The basic facts to work with are that The Golden Girls began in 1985 and ended in 1992, both in real life and in-world. Clearly, the wardrobe and hairstyles in each show are extremely different from each other. Win free shoes, organize your shoe closet, see the latest styles + more, About [51], During season six, some uncertainty arose over whether Bea Arthur would commit to future seasons, or leave the show once her contract expired, to pursue other projects. Ironically, the actress who played Sophia, Estelle Getty, was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played her daughter, Dorothy. One, while the characters ages on the show appeared to be quite consistentBlanche, Rose, and Dorothy were all in their mid-50s, and Sophia was Dorothys widowed, elderly motherthe actors who played them were all somewhat varied in age. One such source is the actors who played the characters. Getty was the first of the four stars to die in 2008 at age 84. Writer and producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason created a sitcom with this kind of image as a "four women" show, which became Designing Women on CBS. Blanche was inspired by the popular fictional characters Blanche DuBois (from A Streetcar Named Desire, a famous 1947 Broadway play written by Tennessee Williams) and Vivien Leigh, who portrayed the same character in the 1951 film adaptation alongside Marlon Brando. Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind the Lanai. Blanche lied to her housemates about her age so easily (and Sophia promptly called her out and said shed be 70 when the kid graduated), its reasonable to assume she was 53 when The Golden Girls premiered. Details on Betty White and Bea Arthur's Off-Screen Feud", "CNN Official Interview: Betty White: Bea Arthur was not fond of me", "Marc Cherry Shares His Memories of Writing for Golden Girls", "Golden Girls weren't so chummy off the screen, star's son reveals", "Estelle Getty, 'Golden Girls' Matriarch, Dies at 84", "Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' Dies at 84", "Bea Arthur's son says she 'wasn't really close to anybody' despite 'Golden Girls' fame", "The Changing Face of Modern Television: When Costume Design Costars", "Bea-ing Stylish: Former "Golden Girl" Bea Arthur Talks About Comfort Clothes, Going Barefoot and Her Famous "Maude" Wardrobe", "7 Must-Have Items from Rue McClanahan's Estate Sale", "30 Things You Never Knew About 'The Golden Girls', "The Golden Girls Creators On Finding a New Generation of Fans", "The Queen Mother Loved The Golden Girls So Much That She Requested a Live Performance from the Cast", "Preview 2: The Golden Girls Arrive on Logo April 13th", "Fathom Events to Celebrate Nearly 40 Years of "The Golden Girls" This September", "The Golden Girls 25th Anniversary Complete Collection", "The Golden Girls - The Complete First Season [DVD] [1985]", "The Golden Girls - The complete Season 2 [DVD] [1986]", "The Golden Girls - Season 3 - Complete [DVD]", "TV Weekend; 3 of the Golden Girls in a New Home", "Thank You For Being a Friend brings the Golden Girls to the stage as puppets", "TVE comienza a rodar 'Juntas, pero no revueltas', su versin de 'Las chicas de oro', "TVE presenta el remake: 'Volvemos a la sitcom pero con valor seguro', "Altin Kizlar'in Setine Gizli Kamera Koymak Gerek", "Heard the one about the US sense of humour? It was my positive attitude, and that made Bea angry sometimes.. Estelle Getty reprised her role as Sophia in The Golden Palace, which only lasted for one season. The adventures of Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Rose ( universally beloved Betty White) and Sophia (Estelle Getty) -- four older women who lived in a Miami home together -- took audiences by storm and provided representation to a group generally overlooked by television of the time. [29][30], Walt Disney, NBC Studios and the creators were named in a federal copyright infringement suit filed by Nancy Bretzfield claiming the show was based on a script rejected by NBC in 1980. McClanahan insisted on the character having a thick Southern accent, a popular aspect of her character throughout the show. [50] She had reportedly started to show signs of the dementia during the filming of the television series, when, despite more than three decades of theater work, she began to struggle to remember her lines, and in later seasons of the show, had to rely on cue cards. Actress Elaine Stritch was also considered for the role, but she blew her audition by using curse words, which was something that the writers felt was out of character for Dorothy. The ages of the Golden Girls were never revealed on TV. At times, she even froze on camera while filming. Rose was probably closer to 51 than her stated age of 55, and Sophia was likely closer to 79 than her stated age of 77. The initial pilot was aired as the 1987 Golden Girls episode "Empty Nests", and starred Paul Dooley and Rita Moreno as George and Renee Corliss, a married couple living next to the Golden Girls characters, who face empty nest syndrome after their teenaged daughter goes to college. The women in The Golden Girlsall have white, short hair styled in a way we often associate with older individuals. Her thesis examined menstrual education in Victorian England. According to McClanahan, by the end of season three, Getty's anxiety had become a serious problem, and she had increasing trouble memorizing her lines. Despite her enjoyment in playing Dorothy, the show eventually concluded when Bea Arthur decided to depart the show in 1992. Airing