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Disney's Michael Eisner explains, "Estelle Getty made our three women into girls. 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. [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. Celebrities Richard Vaczy and Tracy Gamble, previously writers on 227 and My Two Dads, also assumed the roles of producers and head writers. 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. In Season 4, Episode 10, Stan Takes a Wife, Dorothy declares that she is a Leo, indicating that her birthdate is in late July or early-to-late August. Beginning in 1990, Marc Cherry served as writer and producer, years before creating Desperate Housewives, which ran on ABC from 2004 to 2012. When the show hit TV screens in the 1980s, society believed that women in their 50s were more grandmotherly, and ready for retirement. The clever use of makeup and a wig aged Getty to match her character's age. How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? 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. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be on the show? 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. She was just as uptight as a human being could get. However, White and McClanahan wanted to play against their typecasting, so McClanahan was cast as Blanche instead. 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. Arthur was born on May 13, 1922, making her the second oldest actress in the main cast. All the lead actresses won Emmy awards for their performances on the show. Estelle Getty, who portrayed Sophia, was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy, Sophias daughter. Plus, Sophia was a great cook. Rose Nylund is a character from the sitcom television series The Golden Girls and its spin-off, The Golden Palace. [58], The kitchen set seen on The Golden Girls was originally used on an earlier Witt/Thomas/Harris series, It Takes Two, which aired on ABC from 1982 to 1983. 12. Although the women's ages were rarely disclosed, some deductive work may be used to approximate how old each Golden Girl was at the commencement of the series. She had established this signature look while playing Maude, and Evans honored it in her designs for Dorothy. She was born on July 25, 1923, making her 62 years old by the time the sitcom premiered. They decided that a separate cook would distract from their friendship. "[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. 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. Arthur's son, Matthew Saks, later spoke of tension between the two actresses, stating that his mother, "unknowingly carried the attitude that it was fun to have somebody to be angry atIt was almost like Betty became her nemesis, someone she could always roll her eyes about at work. Life. [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. [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". Privacy Policy, Brands [56] In 2020, owners marketed the property for $3 million. Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. In an interview with The Village Voice in 2011, White stated that Arthur found me a pain in the neck sometimes. If she had returned, her character would have been in her sixties. Dorothy meets and marries Blanches Uncle Lucas in the hour-long series finale, which aired in May 1992, and moves to Hollingsworth Manor in Atlanta, Georgia. [39] In 2011, White stated that she believed it was her "positive attitude" and perky demeanor that got on Arthur's nerves. The majority of sitcoms in the period centered on either families or teenagers. [83] The 21-disc collection features all 180 episodes of the series as well as all special features contained on the previously released season sets; it is encased in special collectible packaging, a replica of Sophia's purse. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Continue reading to find out how old were the golden girls on the set of The Golden Girls. This article promises to be interesting and really informative. Producers wanted to cast McClanahan as Rose and White as Blanche based on roles they had previously played; White portrayed the man-hungry Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, while McClanahan co-starred as the sweet but scatterbrained Vivian Harmon in Maude. [73], In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Golden Girls number 54 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time. RELATED: How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be? After some careful math, viewers also figured out that Dorothy (played by Bea Arthur) was supposed to be 53. 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). Sophia, Dorothy's straight-talking mother, was the oldest character in the Golden Girls' house. When "The Golden Girls" premiered over 30 years ago, on Sept. 14, 1985, audiences were introduced to Southern belle Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) and her roommates Rose Nylund (Betty. 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. [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. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). 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 "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. Born on January 17, 1922, Betty White was the oldest of the four main stars. When your brain is frozen like that, you can't remember lines. According to the math, Blanche was 53 at the start of the series. 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. That was the case. The film Golden Girls was a critical and commercial triumph. [107] When that idea was not well received, Harris retooled the series as a vehicle for Richard Mulligan, and the following year Empty Nest debuted, starring Mulligan as pediatrician Harry Weston, a widower whose two adult daughters moved back home. 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. Sophia states it happened in 1931, making it likely Dorothy was born sometime in 1932, judging by her sign. Assuming her child would graduate at 17, that would make Blanche 48 in 1986 and 47 at the start of the series. [71], On Metacritic, the series has an overall score of 82 out of 100, based on 6 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim. 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). Blanche was inspired by the popular fictional characters Blanche DuBois (from A Streetcar Named Desire, a famous 1947 Broadway play written by Tennessee Williams) and Vivien Leigh, who portrayed the same character in the 1951 film adaptation alongside Marlon Brando. Her thesis examined menstrual education in Victorian England. Here We Go Again: My Life in Television. "[34] Getty continuously battled stage fright during her tenure on the show. [7][8], The first episode features a cook/butler named Coco (played by Charles Levin), but the role was dropped before the second episode. Iconic Golden-era Hollywood actress Scarlett OHara was also reportedly an inspiration for the role. 