User reviews

The Golden Girls is one of those rare sitcoms that works from the very first episode until the very last episode. Not one moment of this show is wasted or unneeded. The shows focuses on three best friends over the age of 50 sharing a house together in Miami, Florida in the 1980's (and early 1990's). They are Dorothy (Bea Arthur), the sarcastic, quick mouthed substitute teacher, Blanche (Rue McClanahan) the aging southern belle who won't admit her age and is overly sexed up, Rose (Betty White) the withering moron with the heart of gold. They are joined by Sophia (Estelle Getty), Dorothy's mother that because of a stroke cannot filter what she says. This show is comedic gold and is a treasure to watch.

With its bright, wicker-strewn set and four distinct female characters, I don't see how "The Golden Girls" could've missed. Add a terrific cast, and you've got a goldmine. My favorite episodes are the serious one about Alzheimers, the hilarious one where the women have to decide between a new roof or a painting by a dying artist, and any of those that prominently feature Beatrice Arthur (portraying my favorite golden girl, Dorothy Zbornak). Occasionally there was a dip in inspiration, such as the groan-filled two-parter about Blanche's moonlight madness party, or some fearsome overacting (Estelle Getty was the usual culprit). Still, the reruns never fail to get a laugh out of me, and I must know the episodes by heart by now. Sharp, canny writing, funny second plots to match the main action, brilliant characterizations and good writing for the supporting players. It is my generation's "I Love Lucy".

The best show of the 1980's, hands down. I loved this show from the first episode and have all seven seasons on DVD. They get watched all the time in my house. The acting and writing was top notch on this show. I consider it the last good TV show in my opinion. It went off the air in May 1992 and that is really when I stopped watching current TV. The shows on now just can't compare. It also dealt with some very touching subjects such as, blindness, Alzheimer's, homosexuality, AIDS, impotence, bigamy, and chronic fatigue syndrome, and did it with quite a bit of class. I think overall my favorite season would be the third one. My favorite character would have to be Blanche. I just love her attitude and the way she always pretends she is much younger than she really is. If you want to see four excellent actresses and some classic timing and comedy sit down and enjoy The Golden Girls.

The Golden Girls is a wonderfully written, extremely funny show that will always be one of the greatest comedy efforts of all time. The show has laughter everyone can enjoy, and it explores topics that few shows dare to address. All four women won Emmy Awards for their roles, and the show enjoyed extraordinary ratings and acclaim. Every aspect of the show provides for pure comedic entertainment that transcends the art itself. The show provides a look into how friends from very different backgrounds compliment each other and become the best of friends. Each character brings a unique dynamic to the plot, and any viewer can learn from, identify with, and, of course, laugh at their adventures. Simply a show for the ages.

NBC was already a monster by 1985 thanks to programs like "The Cosby Show", "Cheers" and "L.A. Law" (all part of that unbeatable Thursday lineup). In 1985 it appeared that Beatrice Arthur (who struck gold with "Maude", a spin-off of "All in the Family") was going back to television in a new show called "The Golden Girls". Along with Arthur (a smart-mouthed Brooklyn native) was her old-world Sicilian mother (Estelle Getty), a bubble-headed Minnesota native (Betty White) and a sex-crazed belle from Georgia (Rue McClanahan). This quartet of actresses would create the finest core of performers to ever star in a television series. "The Golden Girls", unlike "Cheers", was a hit from its first episode. It dominated with vigor and spunk on Saturday nights. NBC was worried that the show would never find an audience big enough to make a dent in the ratings, but for a time "The Golden Girls" was as excellent as anything else the networks had to offer. The four women, all obviously over 50, lived, laughed and cried together in Miami for nearly a decade from 1985 to 1992. The series pushed the envelope on everything that dominated headlines during its run (AIDS, homosexuality, sexism, ageism, political unrest, abortion and an endless list of other topics too long to go into at length). The episodes went for comedy, but usually almost always had a deep meaning to them about love and friendship. All four actresses shared the spotlight equally for the most part. Arthur and McClanahan had hit gold with "Maude" and White had been along seemingly at the advent of television programming. Getty was relatively unknown, but fit in well with more-established performers immediately (her character got away with more than the others as she was written as a lady who had suffered a major stroke which affected the relationship between what she said and thought). Herb Edelman (who made a name for himself in "The Odd Couple") was always a consistent element as Arthur's two-timing ex-husband and Harold Gould (who was a key player in "The Sting") also became a fixture during the series' latter episodes as White's love interest. Like all good things though, "The Golden Girls" began to slowly lose their edge and appeal by the early-1990s. Time slot changes and constant contract re-negotiations ended the series far too early. Arthur's want to leave the show by 1992 would ultimately kill the program. CBS attempted to bring the other three back with "The Golden Palace", but that series never found its legs without Arthur. 5 stars out of 5.

