The NBC sitcom debuted one Saturday in September some 37 years ago today.
Many of the more recent TV or streaming series that center on female friendship are often depicted with women in the prime of their lives. Think "Sex and the City" or more recently, "The Bold Type." But back in the 1980's, one creative team and one network dared to venture into an age group that would surprise and delight viewers: women over 50. That's when "The Golden Girls" came in and captured the imagination of the world.
"The Golden Girls" debuted on September 14, 1985 on NBC, putting a spotlight on a demographic that networks and advertisers at the time were simply not quite interested in, Forbes reported. However, the show, which was created by one of America's most prolific television writers Susan Harris, would go on to reap awards throughout its seven-year run.
What Set 'The Golden Girls' Apart from Other TV Hits at the Time
"The Golden Girls" managed to break the stereotype that women aged 50 and older led boring lives at home, knitting and spending time with their cats. The show found its leads in Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy Zbornak, Betty White who brought life to Rose Nylund, Rue McClanahan who played Blanche Devereaux, and Estelle Getty who portrayed Sophia Petrillo. Together, these four women shared a Miami home and showed viewers the vibrant, exciting lives that women 50 and above continue to lead despite the issues brought about by that specific stage in life.
The show also tackled sensitive issues such as sexual harrassment, illnesses, sexually transmitted diseases, and the LGBT community, topics that are easily still relevant today.
"We were four active, vibrant, funny women, three of whom were still working and all who dared to still have an active sex life," White, who passed away on December 31, 2021 from a stroke, said during an interview with the media publication.
"We were all widows, but not lonely. And we were women to be valued and cared about, not cast aside, and an important part of society," the actress said.
"The Golden Girls" was well-received by viewers, so much so that it had 25 million viewers during its debut and went on to receive 11 Emmy Awards, including one each for all of the four main leads. The NBC series also received four Golden Globe Awards.
5 Facts About NBC's 'The Golden Girls'
1. "The Golden Girls" actresses were initially offered different parts.
The role of Blanche was initially offered to White, while McClanahan was given the part of Rose, but the two eventually swapped roles upon the suggestion of McClanahan to Harris, who was not only the series creator but also the executive producer, ABC News reported. Getty eventually landed the role of Sophia after coming to the audition looking like "a little old lady."
2. Getty's Sophia was initially only a recurring role.
Upon the pilot episode's airing on September 14, 1985, audiences immediately fell in love with Getty's Sophia, which caused producers to promote her to a series regular.
3. "The Golden Girls" residence is actually in California.
Parade reported that while the show was set in Miami, the actual house was based on a ranch-style home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. As of 2020, it was valued at almost $3 million.
4. A fifth character, a gay housekeeper, was written out of the show to focus on the Girls.
Originally, the show had five regular charcters, with the fifth being a gay housekeeper named Coco, who was played by Charles Levin. But producers decided to write him off after just one episode to focus on the women.
5. All four actresses passed away from health issues.
Getty was the first to pass away from a brain disease called Lewy body dementia in 2008 at the age of 84, followed by Arthur who died from cancer a year later. In 2010, McClanahan suffered a stroke that took her life, while White passed in her sleep from a stroke in 2021.
