Finally, Sophia is stated to be in her late 70s, suggesting that she was between 77 and 79. Getty was the first of the four stars to die in 2008 at age 84. The show is seen in more than a hundred countries. She is also the only living core cast member from the series. I kept reading scenes to them and saying, 'God, this is brilliant [] There's nothing trendy about this show. Richard Vaczy and Tracy Gamble, previously writers on 227 and My Two Dads, also assumed the roles of producers and head writers. The show never approached the popularity or acclaim of the original, and ranked 57th[citation needed] in the annual ratings. An instant ratings hit, The Golden Girls became an NBC staple on Saturday nights. [62] Evans generally dressed the actresses in expensive pieces and high-quality fabrics, despite the recurring theme that the four characters were struggling with money, because, "The main idea was to make them look good. McClanahan insisted on the character having a thick Southern accent, a popular aspect of her character throughout the show. Life. [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). How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be? Similarly, Dorothy mentions in another episode that she was married in 1960, which would have made her 22. 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 clever use of makeup and a wig aged Getty to match her character's age. 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. Actress Elaine Stritch was also considered for the role, but she blew her audition by using curse words, which was something that the writers felt was out of character for Dorothy. RELATED: The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended. In the hour-long series finale, which aired in May 1992, Dorothy meets and marries Blanche's uncle Lucas (Leslie Nielsen) and moves to Hollingsworth Manor in Atlanta. 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. How Old Were the Golden Girls Characters Supposed to Be? Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kristen Davis in And Just Like That. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). As of 2019, every episode is available for streaming on Stan. Zachary Guida | CBR How old was Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls? 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! In fact, that's who I think she thought she was."[37]. : Extreme Stunt Show attraction, later replaced by Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Sophia states it happened in 1931, making it likely Dorothy was born sometime in 1932, judging by her sign. She joined the show after Estelle Getty, who was the first actress to be cast in The Golden Girls. The adventures of Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Rose ( universally beloved Betty White) and Sophia (Estelle Getty) -- four older women who lived in a Miami home together -- took audiences by storm and provided representation to a group generally overlooked by television of the time. Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman were the first head writers of the series, and wrote for the show's first four seasons. All four cast members got Emmy nominations for their roles in the Golden Girls. Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Heres How the Royal Family Gets Its Money, These 12 Cities Have Changed A Lot Over Time, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. Initially, White was considered for the role of Blanche Devereaux, which eventually went to Rue McClanahan. [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 shows executives were unsure how the public would react to the eccentric program because older women in leading roles were rarely seen on television. Clearly, the wardrobe and hairstyles in each show are extremely different from each other. Eager not to be typecast, they took the suggestion of Sandrich and switched roles at the last minute. The Golden Girls | Golden Girls Wiki | Fandom FIRST TIME meeting her service dog!!! | dog | This is Ana's FIRST TIME ", This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:40. 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. Though Littlefield nixed their idea, he asked if they would be interested in delivering a pilot script for Miami Nice, instead. Mulligan and Manoff were alumni from one of Susan Harris' earlier shows, Soap. In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. Then, in Season 3, Episode 5, "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself," Sophia tells Dorothy the story of the night Dorothy was conceived. Her thesis examined menstrual education in Victorian England. As of September 8, 2021 all 7 seasons of The Golden Girls were made available to stream on Disney+ in Canada. She had established this signature look while playing Maude, and Evans honored it in her designs for Dorothy. In the end, the math adds up to Dorothy being 53 at the start of the series and 60 at the series' end. It was popular for addressing a demographic that rarely saw the spotlight on television or in Hollywood: senior women. 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. In addition, the character of Sophia had originally been planned as an occasional guest star, but Getty had tested positively with preview audiences, so the producers decided to make her a regular character. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. [52], The house's address was mentioned as being 6151 Richmond Street, Miami. The program is about four elderly ladies who live . The series finale of The Golden Girls was watched by 27.2 million viewers. 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. And Just Like That Characters Are the Same Age as The Golden Girls 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. She would return home to New York if she were unsuccessful. Audiences can figure things out with a little detective work. Bea Arthur actually hated cheesecake. Blanche (played by Rue McClanahan) was thought to be around 47 years old in the first season of Golden Girls. Empty Nest launched its own spin-off in 1991 set in Miami in the same hospital where Dr. Weston worked. Subscribe Maddy Hiltz is someone who loves all things history. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, the show is about four older women who share a home in Miami, Florida. However, it did so from a very different perspective. ISBN978-0-06-242290-3. 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 all of the evidence is taken into account, it seems likely that the Golden Girls characters were actually younger than their stated ages. However, she wasn't much older than Bea Arthur. Your email address will not be published. