Happy 40th birthday Golden girls! From the fun witticisms Thanks to the on-screen chemistry between the women, this sitcom changed television history forever.
The film premiered in 1985 and starred writer and creator Susan Harris. But did you know the 1984 skit starring Dorris Roberts and Selma Was Diamond the original inspiration? They presented a video for Miami Vice, what's coming soon got a hilarious twist because Miami Nice – a show about older women. The joke was so well received that the idea Golden girls was born!
Susan Harris began her career in the 70s and was considered a pioneer in television script writing, including All in the family, Maud, Soapand much more. “It was always important to me that there was something real at the heart of the show,” she said. “Something people could relate to and not feel so alone.”
And when the opportunity arose Gold Girls came up, she was the perfect writer for the job. “I really didn't like writing young people as characters because they just didn't have a story,” she said. “And the older women, they had stories to tell.”
Next, the sitcom needed leading actresses. The cast showed Bea Arthur as Dorothy, Betty White as Rose, Rue McClanahan as Blanche and Estelle Getty as Sophia. There weren't any four-woman shows at the time, so that was a big moment.
Betty was originally considered for the role of Blanche, and Rue was considered for the role of Rose. Rue felt a connection to Blanche and eventually landed the role after director Jay Sandrich said she and Betty should switch roles. He's up to something!
One of the biggest revelations was that Bea Arthur no longer wanted to do television while the cast was being assembled. Luckily that didn't happen because the show wouldn't be the same without her! The character of Dorothy was intended specifically for Bea, and after reading the script she thought it was “brilliant”.
The famous theme song “Thank You for Being a Friend” was originally made famous by Andrew Gold. When singer Cindy Fee created her version, she had no idea what it was for and left the studio after 30 minutes.
After the pilot premiered on Saturday night in 1985, it became a success, attracting 21.5 million viewers.
Many guest stars appeared, including Debbie Reynolds, Burt Reynolds, Dick Van Dyke, Bob Hope and others. George Clooney and Mario Lopez were also featured long before they became household names.
From sex to LGBTQ+ rights, no topic was off limits. Golden girls. During Mario's appearance as “Dorothy's prized student,” they touched on the issue of immigration that is on everyone's mind these days. “And now I look at it as an adult and think, wow, that's a pretty edgy episode for a sitcom,” he said.
As the special continued, we got a candid look at the table, reading excerpts as the cast prepared for a new episode each week.
And if you've ever heard of the “feud” between Betty and Bea, the tea has been spilled. Despite their different personalities, these two never lost their professionalism. In an attempt to ease tension on set the day after the fight, stagehands pulled a prank by inserting racy photos of themselves into a prop calendar. Result? No drama and so much laughter.
In later years, Estelle had trouble remembering her lines and was later diagnosed with dementia. “When you realize she was struggling so hard and you didn't see it, it speaks to what a good actress she was,” said co-producer Marsha Posner Williams.
After seven seasons on the air, the end credits of the sitcom aired in 1992. Today the legacy continues: Golden girls it is still watched by fans all over the world, new and old. All I can say is thank you for being a friend!
