Sylvia Fine

The Nanny is another show that I like to watch (I have the first 3 seasons on DVD, the other 3 have yet to be released). Anyway, I thought about Sylvia (Fran’s mother) when we talked about Jewish Americans in class. To me, Sylvia portrays a typical Jewish mother, offering over-bearing guidance, eating often, and always trying to maintain an important and prevalent role in her daughter's life. I found some lines from the show that I felt demonstrated this:

[Sylvia notices a mark on Fran's neck, which Sylvia mistakenly thinks is a hickey]
Fran: [looking the mark on her neck in the mirror in horror] What is that?

Sylvia Fine: Enough already. You don't have to hide. You can have a hickey at your age. You can have osteoporosis at your age.

Fran Fine: [looking down her own blouse in shock] Oh my God, it goes all the way down my body.

Sylvia Fine: [excitedly, still thinking it's a hickey] Mazel Tov, darling!

Therapist: So ladies, what brings you to therapy?

Fran Fine: I came because my mother has an obsession with me getting married.

Sylvia Fine: I came because my daughter has a delusion that I have an obsession.

Fran Fine: Ma, I met this man at Danny's funeral.

Sylvia Fine: Fabulous! He's Jewish?

Fran Fine: Yeah, and a doctor.

Sylvia Fine: Oh!

Fran Fine: And he's gay.

Sylvia Fine: So you seeing him again?

- Josh Steffen