"The Golden Girls" (1985) TV series 1985-1992

Creator:

Susan Harris
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

14 September 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Four previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.

Plot Keywords:

Roommate | Color In Title | Grandmother | Georgia USA | Storytelling

Awards:

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 34 wins & 79 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Jan. 4	2:00 PM	HALMRK	If at Last You Do Succeed	#6.3
Mon. Jan. 4	2:30 PM	HALMRK	Snap Out of It	#6.4

Cast

Bea Arthur	...	Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak / ... (180 episodes, 1985-1992)
Betty White	...	Rose Nylund (180 episodes, 1985-1992)
Rue McClanahan	...	Blanche Devereaux (180 episodes, 1985-1992)
Estelle Getty	...	Sophia Petrillo (180 episodes, 1985-1992)

Series Directed by
Terry Hughes		(108 episodes, 1985-1990)
Lex Passaris		(24 episodes, 1990-1992)
Matthew Diamond		(21 episodes, 1990-1991)
Jim Drake		(8 episodes, 1985)
Peter D. Beyt		(6 episodes, 1991-1992)
Paul Bogart		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jay Sandrich		(2 episodes, 1985-1987)

Series Writing credits
Susan Harris		(111 episodes, 1985-1992)
Barry Fanaro		(24 episodes, 1985-1989)
Mort Nathan		(24 episodes, 1985-1989)
Terry Grossman		(22 episodes, 1985-1989)
Kathy Speer		(22 episodes, 1985-1989)
Winifred Hervey		(14 episodes, 1985-1989)
Tracy Gamble		(14 episodes, 1989-1992)
Gail Parent		(14 episodes, 1989-1992)
Richard Vaczy		(14 episodes, 1989-1992)
Christopher Lloyd		(11 episodes, 1986-1989)
Marc Cherry		(11 episodes, 1990-1992)
Jamie Wooten		(11 episodes, 1990-1992)
Robert Bruce		(10 episodes, 1988-1990)
Martin Weiss		(10 episodes, 1988-1990)
Tom Whedon		(10 episodes, 1989-1992)
Jerry Perzigian		(10 episodes, 1990-1992)
Don Seigel		(10 episodes, 1990-1992)
James Vallely		(10 episodes, 1990-1992)
Mitchell Hurwitz		(9 episodes, 1990-1992)
Marc Sotkin		(7 episodes, 1989-1992)
Kevin Abbott		(5 episodes, 1989-1992)
Phillip Jayson Lasker		(5 episodes, 1989-1991)
James Berg		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stan Zimmerman		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Russell Marcus		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jeffrey Ferro		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Fredric Weiss		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Robert Spina		(3 episodes, 1990-1992)
Liz Sage		(2 episodes, 1985)
Eric Cohen		(2 episodes, 1989)
Harold Apter		(2 episodes, 1990)

Series Produced by
Paul Junger Witt	....	executive producer / producer (114 episodes, 1985-1992)
Tony Thomas	....	executive producer / producer (114 episodes, 1985-1992)
Kathy Speer	....	producer / co-executive producer (87 episodes, 1985-1989)
Terry Grossman	....	producer / co-executive producer (86 episodes, 1985-1989)
Marsha Posner Williams	....	co-producer (73 episodes, 1985-1988)
Barry Fanaro	....	supervising producer / co-producer / ... (63 episodes, 1986-1989)
Mort Nathan	....	supervising producer / co-producer / ... (63 episodes, 1986-1989)
Harry Waterson	....	producer (59 episodes, 1985-1988)
Winifred Hervey	....	co-producer / producer (50 episodes, 1986-1988)
Nina Feinberg	....	producer / co-producer (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Gail Parent	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jerry Perzigian	....	supervising producer (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Don Seigel	....	supervising producer (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Marc Sotkin	....	co-executive producer / executive producer (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Richard Vaczy	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Tom Whedon	....	co-executive producer (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Tracy Gamble	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (28 episodes, 1991-1992)
Marc Cherry	....	producer (26 episodes, 1990-1992)
Kevin Abbott	....	co-producer (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
James Vallely	....	co-producer (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Mitchell Hurwitz	....	producer (25 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jamie Wooten	....	producer (25 episodes, 1991-1992)
David Amico	....	associate producer (23 episodes, 1988-1989)
Robert Bruce	....	co-producer (23 episodes, 1988-1989)
Martin Weiss	....	co-producer (23 episodes, 1988-1989)
Greg Giangregorio	....	associate producer (16 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jeffrey Ferro	....	co-producer (15 episodes, 1987-1988)
Fredric Weiss	....	co-producer (15 episodes, 1987-1988)
Susan Harris	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 1987-1992)
Eric Cohen	....	supervising producer (14 episodes, 1988-1989)
John Ziffren	....	co-producer (13 episodes, 1991)
Paul Bogart	....	supervising producer (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Phillip Jayson Lasker	....	co-executive producer (3 episodes, 1991)
David A. Goodman	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 1989-1990)
Terry Hughes	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
George Aliceson Tipton		(122 episodes, 1985-1992)