I was six when this show first aired, but I caught the reruns, first on NBC and then on Lifetime. This is the ONLY sitcom I can watch over and over again and still laugh hysterically. What made it work was the combination of brilliant (brilliant!!) writing, and a cast that worked magic with the words. Each character was totally iconic, memorable, and independent of the other; and yet, the chemistry between the four actresses was perhaps the best ever seen on television. It's no wonder they all won Emmy awards for their performances. The heart of the show, though, was the friendship they formed with each other. This was THE show for people who felt isolated, or alienated in some way from life, family, or society. No matter how bad or weird you felt, you knew you'd be accepted and fit in with The Golden Girls. I can't say enough about this classic show.

There is a reason why this show is one of the most beloved shows of all time, with a rabid fan base.

I am not going to be original and just say that The Golden Girls (1985- 1992) is pure gold of the sitcom. This is the show about four women, three in their late 50s, and one - octogenarian but not many shows would compare with the brilliance, fun, laughs, good jokes, catchy one- liners, great pacing, sparks, the perfect casting, the unique chemistry between the Girls - the rare fun that every one of 180 (yes, every one) episodes of the show is. The show about the women who may have passed the primes of their lives but still are funny, sexy, full of life, beautiful, vibrant, and value the gift of friendship, is a winner. The casting of four highly talented actresses as four friends sharing a house in Miami, Florida back in the 1980s proved to be the real gold. Sharp and no-nonsense Dorothy (Beatrice Arthur, RIP), naive beyond belief raised on the Minnesota farm Rose (Betty White, the last surviving Golden Girl), Southern belle Blanche, fun loving and much more fun having namesake of another less fortunate Blanche(Rue McClanahan, RIP), and Dorothy's Sicilian mother Sophia (Estelle Getty, RIP), the coolest, sharpest, funniest 80+ mom TV ever known, are all equally fabulous and bring to every scene of every episode wit, class, humor, and talent. What fascinates and touches me - from 124 reviews on this site, 57 were written by the males of all ages and almost all of them have the words "great", "one of the best" "perfect" etc in the titles. I think The Golden Show is equally interesting and appeals to both men and women, to the young ones and well... the golden ones :) because it is - simply one of its kind and it mixes funny and touching, serious and hilarious, satiric and sentimental in perfect measure and balance. I have problems choosing my favorite girl. I wish all of them were my personal friends and I want to thank THEM for being the best TV friends.

I absolutely love The Golden Girls, it is a classic and compulsively watchable any time of the year and ideal for anybody.

The production values are top notch, with nice photography and the clothes and sets are pleasant on the eyes. The music is memorable, with a addictive and infectious main theme.

There is also the writing, which is also superb. While it is always funny, there is also room for poignancy which works wonders. The Golden Girls has great story lines as well, always well-constructed and entertaining with racy topics that understandably can be seen as controversial in the day.

The main cast are amazing to watch. I am especially accustomed to Betty White's(always a welcome presence) Rose, while Rue McClanahan is comedy gold. Estelle Getty has a strong character and works really well with it, likewise with Beatrice "Bea" Arthur. While these women have their conflicts and issues, deep down you can tell they genuinely care for each other.

All in all, a wonderful show and one of the best of the 80s, perhaps even ever. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Some people may think that only older women can enjoy this show because the four stars of the show are older women. That is completely incorrect though. I'm a 14 year old boy that LOVES to watch this show with my mom and 11 year old brother. These women may be old, but their humor and personalities are that of someone in their 20s-40s!

