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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. The clever use of makeup and a wig aged Getty to match her character's age. Blanche would have been 60 by the series' end. Rue McClanahan. There was a lot of competition to get your words into the script. [28], The pilot included a gay houseboy, Coco (Charles Levin), who lived with the girls. Its a tiny marvel, looking back, that the Golden Girls magnificent casting came together as well as it did. According to the show, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is 55 . [citation needed]. Did Rue McClanahan have a Southern accent? 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. Bill Dana played Sophia's brother Angelo and her father. In the first season of Golden Girls, it is revealed that Rose (Betty Whites character) was 55. "It was so exciting to be with four people with that chemistry. [7][8], The first episode features a cook/butler named Coco (played by Charles Levin), but the role was dropped before the second episode. 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. The faade was based on a real house at 245 North Saltair Avenue in the Westgate Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The part of Sophia Petrillo was the first of the four roles to be cast. 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. The Golden Girls will always be remembered as a show that put a spotlight on senior women in a way no other show had done before. Audiences can figure things out with a little detective work. Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Harris served as the original executive producers. Going by the math, that makes Blanche 53 at the start of the series. This would mean that Dorothy, who was born in 1938, would have been around 47 when the show started. When the show hit TV screens in the 1980s, society believed that women in their 50s were more grandmotherly, and ready for retirement. Plus, Sophia was a great cook. The reasons for her departure are speculative, but the popular theory is that Arthur felt as though the quality of the sitcom had begun to slip by the seventh season, and she wanted to leave while the show was still popular. Beginning in 1990, Marc Cherry served as writer and producer, years before creating Desperate Housewives, which ran on ABC from 2004 to 2012. White's birthday is January 17th and Arthur's was May 13th. She was also 63 years old by the time The Golden Girls premiered in 1985. [74] The show was the anchor of NBC's Saturday line-up, and almost always won its time slot, as ABC and CBS struggled to find shows to compete against it, the most notable being ABC's Lucille Ball sitcom Life With Lucy in the beginning of the 198687 season although it aired at 8:00, an hour earlier. Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kristen Davis in And Just Like That. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). For, That was the case. The Golden Girls first aired on September 14, 1985, and it continues to appeal to both young and older audiences. [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. The majority of sitcoms in the period centered on either families or teenagers. -- Thirty years ago today, "The Golden Girls" premiered on television. It shattered stereotypes and even made that demographic entertaining for audiences of all genders and ages. [111], Golden Girls 3033 is an animated pilot created by Mike Hollingsworth. Getty was picky about the jokes Sophia would make. Its time to look back at the golden years with our favorite Golden Girls. [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.[6]. Estimating the ages of the characters can be tricky, since the show never explicitly states their ages. She joined the show after Estelle Getty, who was the first actress to be cast in The Golden Girls. [52][53] Debbie Reynolds was brought on as a guest star in the season six episode "There Goes the Bride: Part 2" to test her chemistry with the other actresses as a possible replacement for Arthur, but producers decided that nobody could replicate the chemistry of the four original actresses. McClanahan and White were friends on- and off-screen. Blanche was probably around 50 when the show began, rather than 54. The owner of the house is a widow named Blanche Devereaux (McClanahan), who was joined by fellow widow Rose Nylund (White) and divorce Dorothy Zbornak (Arthur) after they both responded to an ad on the bulletin board of a local grocery store a year before the start of the series. Sophia, Dorothy's straight-talking mother, was the oldest character in the Golden Girls' house. [112], In 2017, a Golden Girls-themed eatery, Rue la Rue Cafe owned by Rue McClanahan's close friend Michael La Rue, who inherited many of the star's personal belongings and in turn decorated the restaurant with them, opened in the Washington Heights section of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:40, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series Musical or Comedy, Lights, Motors, Action! 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. The show never approached the popularity or acclaim of the original, and ranked 57th[citation needed] in the annual ratings. According to the math, Blanche was 53 at the start of the series. [52], The house's address was mentioned as being 6151 Richmond Street, Miami. 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. In Italy, the series aired on Rai Uno (or Rai 1) as Cuori senza et (Ageless Hearts) from 1987 until 1994. "[45], After season three, Arthur had expressed her growing dissatisfaction with the disparaging jokes made about her physical appearance, which were often in the scripts. [41] Rue McClanahan, who shared a dressing room with Getty, described the severity of Getty's stage fright: "She'd panic. 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. McClanahan continued to portray the role of Blanche in the spin-off series The Golden Palace, which only lasted for one season from 1992 to 1993. After some careful math, viewers also figured out that Dorothy (played by Bea Arthur) was supposed to be 53. Blanche (played by Rue McClanahan) was thought to be around 47 years old in the first season of Golden Girls. That means with a little digging, coming up with each Golden Girl's age is easy for a superfan. As of 2016, it was the 17th-most watched television finale. 