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. Getty was the first actress to be cast, and her role was intended to make the rest of the characters appear younger. Advertise The faade was based on a real house at 245 North Saltair Avenue in the Westgate Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. [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. She thought an accentuated Southern accent would be sexy and strong and attractive to men. According to Cherry, the writers' room was "a competitive atmosphere. [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. 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. That was the case. We will always remember Rue McClanahan, Betty White, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty for bringing joy into our lives and for being our friends. This led into the spin-off series, The Golden Palace. 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. Betty White was famous in Hollywood for being a pioneer of television dating back to the 1950s. This program, on the other hand, was centered on a group of older ladies. Both Betty White and Bea Arthur were 63 when The Golden Girls premiered, coinciding with the fan theory. [67], The Golden Girls was shot on videotape in front of a live studio audience. The show was aired as a bilingual broadcast using a two-channel sound system (Zweikanalton). For example, Betty White, who played Rose, was 76 when the show first aired and 80 when it ended. It had a total of 180 half-hour episodes across its seven seasons. In the end, the math adds up to Dorothy being 53 at the start of the series and 60 at the series' end. For simplicity's sake, each season is considered a separate year, as the show ran for seven seasons. 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. Unlike anything we had ever seen on television before, The Golden Girls featured an ensemble cast of four older single women (Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty) sharing. In this article, we will explore the evidence and try to uncover the true ages of the Golden Girls. Although Getty was impressive, the show's producers went with another actress. 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. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be? Rue McClanahan was the youngest of the Golden Girls, according to Parade. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. The sitcom was conceptualized by writer Susan Harris. Both the Hallmark Channel and WE tv picked-up the reruns in March 2009. However, with some detective work, audiences can figure them out. Bea Arthur actually hated cheesecake. Blanche was 17 in 1949, according to Season 3, Episode 25, Mothers Day, when she and her mother reminisce about one of Blanches dates. Iconic Golden-era Hollywood actress Scarlett OHara was also reportedly an inspiration for the role. How Old Were the Golden Girls? 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.. Cheers. 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. In New Zealand, the series aired on TVNZ and is replayed on public holidays and it is shown on Jones!. [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. (Photo Credit: New Line Cinema/ HBO/ MovieStills DB and MovieStills DB). The series finale of The Golden Girls was watched by 27.2 million viewers. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be?,The Golden Girls' ages were never quite revealed on screen. Styles It's a classic. Casting director Judith Weiner had seen Torch Song Trilogy, and thought Getty was terrific in it. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be? Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. 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. While the characters' ages on the series seemed fairly clear-cutBlanche, Rose and Dorothy were in their mid-50s, while Sophia was Dorothy's widowed, elderly motherit may surprise fans to know that the actual ages of the actresses playing them were completely different. This could be because the writers wanted to create an atmosphere of timelessness or to emphasize the idea that age is just a number. Each of the four main stars received an Emmy Award, making The Golden Girls one of only four sitcoms in the Primetime Emmy Awards history to achieve this. Sophia, Dorothys straight-talking mother, was the Golden Girls houses oldest figure. How to Start a Fire in Dayz A Comprehensive Guide, How to Be More Ladylike: Speak Softly, Dress Modestly, Carry Yourself with Grace, How to Eat Babka: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, How to Wire a Weed Eater: A Step-by-Step Guide. The clever use of makeup and a wig aged Getty to match her character's age. Though Littlefield nixed their idea, he asked if they would be interested in delivering a pilot script for Miami Nice, instead. 16 Things You Didn't Know About The Golden Girls - Southern Living How old was Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls? In "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. Why is Good UI/UX Design Imperative for Business Success? [68] Many episodes of the series followed a similar format or theme. She reconsidered, however, after hearing that McClanahan and White had switched roles. [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 Golden Girls | Golden Girls Wiki | Fandom But one of the questions that has always been asked is: how old were the Golden Girls characters supposed to be? We didn't want the show to be about four dowdy ladies. 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. She was especially intimidated by her co-stars, who were all higher profile actresses than she was. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. 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. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! Estelle Getty, who portrayed Sophia, was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy, Sophias daughter. The Golden Girls first aired on September 14, 1985, and it continues to appeal to both young and older audiences. I kept reading scenes to them and saying, 'God, this is brilliant [] There's nothing trendy about this show. 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. Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. [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. [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. DO YOU LOVE SHOES? The Golden Girls' ages were never quite revealed on screen. 