Dorothy Zbornak (Beatrice Arthur), Rose Nyland (Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) are four elderly women, all widows except for Dorothy, who's divorced, who live together in Miami, Florida. While their personalities differ, and this causes many conflicts and arguments between them, they love each other no matter what.

The great thing about this show is that it took a chance by starring four actresses in their mid 50s to 60s and showed that just because you're old, it doesn't mean that life is over and you can't have fun anymore. The humor reaches to all age demographics and the characters each have such distinct, hilarious traits that watching them try to get along is a hoot.

If you're a boy or adult man that feels embarrassed to watch this show, DON'T. It's a pure classic that will never be forgotten in my life and will always be one of my favorite shows! This show proves that hilarity doesn't just come from younger folks, but that it can come from older people just as much!!! Long live The Golden Girls!!! 10 out of 10 EASILY!!!

From the moment I first saw "The Golden Girls" I was hooked. Here is a show that I am looking at for the umpteenth time, and I still laugh out loud so much I cry. This show was perfection. From the writing and directing to the superb performances of maybe the greatest ensemble cast ever assembled, this is the best. The only thing that makes me sad about "The Golden Girls" is that most of the cast have passed on now. The indestructible Betty White being the only one left. The show was so well written. The episodes make you laugh hysterically one minute, then the humor is leavened by the serious undertone in the writing. Whenever I am in the dumps, I watch an episode and presto! I forget my troubles.

If you were watching television during the mid- and late Eighties, then chances are that you have watched "The Golden Girls". And if you enjoyed the mid-Eighties comedy sitcoms, then chances are even bigger that you are familiar with Dorothy Zbornak, Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux and Sophia Petrillo.

I have fond memories of this fairly long-running TV sitcom, and I was ten years old when the show started, and I remember still watching it during the teenage years.

For a TV sitcom based around the lives of four elderly women living together, then "The Golden Girls" actually is hilarious. And it is not only because of the writing and the script, but especially because of the colorful characters and the cast that portrayed these women.

The characters each individually brought something very enjoyable to the show. Dorothy (played by Bea Arthur) is looking for true love and a life companion, but she is more than often hindered so in that conquest by her hilarious mom Sophia (played by Estelle Getty). The naive and gullible Rose (played by Betty White) often finds herself in a world very different from her home in St. Olaf. And the carefree Blanche (played by Rue McClanahan) goes through men like others go through underwear.

The actresses cast to portray these colorful women was really good and they each individually brought something unique to the show. Bea Arthur had a certain authority to her being. Estelle Getty was just a bundle of fun and joy. Betty White was, as always, a wonderful woman with lots of charm. And finally Rue McClanahan really did show that even a mature woman is still desirable.

Every episode does bring about some good, wholehearted laughs and profound moments between the four main characters. And as such, then the series will grow on you and you start to have some sort of bond with each of the four lovable characters.

"The Golden Girls" is well-worth watching if you enjoy the classic sitcoms from the mid-Eighties. They don't really make sitcoms like this anymore, and "The Golden Girls" is a nice addition to the library of the TV sitcoms.

I grew up with this show, and I must say, it is pure golden! First of all, the relationship between the four women is absolutely stunning (I wish all friendships were like that in real life). Four beautiful, elderly women reminisce about their past lives and past romances/relationships with men, old friends and all that other stuff while dwelling in a home in Miami (I wish I could go to Miami now!) The lines are funny and/or bitterly sarcastic, and I love how Rose just blurts out funny, random stories of her life in St. Olaf. Unfortunately, there are no TV shows like this nowadays. Not even a not-so-good "sitcom" like Marvin Marvin could ever outshine this beauty of a TV series.

In a redundant version of an ancient watching-decision-system I decided to embark upon The Golden Girls because Arrested Development's Mitch Hurwitz wrote for it in the last two seasons. Eleven years later I've finally finished it and I can tell you that it is a pure pastel paradise. A characterful comedy classic which lives up to its lofty reputation as a surprisingly sharp but overwhelmingly comfortable bit of 80's-90's pop cultural ephemera. It's often wonky, consistently old fashioned but a strangely progressive and sometimes incredibly touching bit of television that I'll never forget spending a huge amount of time wading through. This show is a pal. It's a confidant. Its heart is (and perhaps will always be) true. So fair play to it for that.

