Yet Another Timeline Screwup - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Michael1973 · 03-28-2003, 11:33 AM

Awhile back on this board, there were a few discussions about the many continuity errors on The Golden Girls. I recently discovered another one that I don't believe was mentioned before.

In the episode where Dorothy's son Michael has an affair with Rose's daughter, Dorothy mentions that he is 29 years old. Then in the next season, in the episode where Michael is marrying an older woman, Dorothy repeatedly mentions that he's 23 (not to mention it's a different actor!).

Anybody ever notice that?

*PinkLady* · 03-28-2003, 11:51 AM

Yeah, I noticed that too. I wonder what age or actor Michael would have been if he showed up a third time...

Dianne3 · 03-28-2003, 04:35 PM

There's more.

In Season 5, he is 30. That's the episode where he is freeloading of Dorothy, Dorothy kicks him out, he then goes to freeload of Stan, and then Stan kicks him out.

In season 2, he is 29.
In season 3, he is 23.
In season 5, he is 30.

jayman75 · 03-28-2003, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lurkernomore
There's more.

In Season 5, he is 30. That's the episode where he is freeloading of Dorothy, Dorothy kicks him out, he then goes to freeload of Stan, and then Stan kicks him out.

In season 2, he is 29.
In season 3, he is 23.
In season 5, he is 30.

Ahh, the wonders of television...

shocolah · 03-30-2003, 11:46 PM

That really bugs me. If he was 23, how old was Dorothy when she had him? 37 or so? And I guess D. had Kate first when she was 18. Michael and Kate look like they are no more than 3 years apart. I would think that one of the actresses/actors would have piped in and realized this not to mention the writers. Why do they do this? Why don't they do more research? It's not that difficult to keep track of this stuff. I don't mean to b!tch up a storm, but come on, we're talking a 20 year age gap between the times she had Kate and Michael. Slaps to the writers for doing this!!!!!

jayman75 · 03-31-2003, 11:05 AM

It all goes back to Episode One.

Dorothy was married for 38 years. She got pregnant in her senior year of high school. That would make her 18. IF she got married then (which we'll assume), she would have been 56 at the time of her divorce. She said she had been divorced a year or two before she moved in. That would push it to nearly 60.

Yet, she is sometimes 55, 60, and who knows what other ages.

The writing was great -- but the math sucked.

Dianne3 · 03-31-2003, 02:32 PM

My theory to explain some of the bloopers, is that after winning 2 consecutive emmy's for "Best Comedy" in seasons 1 & 2, the original set of writers got bored/complacent with the show.

Doesn't explain all the bloopers, but I think it does explain some. How can they not remember what they wrote the year before?

How can Micheal be 23 in year 3, when just the year before he was 29? Another blooper is in year 3, Rose mentions she was class valedectorian, and in year 4, Rose says she never graduated high school.

03-28-2003, 11:33 AM	#1
Michael1973 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 23, 2003 Posts: 87	Yet Another Timeline Screwup Awhile back on this board, there were a few discussions about the many continuity errors on The Golden Girls. I recently discovered another one that I don't believe was mentioned before. In the episode where Dorothy's son Michael has an affair with Rose's daughter, Dorothy mentions that he is 29 years old. Then in the next season, in the episode where Michael is marrying an older woman, Dorothy repeatedly mentions that he's 23 (not to mention it's a different actor!). Anybody ever notice that?

03-28-2003, 11:51 AM	#2
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	Yeah, I noticed that too. I wonder what age or actor Michael would have been if he showed up a third time...

03-28-2003, 04:35 PM	#3
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,057	There's more. In Season 5, he is 30. That's the episode where he is freeloading of Dorothy, Dorothy kicks him out, he then goes to freeload of Stan, and then Stan kicks him out. In season 2, he is 29. In season 3, he is 23. In season 5, he is 30.

03-30-2003, 11:46 PM	#5
shocolah Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 01, 2001 Posts: 546	That really bugs me. If he was 23, how old was Dorothy when she had him? 37 or so? And I guess D. had Kate first when she was 18. Michael and Kate look like they are no more than 3 years apart. I would think that one of the actresses/actors would have piped in and realized this not to mention the writers. Why do they do this? Why don't they do more research? It's not that difficult to keep track of this stuff. I don't mean to b!tch up a storm, but come on, we're talking a 20 year age gap between the times she had Kate and Michael. Slaps to the writers for doing this!!!!!

03-31-2003, 11:05 AM	#6
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	It all goes back to Episode One. Dorothy was married for 38 years. She got pregnant in her senior year of high school. That would make her 18. IF she got married then (which we'll assume), she would have been 56 at the time of her divorce. She said she had been divorced a year or two before she moved in. That would push it to nearly 60. Yet, she is sometimes 55, 60, and who knows what other ages. The writing was great -- but the math sucked.

03-31-2003, 02:32 PM	#7
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,057	My theory to explain some of the bloopers, is that after winning 2 consecutive emmy's for "Best Comedy" in seasons 1 & 2, the original set of writers got bored/complacent with the show. Doesn't explain all the bloopers, but I think it does explain some. How can they not remember what they wrote the year before? How can Micheal be 23 in year 3, when just the year before he was 29? Another blooper is in year 3, Rose mentions she was class valedectorian, and in year 4, Rose says she never graduated high school.