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. When the show hit TV screens in the 1980s, society believed that women in their 50s were more grandmotherly, and ready for retirement. But what made the show golden were its stellar cast and the beloved characters they portrayed. Plus, Sophia was a great cook. Who is the youngest Golden Girl in real life? - TeachersCollegesj Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kristen Davis in And Just Like That. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). In Italy, the series aired on Rai Uno (or Rai 1) as Cuori senza et (Ageless Hearts) from 1987 until 1994. She would return home to New York if she were unsuccessful. McClanahan and White were friends on- and off-screen. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. 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. Golden Girls Cast, Ages, Names & More - Parade: Entertainment, Recipes [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. None of the other Golden Girls outright state their ages, so Dorothy is where the deductive work begins. Your email address will not be published. For, That was the case. 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 women in The Golden Girlsall have white, short hair styled in a way we often associate with older individuals. [55] Producers used this residence for exterior shots during the first two seasons. Arguably the main protagonist of the show, Blanche Devereaux is portrayed by Rue McClanahan. 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. They decided that a separate cook would distract from their friendship. 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. Rose went so far as to search through official records to find out, only to learn it was "deleted by authority of the governor." Rue McClanahan. 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. Privacy Policy, Brands The show dealt with many controversial issues, such as coming out and same-sex marriage,[75] elder care, homelessness, poverty, HIV/AIDS and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, US immigration policy, sexual harassment, teenaged pregnancy, artificial insemination, adultery, bad medical care, sexism, miscegenation and interracial marriage, antisemitism, age discrimination, environmentalism, addiction to pain killers, problem gambling, nuclear war, death, and assisted suicide.[76]. Airing from 1985 to 1992 with seven seasons in total, The Golden Girls was a smash hit during the entirety of its run. Initially, White was considered for the role of Blanche Devereaux, which eventually went to Rue McClanahan. 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. The shows executives were unsure how the public would react to the eccentric program because older women in leading roles were rarely seen on television. 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. White, Betty (2010). The part of Sophia Petrillo was the first of the four roles to be cast. 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. In Southeast Asia, Rewind Networks began airing reruns of The Golden Girls on its HD channel, HITS, in 2013. The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended, Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams Is Iconic for Pushing Boundaries. 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. [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". How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? Beginning in 1990, Marc Cherry served as writer and producer, years before creating Desperate Housewives, which ran on ABC from 2004 to 2012. 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 , 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, 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. Some episodes featured flashbacks to previous episodes, flashbacks to events not shown in previous episodes, or to events that occurred before the series began. By the end of the series, Rose was 62. [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. 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. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? 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 series also ranked among the Nielsen ratings' top ten for six of its seven seasons. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be? [26] She found the concept interesting, as "it was a demographic that had never been addressed," and she soon began work on it. This was the first time since 1993 that The Golden Palace was seen on American television. 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. 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. [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. 4. [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. [52], The house's address was mentioned as being 6151 Richmond Street, Miami. Apparently, writer Susan Harris envisioned a Bea Arthur type when conceptualizing the character of Dorothy. [33] The character of Sophia was thought by the creators to enhance the idea that three retirement-aged women could be young. Ironically, the actress who played Sophia, Estelle Getty, was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played her daughter, Dorothy. One such source is the actors who played the characters. It was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, in association with Touchstone Television. Although the four main stars appeared to have good chemistry onscreen, there was some tension on the set between Betty White and Bea Arthur, whose personalities clashed during filming. Rue McClanahan is the youngest Golden Girl! 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 Golden Girls: Live! 3. Susan Harris developed a spin-off centering on the empty nest syndrome. 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). For instance, Blanche mentions in one episode that she was married in 1952, which would have made her 21 at the time. However, there is also some evidence to suggest that these ages may not be accurate. 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! In 2022, we no longer believe that women need to lose their purpose once they hit the big 5-0. The show became a huge hit with viewers, thanks to its clever writing and strong performances by the four main stars. [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". 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). [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. All four cast members got Emmy nominations for their roles in the Golden Girls. This suggests that her character was likely around the same age. "[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. [35], Hired to shoot the pilot, director Jay Sandrich also became instrumental in helping to cast the roles of Blanche Devereaux and Rose Nylund. Sophia is to join her, but in the end, she stays behind with the other women in Miami. 