Series Cinematography by
Alan Walker		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Film Editing by
Pamela Phelps		(27 episodes, 1991-1992)
Harold McKenzie		(26 episodes, 1986-1992)
Jim McElroy		(17 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Casting by
Judith Weiner		(62 episodes, 1985-1988)
Sharon Seigal		(24 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jennifer Jackson Part		(24 episodes, 1987-1988)
Susan Vash		(21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ellen Meyer		(19 episodes, 1989-1992)
Allison Jones		(18 episodes, 1985-1986)
Donna Larson		(16 episodes, 1990-1992)
Joanne Koehler		(1 episode, 1988-1989)

Series Production Design by
Edward Stephenson		(113 episodes, 1985-1992)

Series Art Direction by
Michael Hynes		(3 episodes, 1991)

Series Costume Design by
Judy Evans		(103 episodes, 1985-1992)

Series Makeup Department
Joyce Conroy	....	hair stylist (83 episodes, 1985-1991)
Maurice Stein	....	makeup artist (82 episodes, 1985-1989)
Art Harding	....	makeup artist (30 episodes, 1985-1992)
Paulette Pennington	....	hair stylist (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Barbara Fonte-Kunkel	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Susan Palladino	....	executive in charge of production / production executive (92 episodes, 1985-1992)
Adria Horton	....	post-production manager (71 episodes, 1985-1989)
David Amico	....	unit manager (46 episodes, 1985-1988)
Audrey Joy Johnson	....	unit manager (15 episodes, 1991-1992)
Harold McKenzie	....	post-production supervisor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Lex Passaris	....	post-production supervisor (10 episodes, 1985-1986)
Fred Roth	....	post production manager / post-production manager (3 episodes, 1991)
George Englund	....	post-production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lex Passaris	....	associate director / assistant director (5 episodes, 1986-1991)

Series Art Department
Paul Wadian	....	head carpenter (103 episodes, 1985-1992)
Michael Hynes	....	associate production designer / associate designer (71 episodes, 1986-1992)
Ken Dawson	....	property master (56 episodes, 1985-1988)
Robert Devicariis	....	property master (29 episodes, 1988-1992)
Judeth Lowey	....	assistant designer / assistant art director (15 episodes, 1991-1992)
Scott Latendresse	....	assistant designer (12 episodes, 1992)
John Blanco	....	property master (5 episodes, 1991)
Jasper Ehrig	....	property master (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
James Draper	....	property master (3 episodes, 1988)
Ed Stevenson	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Allen Patapoff	....	sound re-recordist / sound recordist (56 episodes, 1985-1988)
Edward L. Moskowitz	....	sound / audio (42 episodes, 1986-1991)
John Hart	....	sound (38 episodes, 1990-1992)
Craig Porter	....	re-recording / sound re-recordist (33 episodes, 1988-1992)
Nick Carbone	....	sound utility (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Doc Siegel	....	sound (18 episodes, 1985-1987)
Ed Epstein	....	sound (18 episodes, 1991-1992)
Larry Lasota	....	sound (8 episodes, 1991)
Dick Burns	....	sound (4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Doug Botnick	....	audio (3 episodes, 1988)
Wolf Seeberg	....	sound (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Douglas Shamburger	....	sound utility (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)
Greg Ampagoomian	....	utility sound (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen A. Jones	....	camera operator / camera (130 episodes, 1985-1992)
Ritch Kenney	....	camera operator / camera (110 episodes, 1985-1992)
Alan Walker	....	lighting designer / lighting (64 episodes, 1985-1991)
Ken Tamburri	....	camera operator / camera (57 episodes, 1986-1989)
John O'Brien	....	video controller (57 episodes, 1987-1992)
Jack Chisolm	....	camera operator (53 episodes, 1986-1992)
Carol Wetovich	....	camera operator (46 episodes, 1985-1987)
Chester Jackson	....	camera operator / camera (40 episodes, 1988-1992)
Ron Ruby	....	gaffer (31 episodes, 1985-1988)
Andy Kassan	....	gaffer / lighting / ... (29 episodes, 1985-1989)
Dave Heckman	....	camera operator (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Andrew Dickerman	....	videographer (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Randy Johnson	....	video operator (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Darryl Palagi	....	lighting (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
William Updegraff	....	gaffer / lighting / ... (25 episodes, 1987-1991)
Jim Orthel	....	gaffer (25 episodes, 1991-1992)
Ron Olson	....	camera operator (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tom Faigh	....	camera operator (15 episodes, 1985-1986)
Randy Baer	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1985-1987)
Dave Hilmer	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
J. Kent Inasy	....	lighting technician (3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Donna Quante	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Tony Balderama	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Wayne Orr	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Roger Dalton	....	lighting (2 episodes, 1991)

