As a young leading man in films of the 1950's, Peter Hansen seemed like pretty much every other young leading man of the time. Handsome, romantic, but because of the material he was given, slightly bland. Primetime TV got him, and then he was snagged up by "General Hospital" where for 20 years he played the noble attorney Lee Baldwin who went through several marriages and a battle with alcoholism and a troubled relationship with his son Scotty before being cast in this fifth episode of "Golden Girls". In spite of the issues he went through, the character of Lee Baldwin was a noble man who provided a moral voice for the people who sought out his legal advice. By the time that this episode aired, his character was Mayor of Port Charles and well beloved, but the writing was on the wall for him, and by the end of the year, he was written off the show. He had won a Daytime Emmy, so his status as a soap legend was set, and fortunately, he would be brought back on a recurring basis, even highlighting "GH's" spin-off "Port Charles" as the show's patriarch.
But while his dealings with "General Hospital" staff had him best friends with noble doctors, he was far from noble as Dr. Elliot Clayton who makes a house call to treat Sophia. As a doctor, he's fine, but as a lover? Definitely a louse! No sooner has he expressed interest in Dorothy than he's ogling Blanche which sets the two friends against each other as romantic rivals. Blanche certainly expresses her attraction to him, but Dorothy has made it clear that she wants Blanche to remain as far away from Dr. Clayton as possible. But the moment that Dorothy is out of the room on one of their later dates, Elliot makes a play for Blanche which disturbs her so much that she punches him in the arm! Rose witnesses this and decides to make her own play for Elliot knowing that either Blanche or Dorothy or Sophia will overhear. "Did anybody ever tell you that you look exactly like Jerry Vale?", she inquires. "He's the only man who can make the hair on my arms stand up on end!" Betty White adds in comical movements in her awkward attempt to be seductive, and it hysterically adds dimensions to her character that will come up in later episodes to show that she isn't the dingbat everybody thinks she is when she needs to make a point, no St. Olaf story included.
The conflict really turns interesting thanks to its conclusion which shows how the women will make amends after misunderstandings are resolved. Each of the women needs their moment to either save face, become humble or defend themselves, and the moods that are dealt with (especially between Dorothy and Blanche) are very well thought out and explored in the dialog. Hansen is great because as as doctor and a man who appears to have class and style, the audience is fooled until he makes his move on McLanahanan. For "General Hospital" fans, it is a real treat, because to see one of the show's most beloved vets in a completely different kind of role shows his versatility.
But while his dealings with "General Hospital" staff had him best friends with noble doctors, he was far from noble as Dr. Elliot Clayton who makes a house call to treat Sophia. As a doctor, he's fine, but as a lover? Definitely a louse! No sooner has he expressed interest in Dorothy than he's ogling Blanche which sets the two friends against each other as romantic rivals. Blanche certainly expresses her attraction to him, but Dorothy has made it clear that she wants Blanche to remain as far away from Dr. Clayton as possible. But the moment that Dorothy is out of the room on one of their later dates, Elliot makes a play for Blanche which disturbs her so much that she punches him in the arm! Rose witnesses this and decides to make her own play for Elliot knowing that either Blanche or Dorothy or Sophia will overhear. "Did anybody ever tell you that you look exactly like Jerry Vale?", she inquires. "He's the only man who can make the hair on my arms stand up on end!" Betty White adds in comical movements in her awkward attempt to be seductive, and it hysterically adds dimensions to her character that will come up in later episodes to show that she isn't the dingbat everybody thinks she is when she needs to make a point, no St. Olaf story included.
The conflict really turns interesting thanks to its conclusion which shows how the women will make amends after misunderstandings are resolved. Each of the women needs their moment to either save face, become humble or defend themselves, and the moods that are dealt with (especially between Dorothy and Blanche) are very well thought out and explored in the dialog. Hansen is great because as as doctor and a man who appears to have class and style, the audience is fooled until he makes his move on McLanahanan. For "General Hospital" fans, it is a real treat, because to see one of the show's most beloved vets in a completely different kind of role shows his versatility.
