Rest in Peace: Phyl Petrillo, Dorothy Zbornak’s Trans Sister
Added 2021-03-19 02:28:32 +0000 UTCHeads up: This episode revolves around a funeral for a character that we are reading as trans. The humor had at the expense of the deceased may be difficult for some audience members to hear.
”Ebbtide’s Revenge” (December 15, 1990)
If you’re reading this episode title and saying, “I’ve seen every Golden Girls, and I’m pretty sure Dorothy doesn’t have a trans sister,” we’ve got a guest to respond with “Are you sure about that?” Dr. Ada-Rhodes Short, mother of robots and co-host of the Totally Trans podcast, joins us to talk about trans lesbians and why a few TV characters, Phyl Petrillo included, speak to a trans experience, and why Phyl’s funeral speaks to a trans nightmare.
Listen to our previous Golden Girls episodes:
- The Golden Girls Meet a Trans Man (with Ada’s co-host, Henry Giardina)
- Glen Writes a Golden Girls (a.k.a. “Vince Meat”)
- The Golden Girls Had a Gay Live-In Cook
- Blache’s Homo Brother Wants to Get Gay Married
- Blanche’s Brother Is a Homo
- Dorothy’s Friend Is a Lesbian
You should subscribe to Ada’s podcats, Totally Trans! Do it now!
And listen to the Totally Trans episodes we mention in our talk:
- Ariel from The Little Mermaid is a trans girl
- Pinocchio is a trans boy
- That time Golden Girls was totally transphobic
Also have a listen to the Bone & Sickle episode about Medusa that Drew somehow found a way to bring up.
Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons.
Buy Glen’s movie, Being Frank.
Support us on Patreon!
Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter
Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn
This episode’s outro track is “Don’t Treat Me So Bad” by Linda “Babe” Majika: Apple Music • Amazon Music • Spotify
Comments
Listening to this makes me want to hear you discuss the trans implications of 3rd Rock from the Sun, seeing as they are aliens with a different concept of gender, and Sally is tasked with being “the woman.” (Who, in one episode, starts dating a gay guy who seems to think she’s a drag queen until he sees her naked.)
Steven Bucsok
2021-03-28 23:09:26 +0000 UTCThanks for the compliment! I'm glad my name brought so much joy. I can only hope there were multiple Frasier references. I didn't know Drew was a fan of Dazzler. I'll see if I can find a photo of my Dazzler cosplay. Great episode and a great guest. Subscribed to Totally Trans too.
Rufus Crane
2021-03-26 02:48:43 +0000 UTCI really liked this episode, Ada is a wonderful guest
crystalhearts
2021-03-26 01:33:14 +0000 UTCEarl Boen (the priest) played the second chef on “It’s A Living,” although he was on during the second season when it was dubbed “Making a Living.” He replaced Bert Remsen who only lasted the first season, and he was in turn replaced by Richard Stahl for the syndicated seasons. He also, as you mentioned, played a recurring role on “Mama’s Family.”
VeeAaaRrr
2021-03-22 20:58:48 +0000 UTCOkay, I remember this character existing but I had no memory of this actor playing the role.
Drew Mackie
2021-03-21 04:43:31 +0000 UTCI remember the priest guy's character in Terminator! He's Kyle's psychiatrist at the police office in the first one, then Sarah's psychiatrist in the hospital in the second one, and then I think in the third one he just happens to be on hand during an action sequence to tell somebody that Terminators aren't real and then be immediately proven wrong for a comedy beat. Between these two characters, he sure plays some folks who are bad at their jobs!
Seth Aaron Hershman has they she pronouns
2021-03-20 23:43:41 +0000 UTCDr. Short was a great guest! This was an especially educational episode too. I never knew the history of the word “queer.” Also, the mention of Vision’s wife broke my heart. Tom King makes wonderful comics. (Is the presence of Wiccan an excuse to do a WandaVision episode?)
Ryan Cores
2021-03-20 07:09:22 +0000 UTCI can't remember whether I've commented this already, but it's awesome when you have academics on to discuss these TV episodes.
Erin Hardy
2021-03-19 22:46:40 +0000 UTCI never thought about Golden Girls in that way. That was so interesting and I really enjoyed listening to this perspective on it. I wish golden girls had done better with trans characters. Brian sings and swings might be one of the better Family Guy episodes you can do. Even then, I don't feel like it it has aged very well. I liked it when it first came out, but I was in high school when it first came out.
Caitlin Pring
2021-03-19 10:37:56 +0000 UTC