I hate to rain on the parade of praises for this comedy series and suspect my views will not be very popular. I realize I'm taking on a cherished icon here, but must comment on the flaws as I see them whether or not others may disagree.

This show has the unusual and comedy ripe premise of four 'older' previously married women spending their golden years in Florida, sharing a home and developing very touching bonds of friendship. The four have extremely disparate personalities. Dorothy is a cynical, pragmatic, witty divorced English teacher. Sometimes her previously unfaithful ex husband, Stan, appears in the hopes of rekindling the flame and stirs up trouble, emotional and otherwise. Dorothy's widowed mother, Sophia, has many tales (often embellished) from her native Sicily. She is a sharp tongued, feisty loose cannon and quite a handful for her daughter and the other two ladies to contend with. Rose is a super friendly, super cheerful, super naive widow from Minnesota, who reminisces about her life with late husband, Charlie, and regales her room mates with endless absurd stories of her hometown, St. Olaf, and its bizarre inhabitants & customs. Blanche, the owner of this Florida home, is a bold & audacious widowed Southern belle and proudly promiscuous. Her tales revolve around her numerous and legendary sexual exploits...real, exaggerated, and sometimes even totally fictitious.

The actresses are all amazing in their roles...Beatrice Arthur (Dorothy), Betty White (Rose), Rue McClanahan (Blanche), and Estelle Getty (Sophia). Getty is actually middle aged and younger than Beatrice Arthur, who plays her daughter. The four characters depicted are all likable ladies, each with her own well conveyed little personality quirks. The ridiculously innocent, well intended Rose is my personal favourite.

I admit to sometimes watching this series for a laugh and it does have many good points. The show clearly depicts that post menopausal women can still be smart, vibrant, and interested in romance (well, sex, to put it bluntly). Also, it's a powerful tribute to friendship. Despite these ladies' assorted scrapes and frequent spats with each other, their bond of friendship always emerges triumphant. They support each other through financial & career difficulties, offspring dilemmas, and especially love affairs gone awry. Often this support manifests itself by late night gatherings at the kitchen table, where they guiltily but jovially console themselves and each other with cheesecake or ice cream. Their camaraderie is magnificent, and segments of the program often resemble a college dorm or cute slumber party for seniors.

However, my problem with the series stems from its focus on sex. Sure, it's fine to indicate that these ladies are still interested, that they aren't ready to curl up & die just yet, and the fire hasn't gone out. But frankly, does every single episode need to embrace their sex lives, and such a large percentage of the laughs revolve around the topic one way or another? The comment has been quite accurately made that it was the original Sex and the City. Call me old fashioned but I don't consider that a compliment. Non marital sex is no more fine and dandy for these older gals than it is for the young Sex and the City crowd. They should be older and wiser, if anything. Also, not that ladies of this vintage should never discuss the matter, but these dames' conversations are literally sex obsessed. Of course Blanche is a hoot on the show, but occasionally I wonder a little about a society that finds unlimited humour in her antics. Sometimes I'm as guilty as the rest, but really it doesn't speak well of Western civilization!

So, a very mixed review. Despite the hilarity and the touching friendships, I have to give it an overall thumbs down. Maybe it's okay for adults, but this show is generally shown in re runs at family hours. If my youngster were viewing it, I'd certainly feel as though I should do quite a lot of explaining to counteract its messages. Golden Girls is morally a vicious wolf in cute, funny, and heartwarming sheep's clothing.

The Golden Girls were without a doubt one of a kind. four older woman living together that in a lot of ways were completely different from one another. I remember growing up and watching this show every Saturday night with my mother. I would sit there with my mother and we would both laugh our selves silly at the show and all the cracks and comments Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia would make to one another. My mothers favorite character was Dorothy and my favorite was Sophia because she always had a wise crack to make especially at Blanche. Then there is Rose with her St. Olaf stories that she constantly told. I do still see The Golden Girls on Lifetime and I do still watch them every now and then for a laugh. Every time I see Betty, Rue, Bea or Estelle on TV it always reminds me of this show. I think that they worked very well together.

