41 Behind-the-Scenes 'The Golden Girls' Facts - 'Golden Girls' Trivia. For example, in the pilot episode, Blanche states that she is 54 going on 55, which would mean that her age at the start of the show was 54. In the end, the math adds up to Dorothy being 53 at the start of the series and 60 at the series' end. Shopping Guide 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 Golden Girls first aired on September 14, 1985, and it continues to appeal to both young and older audiences. The company expected the show to appeal to older female viewers. The classic NBC comedy The Golden Girls broke boundaries with its cast of four older women, a representation that was previously lacking on television. In 2022, we no longer believe that women need to lose their purpose once they hit the big 5-0. This suggests that she was likely in her early 50s when the show began. 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. Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kristen Davis in And Just Like That. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. She would return home to New York if she were unsuccessful. She was also impressed by Getty's audition for the role of the mother of Steven Keaton (played by actor Michael Gross) for a guest episode of Family Ties. The Golden Girls is one of four live-action shows, along with All in the Family, Will & Grace, and Schitt's Creek, where all the principal actors have won at least one Emmy. Despite fan theories that the actresses were playing characters much younger than their actual age, Rue McClanahan's age in 1985 was 52, one year younger than her character on the show. The series also ranked among the Nielsen ratings' top ten for six of its seven seasons. Getty figured it would be her last chance to find television or film work. [70][self-published source?] Dorothy is revealed to be a Leo in another episode, which means she was born in July or August of 1932, making her character 53 years old at the time the series began. Sophia then recounts to Dorothy the account of the night Dorothy was conceived in Season 3, Episode 5, Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself. Sophia claims it happened in 1931, so Dorothy was most likely born in 1932, based on her sign. The series, starring Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan as four women sharing a Miami home, was an instant hit -- and eventually won all four of its stars Emmys. Cheers. And that was, to me, what made it seem like it could be a contemporary, young show. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! Arthur was born on May 13, 1922, making her the second oldest actress in the main cast. Estelle Getty, however, was 62 in 1985, making her 17 years younger than the character she portrayed. Similarly, Dorothy mentions in another episode that she was married in 1960, which would have made her 22. As a tribute to the success of The Golden Girls, all four actresses were later named Disney Legends as part of the class of 2009.[78]. 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. The sitcom was conceptualized by writer Susan Harris. The show never approached the popularity or acclaim of the original, and ranked 57th[citation needed] in the annual ratings. It was popular for addressing a demographic that rarely saw the spotlight on television or in Hollywood: senior women. According to Evans, "I wanted a sexy, soft, and flowing look for Rue, a tailored, pulled-together look for Bea, a down-home look for Betty, and comfort for Estelle. Hurwitz later created Arrested Development for Fox and later for Netflix. We will always remember Rue McClanahan, Betty White, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty for bringing joy into our lives and for being our friends. Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). In "And Just Like That", Miranda and Charlotte are 54, while Carrie is 55. Who was the youngest Golden Girl cast member? dog | 281K views, 6.6K likes, 7.7K loves, 9.7K comments, 2.9K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from AMC Princess Ana - Team AMC Ana: This is Ana's FIRST. Ellen Albertini Dow played Sophia's friend Lillian and an unnamed hospital patient with a flower cart. The Golden Girls was part of a series of Brandon Tartikoff shows that put an end to NBC's ratings slump, along with The Cosby Show, 227, Night Court, Miami Vice, and L.A. Law. I kept reading scenes to them and saying, 'God, this is brilliant [] There's nothing trendy about this show. McClanahan insisted on the character having a thick Southern accent, a popular aspect of her character throughout the show. Estelle Getty reprised her role as Sophia in The Golden Palace, which only lasted for one season. Although the womens ages were rarely disclosed, some deductive work may be used to approximate how old each Golden Girl was at the commencement of the series. 2. Although the writing was mostly comical, dramatic moments and sentimental endings were included in several episodes. One such source is the actors who played the characters. 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 . The Golden Girls: Live! As of September 8, 2021 all 7 seasons of The Golden Girls were made available to stream on Disney+ in Canada. In the original Sex and the City, Samatha Jones (Kim Cattrall) was in her late 40s/ early 50s, but Cattrall decided not to be a part of the reboot. Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman were the first head writers of the series, and wrote for the show's first four seasons. Rue McClanahan is the youngest Golden Girl! These ages seem to contradict what is stated in the show, suggesting that the characters may actually be younger than their stated ages. [24] The Cosby Show director Jay Sandrich, who had previously worked with Harris, Witt, and Thomas on Soap, agreed to direct the pilot episode. In "And Just Like That.", Miranda and Charlotte are 54, while Carrie is 55. . In fact, that's who I think she thought she was."[37]. Blanche Devereaux, Dorothy Zbornak, and Sophia Petrillo managed the single life as seniors in Miami for seven seasons. [32], Getty, who went through a three-hour transformation to become Sophia, wore heavy make-up, thick glasses, and a white wig to look the part. However, White and McClanahan wanted to play against their typecasting, so McClanahan was cast as Blanche instead. Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak, Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo, Betty White as Rose Nylund, and Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). From left to right- Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls. Hulu estimated that over 11 million hours were spent viewing this sitcom in 2020 alone, making it one of the top ten most binge-watched series on the streaming service. However, her popularity with audiences caused Sophia to become a main character in the series. [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). Blanche Devereauxs age had been a mystery and a recurrent joke for most of the Golden Girls, and it had been saved until last. Betty Whites heartbreaking final post on her Instagram with the caption: My 100th birthday I cannot believe it is coming up, and People Magazine is celebrating with me! (Credit: Betty Whites Instagram). Blanche (played by Rue McClanahan) was thought to be around 47 years old in the first season of Golden Girls. The Golden Girls ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992. How Old Were the Golden Girls? Soap lasted for four seasons and was marred by controversy due to Harriss insistence on including content that dealt with themes of sexuality, religion, and race. Sophia was never ashamed to confess her age, and she often took advantage of it to get an advantage over the other ladies in the home. We assume that middle-aged women continue to live their lives working, partying, being mothers, or hanging with their friends. 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? By tape day, she was unreachable. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be?,The Golden Girls' ages were never quite revealed on screen. Beginning in 1990, Marc Cherry served as writer and producer, years before creating Desperate Housewives, which ran on ABC from 2004 to 2012. Their regular writer declined, so Witt asked his wife, Susan Harris,[24] who had been semiretired since the conclusion of their ABC series Soap. Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper and Betty White as Ellen Harper-Jackson in the 1983 sitcom Mamas Family (Credit: NBC). McClanahan deliberately exaggerated her accent, stating, "I played Blanche the way I felt Blanche. [41] Rue McClanahan, who shared a dressing room with Getty, described the severity of Getty's stage fright: "She'd panic. The oldest character in Golden Girls is Sophia (Estelle Getty), who is thought to be about 80 years old at the start of the series. [31] The suit was later settled. Sophia, Dorothys straight-talking mother, was the Golden Girls houses oldest figure. We can also look at other clues from the show itself. Blanche Devereaux, a widow, was joined by Rose Nylund, a fellow widow, and Dorothy Zbornak, a divorced woman after they both answered a room-for-rent post on the bulletin board of a local grocery shop. This could be because the writers wanted to create an atmosphere of timelessness or to emphasize the idea that age is just a number. Gettleman says she suffered from advanced. How Old Was Rose Nylund On Golden Girls? Reportedly, White doubted that she could effectively play the role of Rose. Estelle Getty auditioned and won the role as the feisty mother of character Dorothy Zbornak, due, in part, to the rave reviews she garnered in her off-Broadway role reprisal for the 1984 Los Angeles run of Torch Song Trilogy. Bea Arthur actually hated cheesecake. Shoes Accessories, Copyright Your Next Shoes 2010 - 2023 |, The 9 Best Classic and Designer High Top Sneaker Brands, How to Spot Fake Converse Shoes: 10 Ways to Tell Real All Star Sneakers, Sabrina Carpenter Presents K-Pop Twice With Breakthrough Award in Racy Mini Dress Amidst Shawn Mendes Dating Rumors, The Cast of Creed III: What 7 Actors Look Like in Real Life, Aubrey Plaza and Jenna Ortega Steal the Show at SAG Awards With Hilarious Deadpan Presentation, Next in Fashion Season 2 Cast: Gigi Hadid Promotes Netflix Show in 5 Stunning Outfits, Jessica Simpson Shares Adorable Photo With Mini-Me Daughter Birdie Mae on Instagram. Though Harris had created the character of Dorothy with a "Bea Arthur type" in mind, Littlefield and the producers initially envisioned actress Elaine Stritch for the part. 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. 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. [59], Costume designer Judy Evans created distinctive looks for each of the four actresses to suit their characters' personalities and to reflect the Florida setting. You have a lot of table reads where the actors will mess it up because they don't understand what the characters are doing, or they misinterpret. New York: Harper Collins. This "created a great deal of stress and competitiveness amongst those of us who weren't in that inner sanctum. As of 2019, every episode is available for streaming on Stan. Sophia was never afraid to admit how old she was, often using it to her advantage over the other women in the house. According to the math, Blanche was 53 at the start of the series. The story follows four older single women (three widows and one divorced) who share a home in Miami, Florida. The Golden Girls are also dressed in cardigans or long dresses, similar to the outfits we would find in our grandmothers closet. She wanted to be a Southern heroine, like Vivien Leigh. Empty Nest launched its own spin-off in 1991 set in Miami in the same hospital where Dr. Weston worked. Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Styles However, Season 3, Episode 25, "Mother's Day," confirms Blanche was 17 in 1949, when she and her mother reminisce about one of Blanche's dates. 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. They decided that a separate cook would distract from their friendship. In Southeast Asia, Rewind Networks began airing reruns of The Golden Girls on its HD channel, HITS, in 2013. How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? However, the exterior backdrop seen through the kitchen window changed from the view of Chicago high-rises to palm trees and bushes for the Miami setting. According to the show, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is 55 . She had established this signature look while playing Maude, and Evans honored it in her designs for Dorothy.