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. Actors How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be? [40] However, Arthur preferred that her three castmates and she all break for lunch together on workdays. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be? 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 . 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. Reportedly, White doubted that she could effectively play the role of Rose. Betty White was famous in Hollywood for being a pioneer of television dating back to the 1950s. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. Their hair also hasnt greyed (or is colored), and they style their hair in a more contemporary way. 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]. 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. We assume that middle-aged women continue to live their lives working, partying, being mothers, or hanging with their friends. Your email address will not be published. She is passionate about Princess Diana, the Titanic, the Romanovs, and Egypt amongst other things. [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. 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 by the math, that makes Blanche 53 at the start of 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. 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. Harold Gould played two of Rose's boyfriends, Arnie and Miles. Blanche would have been 60 by the series' end. 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. RELATED: The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended. Bill Dana played Sophia's brother Angelo and her father. Season 2, Episode 25, "A Piece of Cake," reveals Sophia celebrated her 50th birthday in 1956, putting her at 79 at The Golden Girls' beginning. It won three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series and two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. In the first season of Golden Girls, it is revealed that Rose (Betty Whites character) was 55. You have a lot of table reads where the actors will mess it up because they don't understand what the characters are doing, or they misinterpret. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. It was, however, more than a fringe success. It was popular for addressing a demographic that rarely saw the spotlight on television or in Hollywood: senior women. In the United Kingdom, the series aired on Channel 4, Living and Disney Channel. 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. 5. She took to writing her lines on props at which she could glance easily, like the wicker purse Sophia always carried with her. ", 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. Although the writing was mostly comical, dramatic moments and sentimental endings were included in several episodes. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Cast alongside Rue McClanahan, she impressed the producers of The Golden Girls with her recurring role as Ellen in Mamas Family. Ellen Albertini Dow played Sophia's friend Lillian and an unnamed hospital patient with a flower cart. In "The Golden . Arthur and White worked well together in shared mutual respect, but they did not pursue a personal friendship with one another outside of The Golden Girls set. The program is about four elderly ladies who live . 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. 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. The story follows four older single women (three widows and one divorced) who share a home in Miami, Florida. She joined the show after Estelle Getty, who was the first actress to be cast in The Golden Girls. [26] She found the concept interesting, as "it was a demographic that had never been addressed," and she soon began work on it. [111], Golden Girls 3033 is an animated pilot created by Mike Hollingsworth. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). However, there is also some evidence to suggest that these ages may not be accurate. 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 first aired on September 14, 1985, and it continues to appeal to both young and older audiences. How old were the ladies on golden girls in real life? 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. [70][self-published source?] 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. The show ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992 and featured four women in their golden years living together in Miami. Details on Betty White and Bea Arthur's Off-Screen Feud", "CNN Official Interview: Betty White: Bea Arthur was not fond of me", "Marc Cherry Shares His Memories of Writing for Golden Girls", "Golden Girls weren't so chummy off the screen, star's son reveals", "Estelle Getty, 'Golden Girls' Matriarch, Dies at 84", "Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' Dies at 84", "Bea Arthur's son says she 'wasn't really close to anybody' despite 'Golden Girls' fame", "The Changing Face of Modern Television: When Costume Design Costars", "Bea-ing Stylish: Former "Golden Girl" Bea Arthur Talks About Comfort Clothes, Going Barefoot and Her Famous "Maude" Wardrobe", "7 Must-Have Items from Rue McClanahan's Estate Sale", "30 Things You Never Knew About 'The Golden Girls', "The Golden Girls Creators On Finding a New Generation of Fans", "The Queen Mother Loved The Golden Girls So Much That She Requested a Live Performance from the Cast", "Preview 2: The Golden Girls Arrive on Logo April 13th", "Fathom Events to Celebrate Nearly 40 Years of "The Golden Girls" This September", "The Golden Girls 25th Anniversary Complete Collection", "The Golden Girls - The Complete First Season [DVD] [1985]", "The Golden Girls - The complete Season 2 [DVD] [1986]", "The Golden Girls - Season 3 - Complete [DVD]", "TV Weekend; 3 of the Golden Girls in a New Home", "Thank You For Being a Friend brings the Golden Girls to the stage as puppets", "TVE comienza a rodar 'Juntas, pero no revueltas', su versin de 'Las chicas de oro', "TVE presenta el remake: 'Volvemos a la sitcom pero con valor seguro', "Altin Kizlar'in Setine Gizli Kamera Koymak Gerek", "Heard the one about the US sense of humour? 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. Dorothy, meanwhile, is stated to be in her early 50s, which could mean that she was anywhere between 50 and 54. [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. It ran from September 1992 to May 1993 and also starred Cheech Marin and Don Cheadle. As of 2016, it was the 17th-most watched television finale. How old was Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls? On the other hand, the women in And Just Like That dress in a trendy, modern style. 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. 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. [52], The house's address was mentioned as being 6151 Richmond Street, Miami. Because none of the other Golden Girls explicitly disclose their ages, the logical process begins with Dorothy. Getty was the first actress to be cast, and her role was intended to make the rest of the characters appear younger.