User Reviews

Dorothy's joy over the announcement of her daughter Kate's impending nuptials quickly turns to anger and dread when Kate insists that her father come, an idea Dorothy isn't exactly keen on, given the circumstances of their breakup...

"Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding" is a classic episode that is memorable for one reason alone: it introduces the world to Dorothy's smarmy, yet lovable, ex-husband Stan, masterfully played by Herbert Edelman.

As you can obviously tell from the first paragraph of this review, this is a Dorothy episode. Since it's only the second episode, she gets her first real chance to anchor an episode and passes with flying colors. The trademark Dorothy dry wit and the beginnings of her hilariously contemptuous relationship with Stan take center stage here.

Other than that, the other three are kind of pushed into the background, though they do get their moments: Sophia, like clockwork, tosses off inappropriate one-liners and Blanche gives the first of her infamous sexually charged rants. The writers still haven't quite figured out what to do with Rose... yet.

The one negative of this episode is that Stan is not quite as likable here as he would be in later episodes. Don't get me wrong, Stan is a walking joke and Dorothy doesn't miss an opportunity to cut him down to size but here he's just not as much fun as he would later grow to be. This could be probably be attributed to the fact that he was a new character and they hadn't figured out who they really wanted Stan to be, but he's a little too lecherous here and had they had kept him this way, I don't think he would have gone over as well. Fortunately, they would figure it all out later.

That being said, "Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding" is still a step up from a somewhat uneven pilot, with the best yet to come.

"And this is his toupee....." ("Nice to meet you both", Rose says.....)

Herbert Edelman, a well known character actor from the Broadway stage, film and TV, makes his first of 25 appearances as Stanley Zbornak, ex-husband of Dorothy (Bea Arthur) whom he ran out on after more than 35 years of marriage. With his hideous toupee and snarky attitude towards his ex-wife, he becomes an unforgettable character although there were many times I could not stomach him. He comes to Miami from Maui (minus his much younger wife Chrissy who was injured much to Dorothy's delight) for daughter Kate's (Lisa Jane Persky) wedding. Dorothy is thrilled that Kate is engaged to a doctor (Dennis Drake) whom she is disappointed to find out is only a foot doctor. Too bad that she didn't contact him later on in season 1 when she needed a pediatrist for her operation for a small tumor in her foot.

But this episode really doesn't deal with Kate and Dennis, although they will return for an episode in season two played by other actors. It deals with Dorothy's resentment towards Stanley, not really for leaving her, but for not having the courage to contact her himself. This is probably one of the best Stan episodes because it doesn't show him as a caricature, and he doesn't attempt to cry that phony sob every time things seemed to be going bad for him. This begins to reveal the inner makings of the individual families, although Dorothy's other children and siblings are not present here or mentioned. But as far as Dorothy's revenge is concerned, it is appropriate and justified and gives her sympathy because she finally gets to tell Stanley just what she thinks of him. Future episodes with him were funny but they lack in reality concerning all the hurt he put Dorothy through, and at times, makes her seem pathetically insecure, something that we came to know Dorothy for the most part not to be.

Dorothy is visited by her daughter Kate (the adorable Lisa Jane Persky, "The Great Santini"), who soon announces that she plans on marrying her podiatrist boyfriend Dennis (Dennis Drake). Elated for a while that her girl is marrying a doctor (and a good-looking one, to boot), Dorothy is not happy that she will have to be in the same room as her ex-husband Stan (the great character actor Herb Edelman, "The Odd Couple"). She still harbors a lot of resentment towards the man, especially since he couldn't walk away from 38 years of marriage in a direct way: he had his lawyer tell Dorothy the marriage was over.

Marked by some especially funny lines and situations (Sophia has a definite fondness for devouring cheese balls), 'Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding?' is particularly amusing when Dorothy and her friends fawn all over Dennis. Knowing full well how antagonistic Dorothy feels towards Stan, Blanche & Rose are tasked with keeping an eye on her. As usual, Estelle Getty walks away with all of her scenes, and in the end it's Sophia that offers the sage advice that the bitter Dorothy obviously needs. Ultimately, this second episode is about learning to confront those who've done you wrong so you don't continue to stew about it for the rest of your life.

Making the first of his 25 appearances as Stan, Edelman does a solid job, even if the character is far from sympathetic and definitely fairly smarmy. Best of all is when Dorothy whips the toupee off of Stans' head, and still has it in her hand when the episode ends: a truly priceless final gag.

The first Dorothy-centric episode, it gives Beatrice Arthur plenty to work with, and she pulls it off in style.

Eight out of 10.

Dorothy's daughter is coming to announce her wedding to a doctor, well a podiatrist, and Dorothy is happy but she has to deal with the fact that her daughter wants to invite Dorothy's ex Stanley who left her in the worst way possible for a woman half her age, but in order to give her daughter the wedding she wants, Dorothy tries her best.

Man there seem to be lots of weddings on this show! This is a Dorothy episode and she handles it very well. Hope to see more of the other girls in the next episodes.

I liked the scene when Dorothy tells Stanley off. He seems such douche-bag so it is nice to see her have the last word.