The Golden Girls

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Susan Harris

Bea Arthur - Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak (180 episodes, 1985-1992)

Betty White - Rose Nylund (180 episodes, 1985-1992)

Rue McClanahan - Blanche Devereaux (180 episodes, 1985-1992)

Estelle Getty - Sophia Petrillo (180 episodes, 1985-1992)

Herb Edelman - Stan Zbornak (26 episodes, 1985-1992)

Harold Gould - Miles Webber (14 episodes, 1985-1992)

Sid Melton - Salvadore Petrillo (8 episodes, 1987-1991)

Bill Dana - Uncle Angelo (7 episodes, 1988-1992)

United States

Tony Thomas - Executive Producer / Producer (176 episodes, 1985-1992)

Paul Junger Witt - Executive Producer / Producer (175 episodes, 1985-1992)

Terry Grossman - Producer / Co-Executive Producer (101 episodes, 1985-1989)

Kathy Speer - Co-Executive Producer / Producer (101 episodes, 1985-1989)

Nina Feinberg - Associate Producer / Producer (78 episodes, 1989-1992)

Gail Parent - Producer / Co-Executive Producer (78 episodes, 1989-1992)

Richard Vaczy - Co-Executive Producer / Supervising Producer (78 episodes, 1989-1992)

Tom Whedon - Co-Executive Producer / Supervising Producer (78 episodes, 1989-1992)

Mort Nathan - Co-Executive Producer / Co-Producer (77 episodes, 1986-1989)

Tracy Gamble - Supervising Producer / Co-Executive Producer (77 episodes, 1989-1992)

Marc Sotkin - Co-Executive Producer / Executive Producer (77 episodes, 1989-1992)

Marsha Posner Williams - Co-Producer (76 episodes, 1985-1988)

Barry Fanaro - Co-Executive Producer / Supervising Producer (76 episodes, 1986-1989)

Robert Bruce - Co-Producer / Producer (52 episodes, 1988-1990)

Martin Weiss - Co-Producer / Producer (52 episodes, 1988-1990)

Phillip Jayson Lasker - Co-Executive Producer / Supervising Producer (52 episodes, 1989-1991)

Jerry Perzigian - Supervising Producer / Associate Producer (52 episodes, 1990-1992)

Don Seigel - Supervising Producer (52 episodes, 1990-1992)

Winifred Hervey - Co-Producer / Producer (51 episodes, 1986-1988)

Marc Cherry - Producer / Executive Producer (27 episodes, 1990-1992)

David Amico - Associate Producer (26 episodes, 1988-1989)

Eric Cohen - Supervising Producer (26 episodes, 1988-1989)

Terry Hughes - Co-Executive Producer (26 episodes, 1989-1990)

Kevin Abbott - Co-Producer (26 episodes, 1991-1992)

James Vallely - Co-Producer (26 episodes, 1991-1992)

Jamie Wooten - Producer (26 episodes, 1991-1992)

Greg Giangregorio - Associate Producer / Producer (25 episodes, 1986-1987)

Susan Harris - Executive Producer (25 episodes, 1987-1992)

Mitchell Hurwitz - Producer / Co-Producer (25 episodes, 1991-1992)

Jeffrey Ferro - Co-Producer (16 episodes, 1987-1988)

Fredric Weiss - Co-Producer (15 episodes, 1987-1988)

John Ziffren - Co-Producer (13 episodes, 1991)

Harry Waterson - Producer (11 episodes, 1987-1988)
Paul Bogart - Supervising Producer (4 episodes, 1985-1986)

David A. Goodman - Co-Producer (unknown episodes, 1989-1990)

Terry Hughes (108 episodes, 1985-1990)

Lex Passaris (24 episodes, 1990-1992)

Matthew Diamond (21 episodes, 1990-1991)

Jim Drake (8 episodes, 1985)

Peter D. Beyt (6 episodes, 1991-1992)

Paul Bogart (4 episodes, 1985-1986)

Jay Sandrich (2 episodes, 1985-1987)

7

180

September 14, 1985 – May 9, 1992

The Golden Palace

"Thank You for Being a Friend" (performer: Cynthia Fee)

George Aliceson Tipto (Composer)

Kristy McNichol | Leslie Nielsen | Nancy Walker | Sonny Bono | Joseph Campanella | Rosalind Cash | George Clooney | Robert Culp | Peter Graves | Merv Griffin | Bob Hope | Julio Iglesias | Alan King | Hal Linden | Martin Mull | Burt Reynolds | Debbie Reynolds | Chris Rock | Cesar Romero | Mickey Rooney | Harry Shearer | Alex Trebek | Dick Van Dyke | Lyle Waggoner | Quentin Tarantino

