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. New York: Scribner. 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. Blanche was probably around 50 when the show began, rather than 54. 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. 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. We didn't want the show to be about four dowdy ladies. [63] Much of Arthur's wardrobe was custom-made because at the time, finding off-the-rack clothing that was flattering for a taller woman was difficult. It was my positive attitude, and that made Bea angry sometimes.. As such, this social belief is shown on our screens in the Sex and the City reboot, whereas Golden Girls portrayed societal norms of the 1980s. "[60] Anna Wyckoff of the Costume Designers Guild wrote, "Evans took the direction from the producers to create a vibrant look for the four mature leads, and ran with itredefining what 'dressing your age' looked like. 2023 Wording Vibes - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Although the womens ages were rarely disclosed, some deductive work may be used to, The Golden Girls began in 1985 and concluded in 1992, both in real life and in the fictional realm. It was, however, more than a fringe, Its a tiny marvel, looking back, that the Golden Girls magnificent casting came together as well as it did. She passed away after suffering complications from a stroke at 99 years old on December 31, 2021, just 17 days before her 100th birthday. [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. How Old Were the Golden Girls Characters Supposed to Be? Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. In Italy, the series aired on Rai Uno (or Rai 1) as Cuori senza et (Ageless Hearts) from 1987 until 1994. Ellen Albertini Dow played Sophia's friend Lillian and an unnamed hospital patient with a flower cart. Betty White, who died on December 31, 2021, at the age of 99, was best known for her role as the wonderfully naive Rose Nylund in the NBC comedy The Golden Girls. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be? By tape day, she was unreachable. Sophia was supposed to accompany her, but she ends up staying in Miami with the other females, which leads to the spin-off series, The Golden Palace. Arthur felt the characters had been in every possible scenario, and wanted to end the series while it was still successful. Carrie's age range in "And Just Like That." puts her in the same age range as the characters in "The Golden Girls" season one, according to TODAY with Hoda & Jenna. Carl Gettleman, one of her two sons, says the co-star of the TV show "The Golden Girls" died early Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at home in Los Angeles. Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak and Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be? Privacy Policy, Brands She received her Bachelors of Arts in history and her Masters of Arts degree in history both from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that the Golden Girls characters were actually younger than their stated ages. In an interview with The Village Voice in 2011, White stated that Arthur found me a pain in the neck sometimes. 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. Blanche was probably around 50, Dorothy was likely in her late 40s, Rose was probably closer to 51, and Sophia was likely closer to 79. Reportedly, White doubted that she could effectively play the role of Rose. 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. 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. 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. 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! [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. According to the math, Blanche was 53 at the start of the series. [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]. Hurwitz later created Arrested Development for Fox and later for Netflix. Arguably the main protagonist of the show, Blanche Devereaux is portrayed by Rue McClanahan. Between 1973 and 1977 White made several appearances on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Sue Ann Nivens, the snobby, man-obsessed supporting character. Getty was the first actress to be cast, and her role was intended to make the rest of the characters appear younger. 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. Colucci, Jim (2016). [55] Producers used this residence for exterior shots during the first two seasons. I think we pushed that [the jokes about Arthur's appearance] a little bit far and I think she let it be known she didn't love that. Sophia, Dorothys straight-talking mother, was the Golden Girls houses oldest figure. As of December 1, 2021, every episode was made available to stream on Disney+. There are no tricks. 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. [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. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Golden_Girls&oldid=1139544706, "Thank You for Being a Friend" (instrumental), "I was running all over the house grabbing anybody who would listen. And that was, to me, what made it seem like it could be a contemporary, young show. In Season 2, Episode 1, "End of the Curse," Blanche believes she is pregnant, and states she'll be 65 by the time the child graduates high school. "[45], Estelle Getty's stage fright, which affected her from the beginning of the show, grew worse as the show went on. McClanahan said, "Betty and I loved word games, and we would play word games every day,". Getty was picky about the jokes Sophia would make. This indicates that Sophia was likely close to her real-life age. In New Zealand, the series aired on TVNZ and is replayed on public holidays and it is shown on Jones!. 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). In "The Golden . Ironically, the actress who played Sophia, Estelle Getty, was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played her daughter, Dorothy. 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. 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On November 9, 2010, the studio released a complete-series box set titled The Golden Girls: 25th Anniversary Complete Collection. Blanche would have been 60 by the series' end. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. It happens again, by a handsome male model, the kind she might have once. After learning this tidbit, its clear that the only difference between the Golden Girls and the Sex and the City ladies is how they style their hair. She thought an accentuated Southern accent would be sexy and strong and attractive to men. She was also 63 years old by the time The Golden Girls premiered in 1985. 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. It has recently come to light that the leading ladies of AndJust Like That, Sex and the Citys reboot, are basically the exact same age as the leading ladies in The Golden Girls a fact that has completely blown our minds! Social norms regarding women in their fifties have also changed since Golden Girls premiered. [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). After reruns on different regional channels of the ARD Network, the show later aired on private channels RTL, VOX, Super RTL, Disney Channel and RTLup. To portray Sophia Petrillo, Getty was required to wear makeup and a wig to appear visibly older than her co-stars. Sophia was 86 by the series' end. Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind the Lanai. For simplicity, because the program lasted seven seasons, each season is treated as a different year for the purpose of simplicity. As of 2016, it was the 17th-most watched television finale. Sophia had her 50th birthday in April 1956, making her character 79 years old when the series premiered in 1985, according to a flashback scene in Season 2s A Piece of Cake.. Luckily, Susan Harris didnt lose her spark after Soap concluded, as she included much of the humor and sharp wit that made Soap popular in The Golden Girls as well. Jan 31, 2023 Movie Features Harry Potter: Wait, How Are Bellatrix and Leta Lestrange Related? The Golden Girls is one of the most beloved and enduring sitcoms of all time. Going by the math, that makes Blanche 53 at the start of the series. Here We Go Again: My Life in Television. If she had returned, her character would have been in her sixties. [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. Although the writing was mostly comical, dramatic moments and sentimental endings were included in several episodes. The classic NBC comedy The Golden Girls broke boundaries with its cast of four older women, a representation that was previously lacking on television. 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. [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. 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. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. She reconsidered, however, after hearing that McClanahan and White had switched roles. On the other hand, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is 55 in Just Like That, while Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristen Davis) are both supposed to be 54 years old. 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. Starring actress Hodge left after two seasons, David Rasche joined the cast at the start of the second season, and Loni Anderson was added as the new hospital administrator in the third. This suggests that her character was likely around the same age. We assume that middle-aged women continue to live their lives working, partying, being mothers, or hanging with their friends. She would return home to New York if she were unsuccessful. Estelle Getty reprised her role as Sophia in The Golden Palace, which only lasted for one season. This "created a great deal of stress and competitiveness amongst those of us who weren't in that inner sanctum. The Golden Girls' ages were never quite revealed on screen. This would mean that Dorothy, who was born in 1938, would have been around 47 when the show started. 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. [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. "We had games going all the time off camera." 13. Often deemed as the den mother of the main characters in the show, Bea Arthur played the role of Dorothy Zbornak, a substitute teacher hailing from New York City. 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. Styles Characters from both shows made occasional crossover guest appearances on the other show, with the four girls guesting on Empty Nest and Mulligan, Dinah Manoff, Kristy McNichol, David Leisure, and Park Overall appearing on The Golden Girls in their Empty Nest roles. White, Betty (2010). But what made the show golden were its stellar cast and the beloved characters they portrayed. In 1989, Marc Sotkin, previously a writer on Laverne & Shirley and a producer on another Witt/Thomas series, It's a Living, assumed head writing responsibilities, and guided the show (to varying degrees) during what were its final three seasons. Sophia, Dorothys straight-talking mother, was the Golden Girls houses oldest figure. The Golden Girls came to an end when Bea Arthur elected to quit the series after six seasons in the top ten and the seventh season at #30. Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper and Betty White as Ellen Harper-Jackson in the 1983 sitcom Mamas Family (Credit: NBC). 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. This faade, along with the Empty Nest house, sustained hurricane damage leading to Disney's 2003 decision to bulldoze the houses of "Residential Street" and construct its Lights, Motors, Action! 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 part of Sophia Petrillo was the first of the four roles to be cast. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. [41] Rue McClanahan, who shared a dressing room with Getty, described the severity of Getty's stage fright: "She'd panic. Betty White was actually the oldest Golden Girl. Ironically, despite being the oldest actress in the show, Betty White was the last of the main stars to survive. It had a total of 180 half-hour episodes across its seven seasons. For, That was the case. However, with some detective work, audiences can figure them out. How Old Were the Golden Girls? In March 1997, the Lifetime cable network acquired the exclusive rights to repeat the episodes of The Golden Girls in the US until March 1, 2009. Did Rue McClanahan have a Southern accent? [52], The house's address was mentioned as being 6151 Richmond Street, Miami. [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. There was a lot of competition to get your words into the script. [67], The Golden Girls was shot on videotape in front of a live studio audience. The story follows four older single women (three widows and one divorced) who share a home in Miami, Florida. Saving the most difficult to track down for last, Rue McClanahan's character Blanche Devereaux kept her age a mystery (and a recurring joke) throughout most of The Golden Girls. Reportedly, a second season was approved before being cancelled the day before the network announced its 199394 schedule. Shopping Guide Its time to look back at the golden years with our favorite Golden Girls. In the first season of Golden Girls, it is revealed that Rose (Betty Whites character) was 55. [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. [71], On Metacritic, the series has an overall score of 82 out of 100, based on 6 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim. 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. Although Getty was impressive, the show's producers went with another actress. 12. The series also ranked among the Nielsen ratings' top ten for six of its seven seasons. After the retirement home where Dorothys mother, Sophia Petrillo, lived burned down in the pilot episode, the three were joined by Dorothys 80-year-old widowed mother, Sophia Petrillo. [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. [73], In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Golden Girls number 54 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time. Their hair also hasnt greyed (or is colored), and they style their hair in a more contemporary way. Airing from 1985 to 1992 with seven seasons in total, The Golden Girls was a smash hit during the entirety of its run.