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. 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, in association with Touchstone Television. Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Harris served as the original executive producers.
The Golden Girls received critical acclaim throughout most of its run, and won several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series twice. It also won three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Each of the four stars received an Emmy Award, making it one of only four sitcoms in the award's history to achieve this. The series also ranked among the Nielsen ratings' top ten for six of its seven seasons. In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Golden Girls number 54 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time. 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". 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.
Cast and characters[]
- Bea Arthur - Dorothy Zbornak (née Petrillo)
- Lynnie Greene - young Dorothy Zbornak
- Betty White - Rose Nylund (née Lindström)
- Rue McClanahan - Blanche Devereaux (née Hollingsworth)
- Estelle Getty - Sophia Petrillo
- Herb Edelman - Stanley Zbornak
- Harold Gould - Miles Webber
- Sid Melton - Salvatore "Sal" Petrillo
- Shawn Schepps and Debra Engle - Rebecca Devereaux
- Monte Markham - Clayton Hollingsworth
- Sheree North - Virginia Hollingworth Warren
- Bill Dana - Angelo Grisanti
- Nancy Walker - Angela Grisanti Vecchio
- Doris Belack and Dena Dietrich - Gloria Petrillo-Harker
- Scott Jacoby - Michael Zbornak
- Lisa Jane Persky and Deena Freeman - Kate Zbornak
International versions[]
| Country | Name | Network(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Chile | Los años dorados | UCV Television |
| Egypt | سكر زيادة Extra Sugar |
Dubai TV, MBC Masr, MBC Masr 2, MBC5 |
| Greece | Xρυσά κορίτσια Chrysa Koritsia |
ET1 |
| Israel | בנות הזהב Bnot HaZahav |
Channel 10 |
| Netherlands | Golden Girls | RTL 4 |
| Philippines | 50 Carats, O Di Ba? | IBC |
| Portugal | Queridas e Maduras | RTP1 |
| Russia | Большие Девочки Bolshie Devochki |
Channel One |
| Spain | Juntas, pero no revueltas | La Primera |
| Las chicas de oro | La 1 | |
| Turkey | Altın Kızlar | ATV |
| United Kingdom | Brighton Belles | ITV |
International broadcast[]
| Country | Network(s) | Local title |
|---|---|---|
| United States | NBC, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, We TV, TV Land, Logo TV, CMT, Hulu, Disney+ | The Golden Girls |
| Asia | HITS | |
| Australia | Seven Network, Fox Classics, Stan, Disney+ | |
| Canada (English) | CBC Television, Prime, DejaView | |
| Ireland | Network Two, TG4 | |
| Malaysia | TV3 | |
| Netherlands | VARA, OutTV | |
| New Zealand | TVNZ, Jones! | |
| Philippines | GMA Network | |
| South Africa | SABC TV1 | |
| United Kingdom | Channel 4, Carlton Select, Living, Disney Channel, TLC, Channel 5 | |
| Zimbabwe | ZBC TV | |
| Latin America | Golden, Sony Channel | Los años dorados |
| Argentina | Canal 13 | |
| Chile | Canal 13, Chilevisión | |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas | |
| El Salvador | Canal 4, Canal 6 | |
| Honduras | Telesistema Hondureño | |
| Mexico | Canal 5 | |
| Uruguay | Canal 12 Teledoce | |
| Venezuela | RCTV, Televen, Venevisión | |
| Canada (French) | Télévision de Radio-Canada, Prise 2 | Les Craquantes |
| France | Antenne 2, France 2, FR3, France 3, Téva | |
| Denmark | TV3 | Pantertanter |
| Norway | TV3 | |
| Arab World | Dubai 33, Dubai One | ذا غولدن غيرلز |
| Belgium | RTL-TVI | Carré de dames |
| Finland | Yle TV2, Nelonen | Tyttökullat |
| Germany | Das Erste, EinsPlus, RTL, VOX, Comedy Central, Super RTL, Disney Channel, RTLup | Golden Girls |
| Israel | Israeli Educational Television | בנות הזהב |
| Italy | Rai Uno | Cuori senza età |
| Portugal | RTP2 | Sarilhos com Elas |
| Slovenia | Pop | Zlata dekleta |
| Spain | La 1, AXN White | Las chicas de oro |
| Sweden | TV4 Komedi | Pantertanter |
| Taiwan | CTV | 黃金女郎 |
| Turkey | TRT 3 | Altın Kızlar |