ASCAP Awards

1991 Won ASCAP Award Top TV Series George Aliceson Tipton

1990 Won ASCAP Award Top TV Series George Aliceson Tipton

1989 Won ASCAP Award Top TV Series George Aliceson Tipton

1988 Won ASCAP Award Top TV Series George Aliceson Tipton

American Comedy Awards, USA

1992 Won American Comedy Award Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Estelle Getty

1991 Won American Comedy Award Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Estelle Getty

1990 Nominated American Comedy Award Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication Betty White

1987 Won American Comedy Award Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication Betty White

BMI Film & TV Awards

1991 Won BMI TV Music Award Andrew Gold

1990 Won BMI TV Music Award Andrew Gold

1989 Won BMI TV Music Award Andrew Gold

1988 Won BMI TV Music Award Andrew Gold

1987 Won BMI TV Music Award Andrew Gold

Bambi Awards

1992 Won Bambi Reader's Choice Bea Arthur

Directors Guild of America, USA

1988 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' Terry Hughes for: episode "Old Friends"

1987 Won DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' Terry Hughes; Gary Shimokawa & Lex Passaris (associate directors) (plaque); Tom Carpenter & Jane Greene (stage managers) (plaque); Robert Spina & Ellen Deutsch (production associates) (plaque) for: episode "Isn't It Romantic?"

1986 Won DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' Jay Sandrich; Harry Waterson (unit production manager) (plaque); Gary Shimokawa (associate director) (plaque); Tom Carpenter & Doug Tobin (stage managers) (plaque); Laurie Gilbert (production assistant) (plaque) for: the pilot episode

Emmy Awards

1992 Won Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series Ken Tamburri (technical director); Ritch Kenney, Stephen A. Jones, Dave Heckman, Chester Jackson & Bob Keys (camera operators); Randy Johnson, Richard Steiner & John O'Brien (video control) (NBC) for: episode "One Flew Out Of The Cuckoo's Nest", parts I and II

1992 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White (NBC)

1992 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty (NBC)

1991 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, Susan Harris & Marc Sotkin (executive producers); Tom Whedon & Phillip Jayson Lasker (co-executive producers); Gail Parent, Richard Vaczy, Tracy Gamble, Don Seigel & Jerry Perzigian (supervising producers); Nina Feinberg (co-producer) (NBC)

1991 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Brenda Vaccaro (NBC) for: playing "Angela Petrillo" for: episode "Ebbtide's Revenge"

1991 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White (NBC)

1991 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Alan Keath Walker (lighting director) (NBC) for: episode "The Bloom Is Off The Rose"

1991 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty (NBC)

1991 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series Ken Tamburri (technical director); Stephen A. Jones, Dave Heckman, Chester Jackson & Ritch Kenney (electronic camerapersons); Randy Johnson (senior video control) (NBC) for: episode "What A Difference A Date Makes"

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas & Susan Harris (executive producers); Marc Sotkin & Terry Hughes (co-executive producers); Tom Whedon & Phillip Jayson Lasker (supervising producers); Gail Parent, Martin Weiss & Robert Bruce (producers); Tracy Gamble & Richard Vaczy (co-producers) (NBC)

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Terry Hughes (NBC) for: episode "Triple Play"

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Jerry Orbach (NBC) for: playing "Glen" for: episode "Cheaters"

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Dick Van Dyke (NBC) for: playing "Ken" for: episode "Love Under The Big Top"

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White (NBC)

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Alan Keath Walker (lighting designer) (NBC) for: episode "Ebb Tide"

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty (NBC)

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series O. Tamburri (technical director); Ritch Kenney, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones & Dave Heckman (camera operators); Randy Johnson (senior video control) (NBC) for: episode "Love Under The Big Top"

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas & Susan Harris (executive producers); Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan & Barry Fanaro (co-executive producers); Eric Cohen (supervising producer); Martin Weiss & Robert Bruce (co-producers) (NBC)

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Terry Hughes (director) (NBC) for: episode "Brother Can You Spare That Jacket"

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Jack Gilford
(NBC) for: playing "Max Weinstock" for: episode "Sophia's Wedding"

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur (NBC)

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Rue McClanahan (NBC)

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White (NBC)

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Alan Keath Walker (lighting designer) (NBC) for: episode "Yokel Hero"

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special Edward L. Moskowitz; Allen Patapoff & Craig Porter (re-recording mixers) (NBC) for: episode "You Gotta Have Hope"

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty (NBC)

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series O. Tamburri (technical director); Ritch Kenney, Ken Tamburri, Chester Jackson & Stephen A. Jones (camera operators); John O'Brien (senior video control) (NBC) for: episode "Brother, Can You Spare That Jacket?"

