Bea Arthur: Marine Chick

In perhaps the most incredible story to be leaked in recent memory*, The Smoking Gun has revealed documents showing that Bea Arthur was one of the first members of the Women's Reserve and spent more than 30 months as a typist and TRUCK DRIVER in the marines. If Bea could possibly do anything else to cement her legendary status I think this is it. As if Jennifer Anniston could drive a truck for the marines. Puh-leeeease!

Actually, come to think of it, World War II wasn't the only conflict that Bea has ever been part of. Let's not forget her stint as a bartender on Tatooine during a rather difficult time for the rebels in the 1979 Star Wars Holiday Special...

Since that special was a major flop (though I can't see why), allow me to also post this clip from The Golden Girls, which I once heard Bea say was her favorite episode because she got to sing. Yes, that's right, and acting, singing, typing, truck-driving, substitute teacher who lived with her mother in Miami. Take that, Anniston!

*I'm not that impressed by Wiki Leaks anyway. Remember, I used to smoke a lot of pot and watch CNN for hour after hour in college. I knew most of this stuff.

Surely You Can't be Serious

Unfortunately, I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. Leslie Nielsen has died.

While he'll mainly be remembered as the doctor in Airplane! and as Lieutenant Frank Drebin in Naked Gun, I'll also always remember him as Blanche's uncle Lucas, who married Dorothy in the series finale of The Golden Girls.

More on him tomorrow, but for now enjoy this little clip which added a little strangeness to the finale...