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 . [124] The eatery closed in November 2017 after less than a year of operation.[125]. 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. In the hour-long series finale, which aired in May 1992, Dorothy meets and marries Blanche's uncle Lucas (Leslie Nielsen) and moves to Hollingsworth Manor in Atlanta. The show is seen in more than a hundred countries. Another brief run of the show began on 27 April 2020 till summer 2020 on Channel 5, but only showed episodes up to the season-four finale and is returning to Channel 4 starting from early 2022. "[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. Rue McClanahan was the youngest of the Golden Girls, according to Parade. All four cast members got Emmy nominations for their roles in the Golden Girls. Among all of the great roles she played over the course of her legendary career, the late, great Betty Whitewho passed away on Dec. 31, 2021, at the age of. Initially, White was considered for the role of Blanche Devereaux, which eventually went to Rue McClanahan. The Golden Girls came to an end when Bea Arthur chose to leave the series. By the end of the series, Rose was 62. Estelle Getty portrayed the role of Sophia Petrillo, the mother of Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthurs character). The show promptly received a full order of 12 episodes. 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. Between 1973 and 1977 White made several appearances on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Sue Ann Nivens, the snobby, man-obsessed supporting character. [9], The pilot was taped on April 17, 1985.[10]. Discover all about The Golden Girls cast from their names, ages and how old they were supposed to be in the showwho was oldest & youngest, and more. Your email address will not be published. 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. [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. How Old Were the Golden Girls? 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. 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. At the age of 86, Bea Arthur passed away from lung cancer in April 2009. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). [31] The suit was later settled. The producers of The Golden Girls decided to cast Bea Arthur, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan after seeing them act alongside each other in shows like Maude (1972-1978) and Mamas Family (1983-1984). 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. It is interesting to note that the ages of the characters are never directly addressed in the show. [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. [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. At this time, syndicated reruns began airing, distributed by Buena Vista Television (now DisneyABC Domestic Television), the syndication arm of Disney, whose Touchstone Television division produced the series. [45][46] The cast often had to stay behind after the audience had departed to redo scenes where Getty had flubbed her lines, and although this was at first met with resistance from the producers, cue cards were eventually introduced to help her. [73], In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Golden Girls number 54 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time. Susan Harris developed a spin-off centering on the empty nest syndrome. [56] In 2020, owners marketed the property for $3 million. From left to right- Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls. Both Betty White and Bea Arthur were 63 when The Golden Girls premiered, coinciding with the fan theory. She wanted to be a Southern heroine, like Vivien Leigh. The series ran for a total of seven seasons and a total of 180 full-length episodes. "[72], During the NBC upfronts, the preview screening of the show got a standing ovation. However, this older age makes sense because Sophia is Dorothys mother. For example, Betty White, who played Rose, was 76 when the show first aired and 80 when it ended. McClanahan deliberately exaggerated her accent, stating, "I played Blanche the way I felt Blanche. Please endeavor to share this article with family, friends, and colleagues. 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. 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. Rose, who was born in 1934, would have been around 51, while Sophia, who was born in 1906, would have been 79. When your brain is frozen like that, you can't remember lines. 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. In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. [68] Many episodes of the series followed a similar format or theme. In the end, the math adds up to Dorothy being 53 at the start of the series and 60 at the series' end. The writers observed that in many of the proposed scripts, the main interaction between the women occurred in the kitchen while preparing and eating food. At some point, they would gather around the kitchen table and discuss the problem, sometimes late at night and often while eating cheesecake, ice cream, or some other dessert. RELATED: Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams Is Iconic for Pushing Boundaries. The Golden Girls is one of the most beloved and enduring sitcoms of all time. 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? According to the calculations, Dorothy was 53 at the start of the series, according to the, Blanche was 17 in 1949, according to Season 3, Episode 25, , 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, Fun Things to Do for Mothers Day Filled With Activities, Hilarious Thanksgiving Puns for Your Friends and Family, 60 Sweet Merry Christmas Wishes for Mothers 2021 Update, Applauding Employee Appreciation Quotes Befitting for Hardworking Staff, Heart Warming One Month Anniversary Wishes Latest Update 2021, Adorable Thanks for Birthday Wishes Messages to Send Someone. Arthur was born on May 13, 1922, making her the second oldest actress in the main cast. Lifetime, which held the rights to The Golden Girls at the time, aired reruns of The Golden Palace in the summer of 2005, and again in December of that year. 