Being born in the late 80s, I actually got to watch these series when I was a teenager, and I couldn't help but love these four ladies sharing their experiences as four house-mates would. Perhaps the most interesting aspect is getting to watch how women that are not so young date, grieve, laugh and experience different traumas and situations, and to see all these through their eyes - and the eyes of their house-mates, of course! The episodes are light and refreshing, and many times one is surprised with beautiful lessons that are hard to forget. Also, these series prove to be a great way of representing older women, who are often forgotten and shunned by society, under a favorable light; I only wish there were more series and movies taking "golden girls" into account! I can't find a way to describe these series,except by saying the "Golden Girls" are unique! I don't think their appeal will ever die.

One of the funniest shows ever ,you can watch it over and over again and never get sick of it now Betty White has joined the other girls in heaven, thank you for being a friend.

There aren't many TV shows produced these days that will stand the test of time. This show has proved its meddle and then some. Every episode is a classic. The four stars etched in our brains as the golden girls we spent so many evenings with sharing cheesecake (and maybe an inappropriate story or two). All I can say is:

Thank you for being a friend. Travelled down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.

And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew. You would see the biggest gift would be from me and the card attached would say, thank you for being a friend.

I watched random episodes now and then but only when I watched all seasons in a row did I realize that it is indeed a very good show.

It is about four older women living together and go through issues of love, family and friendship.Well written and beautifully performed by great actresses who all deservingly got Emmys for their performances.

What is beautiful about the show is how they manage to bring laughter while also addressing serious issues. And they did a good job doing it with going through anything one can think of. Be it Alzheimers, homosexuality, promiscuity, homelessness, dead husbands or artificial insemination. They do it with such a grace that while one feels and thinks about the topic one is also never down and enjoys the laughter.

And it is great that the cast are women over 40. One doesn't get many shows even these days who look at that group of people as normal living being who are not senile and still enjoy life and sex. I wonder if it was hated back in the days the way SATC was by some people a decade ago.

I had to give ny ggs a 7 this shows amazing minus being written and directed by mostly men i.e assuming woman would never know how to install a toilet or not marry the first man they see. It's starting to feel like a foolish situation that's going to make the girls unwatchable in the future. The shows premises is 4 woman without husband's living together and taking on life. Yet every episode Blanche becomes pathetically involved with any man she sees. The supposedly strongest woman on the show was married to a complete loser yet continues to fall for Stan. Its a sad realization but men running this show is why it won't hold up in the future. Men really out there believing woman can't live without them. Come on!

The humor and the chemistry between the cast is great . Three decades has passed and this show just worx on all levels. It's a classic and in 2022 I will watch it , again !

It Was A Very Funny Show With Estelle As Sophia, She Was Hilarious. Doesn't Get Any Better Then This. It's A Shame That The Show Got Canceled When Bea Arthur Left In 92.

Golden Girls was a fun show sometimes, and it had its great moments. Unfortunately, the basic formula was that four elderly women lived together, and two of them spent a part of every episode degrading and humiliating the other two.

Because the characters were all elderly, the writers got away with a lot of nasty humor aimed at the elderly. After all, if two old ladies attack their elderly friends, it was alright? Sharp-tongued Beatrice Arthur (formerly the nasty character in Maude) played one of the harpies. Her mother was played by Estelle Getty, who was an even more vicious and mean-spirited character.

The two room-mates were played by Betty White, whose character was a naive and well-meaning angel. The other room-mate was played by Rue McClanahan, who was always looking for love, and not much of an angel, but she was a good person at heart.

Every show, Arthur and Getty would lampoon and attack White and McClanahan, and at some point the story of the week would take place. Usually it would highlight the flaws of one of the Golden Girls, and they would dump on each other some more. It was a very mean-spirited show in a lot of ways. It focused on how all of them were losers, but they still loved each other.