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. According to the show, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is 55 . 8 Silk Pillowcases for Your Best Beauty Sleep. 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. These ages seem to contradict what is stated in the show, suggesting that the characters may actually be younger than their stated ages. According to Cherry, the writers' room was "a competitive atmosphere. Plus, Sophia was a great cook. "[34] Getty continuously battled stage fright during her tenure on the show. 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. 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." [81], Forever Golden: A Celebration of The Golden Girls released in select movie theaters across North America via Fathom Events on September 14, 2021, marking the show's 36th anniversary. How Old Were the Golden Girls? - CBR Jan 31, 2023 Movie Features Harry Potter: Wait, How Are Bellatrix and Leta Lestrange Related? 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. Getty came to Weiner's mind soon after, when it became time to begin casting of The Golden Girls. In "And Just Like That", Miranda and Charlotte are 54, while Carrie is 55. Who was the youngest Golden Girl cast member? 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. It is interesting to note that the ages of the characters are never directly addressed in the show. For simplicity, because the program lasted seven seasons, each season is treated as a different year for the purpose of simplicity. Blanche would have been 60 by the series' end. As of February 2013, WE tv's rights expired and Viacom networks' TV Land, home to Betty White's last series Hot in Cleveland, purchased them,[79] as did Logo TV. In any event, Arthur chose to commit to a seventh and final season. How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be - Pagelagi This program, on the other hand, was centered on a group of older ladies. "[45], After season three, Arthur had expressed her growing dissatisfaction with the disparaging jokes made about her physical appearance, which were often in the scripts. According to the calculations, Dorothy was 53 at the start of the series, according to the calculations. Beginning in 1990, Marc Cherry served as writer and producer, years before creating Desperate Housewives, which ran on ABC from 2004 to 2012. The series starred Stephanie Hodge and a set of other young nurses. 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. However, there is also some evidence to suggest that these ages may not be accurate. Bea Arthur was not a part of the main cast but did guest star in a double episode, reprising her role as Dorothy.[106]. For instance, Blanche mentions in one episode that she was married in 1952, which would have made her 21 at the time. Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, and Betty White reprised their roles in the 1992 spin-off series The Golden Palace (Credit: CBS). Golden Girls Spinoff Golden Palace Heading to Hulu - CBR In the United Kingdom, the series aired on Channel 4, Living and Disney Channel. the golden girls | CBR [64] Rue McClanahan had a special clause written into her contract allowing her to keep her costumes, which were mostly custom-made for her, utilising expensive fabrics. In her spare time, Maddy loves playing volleyball, running, walking, and biking, although when she wants to be lazy she loves to read a good thriller. 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. 4. She was said to have worn aged cosmetics in character to make her appear to be an eighty-something woman. In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. "[72], During the NBC upfronts, the preview screening of the show got a standing ovation. 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! [80] In 2020, CMT purchased the rights to the series. At least two females were forced to change roles! 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. 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! The show was aired as a bilingual broadcast using a two-channel sound system (Zweikanalton). For, That was the case. RELATED: How Old Were the Golden Girls Supposed to Be? [111], Golden Girls 3033 is an animated pilot created by Mike Hollingsworth. Their fears were allayed when the preview screening garnered a standing ovation and the program was instantly renewed for 12 more Golden Girls episodes. However, her popularity with audiences caused Sophia to become a main character in the series. The Golden Girls began in 1985 and concluded in 1992, both in real life and in the fictional realm. Ironically, the actress who played Sophia, Estelle Getty, was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played her daughter, Dorothy. Its a tiny marvel, looking back, that the Golden Girls magnificent casting came together as well as it did. In New Zealand, the series aired on TVNZ and is replayed on public holidays and it is shown on Jones!. Here We Go Again: My Life in Television. Blanche was probably around 50 when the show began, rather than 54. At times, she even froze on camera while filming. But one of the questions that has always been asked is: how old were the Golden Girls characters supposed to be? According to the math, Blanche was 53 at the start of the series. Shopping Guide 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. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. It also won three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series Musical or Comedy. Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Bea Arthur as the beloved main cast of the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). Required fields are marked *. Similarly, Estelle Getty, who played Sophia, was 79 when the show began and 83 when it ended. When your brain is frozen like that, you can't remember lines. She passed away after suffering complications from a stroke at 99 years old on December 31, 2021, just 17 days before her 100th birthday. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be on the show? Blanche was 17 in 1949, according to Season 3, Episode 25, Mothers Day, when she and her mother reminisce about one of Blanches dates. [33] The character of Sophia was thought by the creators to enhance the idea that three retirement-aged women could be young. [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. 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. She took to writing her lines on props at which she could glance easily, like the wicker purse Sophia always carried with her. The show ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992 and featured four women in their golden years living together in Miami.
how old were the golden girls supposed to be