1988 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur (NBC)
1988 Won Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty (NBC)
1988 Won Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series O. Tamburri (technical director); Jack Chisolm, Stephen A. Jones, Ritch Kenney & Ken Tamburri (camerapersons); Bob Kaufman (senior video control) (NBC) for: episode "Old Friends"

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas & Susan Harris (executive producers); Kathy Speer & Terry Grossman (co-executive producers); Mort Nathan & Barry Fanaro (supervising producers); Winifred Hervey, Marsha Posner Williams & Jeffrey Ferro (co-producers) (NBC)

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Terry Hughes (NBC) for: episode "Old Friends"

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Editing for a Series - Multi-Camera Production
Jim McElroy (editor) (NBC) for: episode "Old Friends"

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Herb Edelman (NBC) for: playing "Stan" for: episode "The Audit"

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Geraldine Fitzgerald (NBC) for: playing "Anna" for: episode "Mother's Day"

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Rue McClanahan (NBC)

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White (NBC)

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Alan Keath Walker (director of photography) (NBC) for: episode "Old Friends"

1988 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special Edward L. Moskowitz; Allen Patapoff & Craig Porter (sound mixers) (NBC) for: episode "Old Friends"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas & Susan Harris (executive producers); Kathy Speer & Terry Grossman (producers); Mort Nathan, Barry Fanaro, Winifred Hervey & Marsha Posner Williams (co-producers) (NBC)

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Terry Hughes (NBC) for: episode "Isn't It Romantic"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Rue McClanahan (NBC)
19687 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Editing for a Series - Multi-Camera Production Harold McKenzie (NBC) for: episode "Twas the Nightmare Before Christma"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Herb Edelman (NBC) for: playing "Stan" for: episode "The Stan Who Came To Diner"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Lois Nettleton (NBC) for: playing "Jean" for: episode "Isn't It Romantic"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Nancy Walker (NBC) for: playing "Angela" for: episode "Long Day's Journey Into Marinara"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur (NBC)

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White (NBC)

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special Richard Burns,
Ed Epstein, Allen Patapoff & Craig Porter (sound mixers) (NBC) for: episode "Ladies of the Evening"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special Edward L. Moskowitz; John S. Orr, Allen Patapoff & Craig Porter (sound mixers) (NBC) for: episode "A Piece of Cake"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty (NBC)

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series O. Tamburri (technical director); Jack Chisolm, Ritch Kenney, Ken Tamburri & Carol Wetovich (camerapersons); Bob Kaufman (senior video control) (NBC) for: episode "Forgive Me, Father"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Jeffrey Duteil (writer) (NBC) for: episode "Isn't It Romantic"

1986 Won Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Junger Witt & Tony Thomas (executive producers); Paul Bogart (supervising producer); Kathy Speer & Terry Grossman (co-executive producers); Marsha Posner Williams (co-producer) (NBC)

1986 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White (NBC)

1986 Won Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series Gerry Bucci (technical director); Randy Baer, Dale Carlson, Stephen A. Jones & Donna Quante (camerapersons); Victor Bagdadi (senior video control) (NBC) for: the pilot

1986 Won Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan (writers) (NBC) for: episode "A Little Romance"

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Art Direction for a Series Edward Stephenson (production designer) (NBC) for: the pilot

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Costume Design for a Series Judy Evans (costume designer) (NBC) for: episode "Nice and Easy"

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Jim Drake (NBC) for: episode "The Heart Attack"

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Terry Hughes (NBC) for: episode "A Little Romance"

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Editing for a Series - Multi-Camera Production Harold McKenzie (NBC) for: the pilot

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur (NBC)

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Rue McClanahan (NBC)

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series Alan Keath Walker (director of photography) (NBC) for: episode "On Golden Girls"

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special Fraser, Terri Lynn, Ken Quayle, Allen Patapoff & Craig Porter (sound mixers) (NBC) for: the pilot

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty (NBC)

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Susan Harris (writer) (NBC) for: the pilot ("Premiere")

Golden Globes, USA

1992 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV Estelle Getty

1992 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

1991 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

1990 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

1989 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Betty White

1989 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Bea Arthur

1989 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

1988 Won Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical
1988 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Betty White

1988 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Rue McClanahan

1988 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Bea Arthur

1987 Won Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

1987 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Estelle Getty

1987 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Bea Arthur

1987 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Rue McClanahan

1987 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Betty White

1986 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Estelle Getty. Tied with Cybill Shepherd for "Moonlighting" (1985)

1986 Won Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

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Four Women of a certain age live, love, and laugh together in a house in Miami Beach. Weekly crises ensue, resulting in consumption of numerous cheesecakes around the kitchen table and the inevitable sense of closure.