from 1985 to 1992 with seven seasons in total, The Golden Girls was a smash hit during the entirety of its run. Arthur flipped upon reading the script, but felt hesitant about McClanahan's approach, as she did not "want to play (their Maude characters) Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens." In Australia, the show airs daily on FOX Comedy. : Extreme Stunt Show, discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, List of awards and nominations received by The Golden Girls, "TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time", Golden Girls appears to get better with pop culture age, "7 Things You Might Not Know About The Golden Girls", "The Golden Girls - Cast/Crew Documentary (2/9)", "These Are the Most-Watched TV Series Finales of All Time: 17", "The TV Ratings Guide: 1987-1988 season ratings", "Golden Girls: A 20th Anniversary Oral History", "Catching Up with the Golden Girls' Susan Harris", "Crackle's Creator Conversation: Soap's Susan Harris", The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, "Betty White and Bea Arthur's Friends Open Up About Their On-Set Feud", "Say It Isn't So, Girls! From left to right- Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls. "[72], During the NBC upfronts, the preview screening of the show got a standing ovation. Prior to that, when old people were shown on television, you could almost smell them., Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo, Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak, Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, and Betty White as Rose Nylund in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). Cheers. Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). She took to writing her lines on props at which she could glance easily, like the wicker purse Sophia always carried with her. How old were the ladies on golden girls in real life? [65][66] Eventually, McClanahan went on to create a clothing line for QVC called "A Touch of Rue", inspired by Blanche, but made with affordable fabrics and practical designs. Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman were the first head writers of the series, and wrote for the show's first four seasons. Some episodes featured flashbacks to previous episodes, flashbacks to events not shown in previous episodes, or to events that occurred before the series began. Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). Sophia is to join her, but in the end, she stays behind with the other women in Miami. However, the actress who played Sophia, Estelle Getty, was only 62 years old in real life, making her one year younger than her on-screen daughter! The Golden Girls first aired on September 14, 1985, and it continues to appeal to both young and older audiences. Chick Vennera played a prize fighter and TV reporter Enrique Mas. New York: Scribner. Celebrities The show never approached the popularity or acclaim of the original, and ranked 57th[citation needed] in the annual ratings. Betty White was actually the oldest Golden Girl. Sophia, Dorothys straight-talking mother, was the Golden Girls houses oldest figure. For instance, in the series finale, it is revealed that Blanche was born in 1931, which would make her 54 at the beginning of the show. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Although Sophia appears to be much older than the other girls in the show, Getty was actually younger than both Bea Arthur and Betty White. Colucci, Jim (2016). Exploring the Basics, Benefits, and Policies, How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News. The basic facts to work with are that The Golden Girls began in 1985 and ended in 1992, both in real life and in-world. "[44] Writer Christopher Lloyd explained that the usual situation was for all of the more junior writers to be assigned the same scene to write, with the one judged the best version becoming the one chosen. In "And Just Like That", Miranda and Charlotte are 54, while Carrie is 55. Who was the youngest Golden Girl cast member? The clever use of makeup and a wig aged Getty to match her character's age. [24] Produced to introduce the network's 198485 season schedule, two actresses appearing on NBC shows, Selma Diamond of Night Court and Doris Roberts of Remington Steele, appeared in a skit promoting the upcoming show Miami Vice as Miami Nice, a parody about old people living in Miami. This could be because the writers wanted to create an atmosphere of timelessness or to emphasize the idea that age is just a number. The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. Premiering in 1985, The Golden Girls was an instant smash, attracting a diverse audience for a then-novel concept depicting the lives of four older women sharing friendship, a home and a lot . [5] Terry Tang of the Associated Press reported that the series continues to attract new fans in the 21st century and characterized it as an example of a sitcom that has aged well. In the first season of Golden Girls, it is revealed that Rose (Betty Whites character) was 55. The Golden Girls began in 1985 and concluded in 1992, both in real life and in the fictional realm. RELATED: Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams Is Iconic for Pushing Boundaries. In an interview with The Village Voice in 2011, White stated that Arthur found me a pain in the neck sometimes. This indicates that she was likely in her late 40s when the show began. Iconic Golden-era Hollywood actress Scarlett OHara was also reportedly an inspiration for the role. Estelle Getty, however, was 62 in 1985, making her 17 years younger than the character she portrayed. [11], Ideas for a comedy series about older women emerged during the filming of a television special at NBC Studios in Burbank, California, in August 1984. These ages seem to contradict what is stated in the show, suggesting that the characters may actually be younger than their stated ages. The Golden Girls received critical acclaim throughout most of its run, and won several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series twice. It was popular for addressing a demographic that rarely saw the spotlight on television or in Hollywood: senior women. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! Ellen Albertini Dow played Sophia's friend Lillian and an unnamed hospital patient with a flower cart. We hope this article on how old were the golden girls has been interesting and has also been able to bring back good memories. The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. When all of the evidence is taken into account, it seems likely that the Golden Girls characters were actually younger than their stated ages. The series ran for a total of seven seasons and a total of 180 full-length episodes. But the women were so uniformly brilliant at nailing it the first time we basically knew that if the women didn't get it right the first time, the joke needed to be replaced." It is interesting to note that the ages of the characters are never directly addressed in the show. Rue McClanahan is the youngest Golden Girl! So why do the ladies in Golden Girls seem so much older than the characters in And Just Like That, even though theyre all supposed to be around the same age? [24] Though her vision of a sitcom about women in their 60s differed from NBC's request for a comedy about women around 40 years old,[27] Littlefield was impressed when he received her pilot script and subsequently approved production of it. "[62], Bea Arthur had a preference for wearing loose-fitting clothing, like slacks and long sweaters, along with sandals, because she hated wearing shoes. Betty White was 63 years old when the show premiered in 1985, yet she managed to play a younger persona perfectly. To portray Sophia Petrillo, Getty was required to wear makeup and a wig to appear visibly older than her co-stars. Considering how easily Blanche lied to her housemates about her age (and that Sophia immediately called her out and said she'd be 70 when the kid graduates), it's safe to assume that 53 is her actual age going into The Golden Girls. Their fears were allayed when the preview screening garnered a standing ovation and the program was instantly renewed for 12 more Golden Girls episodes. She was said to have worn aged cosmetics in character to make her appear to be an eighty-something woman. Born on January 17, 1922, Betty White was the oldest of the four main stars. The Golden Girls are also dressed in cardigans or long dresses, similar to the outfits we would find in our grandmothers closet. The series finale of The Golden Girls was watched by 27.2 million viewers. Dorothy, meanwhile, is stated to be in her early 50s, which could mean that she was anywhere between 50 and 54. Blanche Elizabeth Marie Devereaux (ne Hollingsworth) is one of the four, fictional, main characters on the highly-acclaimed, revered, and well-received 1985-1992 NBC situation-comedy/sit-com TV series, The Golden Girls, and its spin-off, The Golden Palace. The show ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992 and featured four women in their golden years living together in Miami. In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. Rose Nylund is a character from the sitcom television series The Golden Girls and its spin-off, The Golden Palace. That was the case. Going by the math, that makes Blanche 53 at the start of the series. The Golden Girls began in 1985 and concluded in 1992, both in real life and in the fictional realm. [62] Evans generally dressed the actresses in expensive pieces and high-quality fabrics, despite the recurring theme that the four characters were struggling with money, because, "The main idea was to make them look good. -- Thirty years ago today, "The Golden Girls" premiered on television. [48][49] Her co-stars, in an interview, said that her disease had progressed to the point that she was not able to hold conversations with them or recognize them. The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended, Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams Is Iconic for Pushing Boundaries. White, Betty (2010). It was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, in association with Touchstone Television. Dorothy meets and marries Blanches Uncle Lucas in the hour-long series finale, which aired in May 1992, and moves to Hollingsworth Manor in Atlanta, Georgia. Rose, who was born in 1934, would have been around 51, while Sophia, who was born in 1906, would have been 79. The golden girls trivia is the most exciting series we have created for those who love comedy. In addition, the character of Sophia had originally been planned as an occasional guest star, but Getty had tested positively with preview audiences, so the producers decided to make her a regular character. The women's ages were usually not explicitly stated, although some deductive work gives a pretty safe estimate of how old each Golden Girl was at the start of the series. The company expected the show to appeal to older female viewers. She was portrayed by Betty White for 8 years, totalling 204 episodes.. Rose was supposed to be played by Rue McClanahan, while Blanche Devereaux, one of Rose's roommates, was to be played by White.However, Jay Sandrich, the director of the show, suggested that Betty and Rue switch . After the pilot, the character of Coco was eliminated from the series. The faade was based on a real house at 245 North Saltair Avenue in the Westgate Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The basic facts to work with are that The Golden Girls began in 1985 and ended in 1992, both in real life and in-world. Please endeavor to share this article with family, friends, and colleagues. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be on the show? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. One, while the characters ages on the show appeared to be quite. New York: Harper Collins. Both Rue McClanahan and Betty White came into consideration, as the series Mama's Family, in which the two co-starred, had been cancelled by NBC. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be?,The Golden Girls' ages were never quite revealed on screen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Continue reading to find out how old were the golden girls on the set of The Golden Girls. This article promises to be interesting and really informative. Required fields are marked *. Afterwards, Getty had returned to New York, but gained permission from her manager to return to California in early 1985. [40] However, Arthur preferred that her three castmates and she all break for lunch together on workdays. The show was aired as a bilingual broadcast using a two-channel sound system (Zweikanalton). [7][8], The first episode features a cook/butler named Coco (played by Charles Levin), but the role was dropped before the second episode. In "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. Hurwitz later created Arrested Development for Fox and later for Netflix. The Golden Girls was a highly-acclaimed and rated, well-received, popular American situation-comedy/sit-com television series that aired on NBC originally from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. For simplicity, because the program lasted seven seasons, each season is treated as a different year for the purpose of simplicity. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, the show is about four older women who share a home in Miami, Florida. Roses age is the easiest to determine, owing to Dorothy revealing it in Season 1, Episode 22, Job Hunting. Dorothy exposes Roses age is exposed during a chat in which Rose describes her problems finding a new career after leaving her prior one at the grief counseling center. For example, one or more of the women would become involved in some sort of problem, often involving other family members, men, or an ethical dilemma. Rose's age is the easiest to track down, thanks to Dorothy openly saying it in Season 1, Episode 22, "Job Hunting." During a conversation where Rose discusses her difficulty finding a new job after losing her previous one at the grief counseling center, Dorothy reveals that Rose is 55. Empty Nest launched its own spin-off in 1991 set in Miami in the same hospital where Dr. Weston worked. This program, on the other hand, was centered on a group of older ladies. Arthur felt the characters had been in every possible scenario, and wanted to end the series while it was still successful. She was born on July 25, 1923, making her 62 years old by the time the sitcom premiered. Audiences can figure things out with a little detective work. However, this older age makes sense because Sophia is Dorothys mother. "[34] Getty continuously battled stage fright during her tenure on the show. [83] The 21-disc collection features all 180 episodes of the series as well as all special features contained on the previously released season sets; it is encased in special collectible packaging, a replica of Sophia's purse. Jan 31, 2023 Movie Features Harry Potter: Wait, How Are Bellatrix and Leta Lestrange Related? Dorothy states she is a Leo in Season 4, Episode 10, "Stan Takes a Wife," placing her birthday either in late July or early-to-late August. [36] Once the show was picked up for a first season, new director Paul Bogart felt exactly the opposite, insisting that McClanahan use a Southern accent. The women's ages were usually not explicitly stated, although some deductive work gives a pretty safe estimate of how old each Golden Girl was at the start of the series. In Germany, airing of the show started in January 1990, only months before the German reunification, by German public broadcaster ARD in the late evening programme on their main channel Das Erste. The Golden Girls Almost Had a Fifth Main Character - Here's Why He Was Dropped The Golden Girls broke boundaries with its main cast of older women, but it originally broke even more with the lost fifth member of the hit sitcom. Because none of the other Golden Girls explicitly disclose their ages, the logical process begins with Dorothy. [39] In 2011, White stated that she believed it was her "positive attitude" and perky demeanor that got on Arthur's nerves. Eager not to be typecast, they took the suggestion of Sandrich and switched roles at the last minute. [124] The eatery closed in November 2017 after less than a year of operation.[125]. The show is seen in more than a hundred countries. As one of the few times in television history where three shows from the same producer, set in the same city, aired back-to-back-to-back on the same network, the three shows occasionally took advantage of their unique circumstance to create storylines carrying through all three series, such as "Hurricane Saturday". [68] Many episodes of the series followed a similar format or theme. Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kristen Davis in And Just Like That. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). [25] NBC senior vice president Warren Littlefield was among the executive producers in the audience who were amused by their performance, and he envisioned a series based on the geriatric humor the two were portraying. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, the show is about four older women who share a home in Miami, Florida.It was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions . She loves spending quality time with her friends, family, and puppy Luna! The Golden Girls: Live! 2. The film Golden Girls was a critical and commercial triumph. Cherry commented on read-throughs of the scripts that "generally, if the joke was a good one, the women found a way to make it work the very first time they read it. During its original run, The Golden Girls received 68 Emmy nominations, 11 Emmy awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Viewers for Quality Television awards. Plus, Sophia was a great cook. [41], The show was the second television series to be produced by the Walt Disney Company under the Touchstone Television label, and was subsequently distributed by Buena Vista International, Inc. (which holds as the ownership stake in Disney Channel Southeast Asia, now DisneyABC Television Group). The hot young It Girl neighbor downstairsthe new Carrie Bradshaw if you will, a bruising realizationdrops the slur. How Old Was Rose Nylund On Golden Girls? (Photo Credit: New Line Cinema/ HBO/ MovieStills DB and MovieStills DB). Going off the idea that Season 1 takes place within the same year, Rose would have been 55 at the start of The Golden Girls as well, making her the oldest Golden Girl -- after Sophia, of course. Producers wanted to cast McClanahan as Rose and White as Blanche based on roles they had previously played; White portrayed the man-hungry Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, while McClanahan co-starred as the sweet but scatterbrained Vivian Harmon in Maude. (season two, episode five). It won three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series and two. Then, in Season 3, Episode 5, "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself," Sophia tells Dorothy the story of the night Dorothy was conceived. In "The Golden . One such source is the actors who played the characters. Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). As head writers, Speer and Grossman, along with Mort Nathan and Barry Fanaro, who won an Emmy Award for outstanding writing for the first season, gave general ideas to lower staff writers, and personally wrote a handful of scripts each season.[43]. We can also look at other clues from the show itself. According to the calculations, Dorothy was 53 at the start of the series, according to the calculations. [109] The production ended because the producers failed to secure the rights and received a cease-and-desist order by the creators of the original television show. Beginning July 3, 1989, NBC added daytime reruns of the show, replacing long-running Wheel of Fortune (which had moved to CBS) on the NBC schedule at 11:00am(EST); it ran until September 1990. [31] The suit was later settled. When the show hit TV screens in the 1980s, society believed that women in their 50s were more grandmotherly, and ready for retirement. Arthur died from cancer in 2009 at age 86 and McClanahan followed in. The show became a huge hit with viewers, thanks to its clever writing and strong performances by the four main stars. In "And Just Like That.", Miranda and Charlotte are 54, while Carrie is 55. . The Golden Girls Almost Had a Fifth Main Character - Here's Why He Was Dropped The Golden Girls broke boundaries with its main cast of older women, but it originally broke even more with the lost fifth member of the hit sitcom. Ironically, despite being the oldest actress in the show, Betty White was the last of the main stars to survive. She'd be walking around like Pig-Pen, under a black cloud. Rose is said to be in her mid-50s, suggesting that she was between 55 and 59. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). Blanche was probably around 50 when the show began, rather than 54. The basic facts to work with are that The Golden Girls began in 1985 and ended in 1992, both in real life and in-world. The show promptly received a full order of 12 episodes. Space was limited on the soundstage, so when the kitchen was off camera, it was usually detached from the rest of the set and the space used for something else. | RELATED: The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended. For, That was the case. Rose Nylund was 55 years old when the show premiered, as Dorothy stated in the Season 1 episode Job Hunting.. After some careful math, viewers also figured out that Dorothy (played by Bea Arthur) was supposed to be 53. While RTL initially chose to cut some scenes for time, some of the gags remain incomprehensible for their broadcast and all subsequent reruns, only to be restored partially for the release of DVD in 2005. [30] Stritch's audition flopped, however, and under the impression that Arthur did not want to participate, Harris asked McClanahan if she could persuade Arthur, with whom she worked previously on the CBS sitcom Maude, to take the role.