking too, should I mention that?

So - what is so compelling that it qualified for headline status today? 'Golden Girls' of course. And here is the thing, you love it. Everyone loves it. Everyone loved it, and everyone is still loving it. Old, young, middle aged -- everyone.

When you were 12 you watched it every Saturday night. And you liked it then too. Can you imagine a show about four grandmas living together in Miami being pitched to the networks today? They would have cast it with Loni Anderson, Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Cheryl Ladd. Back then though (all the way back to 1985) all you needed was a little cougar named Rue McClanahan and you had all the sexual tension you needed, and with a strong male lead like Bea Arther, this show was destined to succeed. Hey-Oh.

So why is this show so magnetic that when you are flipping channels and land on Lifetime, you have to stick it out, just to see what crazy idea Rose has this week? Because I think we all picture these ladies as our grandmothers, and their stories were endearing and simple. Unless your fetish was Estelle Getty in a wig, then there was something else that drew you, or draws you in, even 20 years later...and its the comfort one gets from old ladies with a good sense of humor and self awareness. I love this show and so do you, I am just willing to admit it. You should too and we should all celebrate the geriatric television gift that keeps on giving.