Picture it: Burbank, 1984. NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff visits his elderly aunt and becomes fascinated with the love/hate relationship she has with her next-door neighbor, best friend, and constant source of aggravation. Through the arguing, kvetching, and pettiness, he sees the germ of an idea for a sitcom dealing with a heretofore ignored population of the viewing public, and contacts Susan Harris, creator of the '70s hit Soap. She, along with Tony Thomas (son of Danny, brother of Marlo) and her husband, Paul Junger Witt, have a production company and produce a pilot for the 1984-85 season. The Golden Girls becomes not only the first hit show with an all-female cast but the first show populated nearly exclusively with characters over the age of fifty.

Once a pilot was written and casting began, Bea Arthur was everyone's first choice to play the dry, droll Dorothy (in fact, creator Susan Harris knew Arthur well, having written the controversial "Maude's Abortion" episode of Arthur's previous sitcom) - but she passed on the project. The producers then set about looking for a "Bea Arthur type" (Lee Grant also passed, not wanting to play a woman old enough to be a grandmother, and Elaine Stritch, as she recounts in her one-woman show At Liberty, blew her audition and her big chance at television stardom. One must view this admission with a certain amount of skepticism, though, as she talks of auditioning for the suits at CBS when the show was born and bred exclusively at NBC).

The pilot was also conceived with actresses Betty White and Rue McClanahan in mind - but not for the roles they ended up playing. Betty White, who had created a legendary character in the oversexed Sue Ann Nivens on Mary Tyler Moore, was originally envisioned as the perpetually horny Blanche Devereaux, while Harris had McClanahan in mind for the ditsy Rose Nylund, not unlike the slightly spacey Vivian she had played on Maude. When they met for a reading, it was Jay Sandrich, the brilliant director of the pilot that made the suggestion to switch characters and shake things up. Magic.

Then, in a stroke of good fortune, McClanahan persuaded Bea Arthur to take another look at the pilot. When she reread the script she called Susan Harris and said she'd take a chance on it, and the three main characters of The Golden Girls were finally perfectly cast with three genius veterans of the half-hour form. Rounding out the team was Dorothy's eighty-year-old mother, Sophia Petrillo, played by Estelle Getty, fresh from playing Harvey Fierstein's mother in the Broadway play Torch Song Trilogy. In actuality three months younger than Bea Arthur, Getty was initially rejected as looking too young to play an octogenarian, but after convincing them to audition her again, Getty showed up in a wig and old-age makeup and was immediately given the role.

The pilot was taped with the four girls and a fifth regular, the now notorious "Coco" the gay cook, played by Charles Levin. Harris had created the first gay sitcom regular, played by Billy Crystal on Soap, so Coco seemed to hold great potential as a supporting character who was always on hand with a zinger. But on tape night of the pilot, Estelle Getty created such a smash as a perfectly outrageous octogenarian whose stroke had affected the portion of her brain that censors itself, the creators realized what a corker they had. The character of Coco, or, as Sophia called him, the "fancy man," was deemed excess baggage, and disappeared after the pilot, ever to be seen again.

Every hardcore fan has his or her favorite Golden Girl but all four can be admired for their specific gifts. Arthur is a master of the unlearnable art of comic timing. A true genius of the unspoken reaction, on one episode she even attempted (without a net) a quadruple take, something seldom if ever seen since the heyday of the Yiddish theatre. Of course she landed it flawlessly. White's genius is in creating a truly believable character of great naiveté, especially tricky for an actress who possesses one of the quickest and wickedest wits in Hollywood, yet never editorializes or passes judgment on the character of Rose. McClanahan is perhaps the best actress of the bunch in the sense that she always fills every minute of the scenes that she is in like an actress in a Broadway play. She made the producers' jobs considerably easier, for in choosing shots they could always cut to McClanahan secure in the knowledge that she would be fully energized and listening intently to the other actors. Getty is the most perplexing of the bunch, as she was not nearly as seasoned as the other three; in fact, on many episodes she can be seen glancing down at cue cards for her lines. And on the few occasions she had to play a dramatic scene she came across as, well, game at best. Still, she ended up getting the biggest laughs in many an episode, and it can hardly be attributed to the writing alone. In a wonderfully odd way, her seeming a bit out of step and over her head worked brilliantly. Any hesitations in her delivery ended up coming across as if Sophia’s synapses were firing just a hair late.