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. On November 15, 2005, Warner Home Video released The Golden Girls: A Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series on DVD which contains a separate biography of Arthur, White, McClanahan and Getty, revealing each woman's background, rise to stardom and private life, which originally aired on Lifetime network between June 2000 and January 2003. [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. The Golden Girls - Wikipedia 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. The ages of the Golden Girls were never revealed on TV. The main cast of The Golden Girls included Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, Betty White as Rose Nylund, Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak, and Estelle Getty as Dorothys mother, Sophia Petrillo. 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. The Golden Girls is one of the most well-known television shows of all time. [39] In 2011, White stated that she believed it was her "positive attitude" and perky demeanor that got on Arthur's nerves. Until April 2006, Lifetime played the series as a virtual season eight, airing the series in between the conclusion of the final season and the syndicated roll-over to season one. Here We Go Again: My Life in Television. And Just Like That Characters Are the Same Age as The Golden Girls Their regular writer declined, so Witt asked his wife, Susan Harris,[24] who had been semiretired since the conclusion of their ABC series Soap. The company expected the show to appeal to older female viewers. 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. 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. On November 9, 2010, the studio released a complete-series box set titled The Golden Girls: 25th Anniversary Complete Collection. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be - Pagelagi 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. 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. Blanche would have been 60 by the series' end. Clearly, the wardrobe and hairstyles in each show are extremely different from each other. Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Harris served as the original executive producers. Eager not to be typecast, they took the suggestion of Sandrich and switched roles at the last minute. 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]. 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. 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. It also won three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series Musical or Comedy. [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. Who was the youngest Golden Girl cast member? 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. 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 . "[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. When Arthur first received the script for The Golden Girls, she loved the concept of having senior women as the stars of the show. [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. We can also look at other clues from the show itself. The Golden Palace, a spinoff of the successful sitcom The Golden Girls, will make its streaming debut on Hulu early next year.. On Jan. 10, just one week before Betty White's 100th birthday on Jan. 17, the single season of the sitcom featuring three of the four main characters from the original series -- Rose Nyland (White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty . Lets see how each actress was cast in their respective roles and how their careers continued after the show concluded. The program is about four elderly ladies who live . This means that she was 63 years old by the time the show premiered in 1985. Her thesis examined menstrual education in Victorian England. In fact, that's who I think she thought she was."[37]. Born on January 17, 1922, Betty White was the oldest of the four main stars. White's birthday is January 17th and Arthur's was May 13th. Thats also the same reason why she refused to reprise her role in the spin-off series The Golden Palace, which featured Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. 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." 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? 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 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. The show promptly received a full order of 12 episodes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress This "created a great deal of stress and competitiveness amongst those of us who weren't in that inner sanctum. "[45], Estelle Getty's stage fright, which affected her from the beginning of the show, grew worse as the show went on. The show never approached the popularity or acclaim of the original, and ranked 57th[citation needed] in the annual ratings. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be on the show? Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, and Betty White reprised their roles in the 1992 spin-off series The Golden Palace (Credit: CBS). The character of Blanche Devereaux appeared in a total of 8 seasons and a total of 204 full episodes in both The Golden Girls (total of 7 . 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. Its a tiny marvel, looking back, that the Golden Girls magnificent casting came together as well as it did. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. She is also the only living core cast member from the series. 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. 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. 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. In Canada, Corus Entertainment's digital specialty channel, DejaView, aired reruns of The Golden Girls until 2017. Betty White was 63 years old when the show premiered in 1985, yet she managed to play a younger persona perfectly. Sophia was never afraid to admit how old she was, often using it to her advantage over the other women in the house. consisted of two back-to-back episodes of the sitcom: "Break-In" (season one, episode eight) and "Isn't It Romantic?" In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. It was my positive attitude, and that made Bea angry sometimes.. How Old Was Rose Nylund On Golden Girls? As of December 1, 2021, every episode was made available to stream on Disney+. As of 2016, it was the 17th-most watched television finale. Win free shoes, organize your shoe closet, see the latest styles + more, About 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.