Courtney Love took a potshot at Auntie Mame recently when she likened herself to a "junkie" version of the beloved silver screen Auntie. In an effort to clear Auntie Mame's name, here's a little background on why, unlike Love, the fictional Auntie is a fabulous role model! For good measure, we also threw in a few other pop-culture-inspired Aunties we think your nieces and nephews should get to know.
 
Aunt Bee from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
Aunt Bee is the quintessential domestic Auntie, with her ample curves begging to be hugged, her delicious treats ever ready to be served to the hungry men in her life, and her sage advice that never fails.

Auntie Em from THE WIZARD OF OZ
The practical Auntie Em may not have understood her dreamer of a niece, Dorothy, but she loved her fiercely. She is the ultimate tough love Auntie.

Aunt Mae from SPIDER-MAN
Best known for being Peter Parker's loving ParAunt, throughout the Spider-Man series (both in comics and in film) Aunt Mae is a constant source of wisdom and comfort for Peter.

And, of course, Auntie Mame from AUNTIE MAME
She was flashy and forward-thinking (she gets kicked off a stage because her jangling bracelet disrupts the play; she sends her orphaned nephew, Patrick, to a school where the students demonstrate how fish fertilize their eggs), but always classy and self-reliant.  She raises Patrick through the Roaring ‘20s and the Depression, teaching him how to love life and live it to the fullest even in the leanest of times.

For more famous fictional Aunties, check out page 35 of SAVVY AUNTIE: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids.

Photo Courtesy of Samplage
Published: June 8, 2011