The show lasted for seven successful seasons, its longevity due in large part to its strong writing. The writers, in addition to Harris, included Gail Parent, Marc Sotkin, Christopher Lloyd (NOT the actor from Taxi), and the teams of Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan (vitally important to the development of the series over the first four seasons), Richard Vaxzy and Tracy Gamble, and Jamie Wooten and Marc Cherry (later the wizard behind Desperate Housewives). Some of the best comic writers in the business, they knew the girls inside and out and wrote specifically for them, never supplying generic punch lines that could be swapped among characters, as in the later seasons of such shows as Murphy Brown and M*A*S*H. The four girls became like four points of a compass: each distinct and yet all four necessary to maintain a balance.

Not only did the show provide juicy opportunities for its four regulars, it was a wonderful showcase for many other greats over the age of fifty. Since all four women were single there were many suitors, including such masterful comedians as Dick Van Dyke, Pat Harrington, Jr., Hal Linden, John McMartin, Jerry Orbach, Robert Mandan, Paul Dooley, Eddie Bracken, Jack Gilford, Mickey Rooney, Ken Howard, and Robert Culp. Playing the girls' sisters, cousins, and friends were such gifted actresses as Nancy Walker, Polly Holliday, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Barbara Babcock, Marian Mercer, Anne Francis, Sheree North, Inga Swenson, Betty Gerrett, Brenda Vaccaro, and the wonderful Lois Nettleton as Dorothy's college roommate Jean, whose lesbianism becomes an issue when she falls in love with a totally clueless Rose. The scene in which Dorothy and Sophia tell Blanche about Jean ("not Lebanese, Blanche. Lesbian.") is one of the classic sitcom scenes, ranking up there in writing and execution with Mary Richards's job interview and Felix and Oscar's appearance on Password.

At the end of the seventh season Arthur finally moved on (she had been threatening to leave since the end of the fifth), and her character married Blanche's Uncle Lucas, played by Leslie Nielsen. The show came back the following fall as The Golden Palace, with the three remaining girls now running a hotel in Miami Beach along with Cheech Marin and future movie star Don Cheadle. But with only three points of the compass remaining the magic was palpably gone. Hell, they even added a kid, a sure sign that they were foundering. Estelle continued playing Sophia on Empty Nest and Nurses, two other Witt/Thomas/Harris shows. She reprised her star-making role as recently as 1999, when she played a now ninety-five-year-old Sophia on the show Ladies Man.

And still The Golden Girls chugs on in syndication, winning fans who missed it in its original Saturday night berth but have discovered it in its fantastically successful run on Lifetime Television for Women (and Gay Men). A hit in more than sixty countries, The Golden Girls will continue to find fans as long as people have affection for their zany aunt or salty grandmother, forever a testament to razor-sharp writing and the talents of its four masters of character-driven comedy.

The facade of the house used in establishing shots on The Golden Girls was part of the backstage tour ride at Disney's MGM studios. The facade, along with the Empty Nest house, was destroyed in late 2004 when Disney bulldozed its "Residential Street."

In 1993, the ITV network aired Brighton Belles, a British version of The Golden Girls. The show, starring Sheila Hancock, Wendy Craig, Sheila Gish, and Jean Boht, was nearly identical to the American version except for changes in character names. The series was canceled after six weeks due to low ratings.

Estelle Getty (Sophia) is 1 year, 2 months and 12 days younger than Bea Arthur (Dorothy), even though Sophia is Dorothy's mother.

It took 45 minutes in make-up for Estelle Getty to be transformed into Sophia.

The girls consumed over 100 cheesecakes during the show's 7-year run. And Bea Arthur hates cheesecake.

When the show first aired, the Queen of England loved it so much that she wrote to the four actresses and asked them to perform a live show especially for her. They obliged, and acted out an episode in which the girls visit London on stage in front of the queen and her family.

Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
Dorothy: Better than anyone I know.

Dorothy: Oh c'mon, Blanche. Age is just a state of mind.
Blanche: Tell that to my thighs.

Dorothy: Rose, I know this is a long shot, but did you take much acid during the sixties

Dorothy: You'll have to excuse my mother. She suffered a slight stroke a few years ago which rendered her totally annoying.

Rose: I just had a thought...
Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche: Congratulations.

Sophia: Look, you didn't ask me for my opinion, but I'm old, so I'm giving it anyway.

Rose: Back in St. Olaf...