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). 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. After the pilot, the character of Coco was eliminated from the series. 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 . Iconic Golden-era Hollywood actress Scarlett OHara was also reportedly an inspiration for the role. We will always remember Rue McClanahan, Betty White, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty for bringing joy into our lives and for being our friends. New York: Harper Collins. In a 1988 interview, Getty commented on her phobia and expressed how working with major stars, such as Arthur and White, made her even more nervous. : 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! How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be on the show? Their fears were allayed when the preview screening garnered a standing ovation and the program was instantly renewed for 12 more Golden Girls episodes. Win free shoes, organize your shoe closet, see the latest styles + more, About She took to writing her lines on props at which she could glance easily, like the wicker purse Sophia always carried with her. The wooden accents, columns, and doors were painted to mimic bald cypress wood, popular in South Florida homes, with rattan furniture and tropical-printed upholstery chosen for the furniture. McClanahan was 51 years old by the time The Golden Girls premiered, and she was 58 when it concluded. By tape day, she was unreachable. "[61] Many of the characters' outfits were designed by Evans and made especially, but seven to ten costume changes per episode were made between the four actresses, which entailed a great deal of off-the-rack shopping. It was my positive attitude, and that made Bea angry sometimes.. This program, on the other hand, was centered on a group of older ladies. 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. Cheers. 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. The doorway from the living room, with the alcove and baker's shelf just inside, was designed to give the illusion that the actors were walking into and out of the kitchen. The Golden Girls began in 1985 and concluded in 1992, both in real life and in the fictional realm. Betty White was famous in Hollywood for being a pioneer of television dating back to the 1950s. [6], The show features an ensemble cast and the plot revolves around four older single women (three widows and one divorce) sharing a house in Miami. 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. Levin had been suggested by then-NBC president Brandon Tartikoff based on Levin's groundbreaking portrayal of a recurring gay character, Eddie Gregg, on NBC's Emmy-winning drama Hill Street Blues. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. (season two, episode five). In "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. One, while the characters ages on the show appeared to be quite. This led into the spin-off series, The Golden Palace. She passed away in 2010, at the age of 76, after suffering a brain hemorrhage. [4] In 2014, the Writers Guild of America placed the sitcom at number 69 in their list of the "101 Best Written TV Series of All Time". 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. Hurwitz later created Arrested Development for Fox and later for Netflix. Celebrities 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! Maddy Hiltz is someone who loves all things history. 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. We didn't want the show to be about four dowdy ladies. Sophia states it happened in 1931, making it likely Dorothy was born sometime in 1932, judging by her sign. 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. Rose is said to be in her mid-50s, suggesting that she was between 55 and 59. Rose's age is the easiest to track down, thanks to Dorothy openly saying it in Season 1, Episode 22, "Job Hunting." 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. She would start getting under a dark cloud the day before tape day You could see a big difference in her that day. Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak and Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). The classic NBC comedy The Golden Girls broke boundaries with its cast of four older women, a representation that was previously lacking on television. The Golden Girls are also dressed in cardigans or long dresses, similar to the outfits we would find in our grandmothers closet. Sophia was 86 by the series' end. Similarly, Estelle Getty, who played Sophia, was 79 when the show began and 83 when it ended. She is passionate about Princess Diana, the Titanic, the Romanovs, and Egypt amongst other things. To portray Sophia Petrillo, Getty was required to wear makeup and a wig to appear visibly older than her co-stars. Estelle Getty reprised her role as Sophia in The Golden Palace, which only lasted for one season. According to Cherry, the writers' room was "a competitive atmosphere. In an interview with The Village Voice in 2011, White stated that Arthur found me a pain in the neck sometimes. Sarah Jessica Parker and Betty White, both of whom play a 55-year-old woman. 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. In "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. All the lead actresses won Emmy awards for their performances on the show. Shopping Guide Initially, the producers of the show had planned for Getty only to be a recurring guest. As of February 2013, WE tv's rights expired and Viacom networks' TV Land, home to Betty White's last series Hot in Cleveland, purchased them,[79] as did Logo TV. In the pilot episode, the three are joined by Dorothy's 80-year-old widowed mother, Sophia Petrillo (Getty), after the retirement home where she has been living has burned down.