Series Casting Department
Judith Weiner	....	original casting (33 episodes, 1988-1992)
Jennifer Jackson Part	....	casting (3 episodes, 1989)
Joanne Koehler	....	casting (3 episodes, 1989)
Bonnie Shane	....	casting assistant (3 episodes, 1991)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Julie Rhine	....	costume supervisor / costumer (104 episodes, 1985-1989)
Barbara Yokonji	....	costumer / costume assistant / ... (60 episodes, 1987-1992)
Patricia McLaughlin	....	costumer / assistant costumer (52 episodes, 1990-1992)
Rhoda Yarbrough	....	costumer (49 episodes, 1985-1987)
Helaine Bruck	....	costumer / costume supervisor / ... (33 episodes, 1985-1991)
Monique Long	....	costumer (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Marlene Hajdu	....	on-set costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
George Englund	....	post-production executive (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Lex Passaris	....	editorial assistant / assistant editor (12 episodes, 1985-1986)
Frank Mazzaro	....	editor: video tape (2 episodes, 1986)
Pamela Phelps	....	editorial assistant (2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Gil Junger	....	post-production executive (1 episode, 1985)
Brent Carpenter	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Scott Gale	....	music coordinator / music supervisor (112 episodes, 1985-1992)

Series Other crew
Robert Spina	....	production associate (180 episodes, 1985-1992)
Tom Carpenter	....	stage manager / associate director (104 episodes, 1985-1992)
O. Tamburri	....	technical director (72 episodes, 1985-1989)
Jeannie Taylor	....	production staff (71 episodes, 1985-1988)
Bill Conroy	....	technical manager / technical coordinator (67 episodes, 1985-1992)
Kent Zbornak	....	stage manager (54 episodes, 1987-1992)
Christopher Lloyd	....	story editor / executive script consultant (48 episodes, 1986-1989)
Ellen Deutsch	....	production assistant (47 episodes, 1985-1987)
Richard King	....	production staff / production coordinator (42 episodes, 1985-1992)
Lex Passaris	....	associate director (38 episodes, 1986-1989)
Jeffrey Goodman	....	production staff (37 episodes, 1985-1987)
Jackie Schaffner	....	production staff / production assistant (36 episodes, 1986-1989)
David Amico	....	production executive (30 episodes, 1986-1992)
Salli Shrewsbury	....	production assistant (29 episodes, 1991-1992)
Ken Tamburri	....	technical director (28 episodes, 1987-1992)
Mitchell Hurwitz	....	story editor (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Catherine Dunn	....	production staff (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Danny Filous	....	second stage manager (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Brian Kahn	....	production staff (26 episodes, 1991-1992)
Gary Shimokawa	....	associate director (25 episodes, 1985-1987)
Julie Thacker	....	production staff (24 episodes, 1985-1992)
Doug Tobin	....	stage manager (24 episodes, 1985-1987)
Anne Thomopoulos	....	production staff (24 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Kaufman	....	video (24 episodes, 1986-1987)
Martin Weiss	....	executive story consultant (24 episodes, 1987-1988)
Peter D. Beyt	....	associate director (24 episodes, 1989-1992)
Kit Wilkinson	....	production staff (23 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jane Greene	....	stage manager (23 episodes, 1986-1987)
Barry Fanaro	....	executive script consultant (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert Bruce	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Winifred Hervey	....	executive story consultant (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mort Nathan	....	executive script consultant (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Esther Himbaugh	....	production staff (19 episodes, 1987-1988)
Alan Helfand	....	production staff (15 episodes, 1991-1992)
Tracy Gamble	....	executive story editor (12 episodes, 1988-1989)
Richard Vaczy	....	executive story editor (12 episodes, 1988-1989)
Denise Porter	....	production staff (12 episodes, 1991)
Gary Shinokawa	....	associate director (11 episodes, 1985-1986)
Michael Riolo	....	associate director (10 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jeff Abugov	....	executive story editor (9 episodes, 1988)
Liz Sage	....	creative consultant (6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ted Ashton	....	technical manager (6 episodes, 1985)
Bob Rosenfarb	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Todd Morris	....	production staff (5 episodes, 1991)
Doug Smart	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1985-1987)
Stacy Saltman	....	assistant to executive producer / assistant to producers (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jon Sharp	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1985)
Gerry Cohen	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Harold McKenzie	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Nina Feinberg	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Kari Hendler	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Randy Johnson	....	video (3 episodes, 1991-1992)
Marc Cherry	....	executive story editor (3 episodes, 1991)
Denise Fleissner Barta	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 1991)
Laurie Parres	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1991)
Denise Potter	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1991)
B. Thomas Seidman	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1991)
James Vallely	....	story editor (3 episodes, 1991)
Jamie Wooten	....	executive story editor (3 episodes, 1991)
Ethel Himbaugh	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jerry Smith	....	video (2 episodes, 1987)
Brenda Bos	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1991)
Pamela Phelps	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1991)
Rick Copp	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Jerry Kosowsky	....	video technical supervisor (unknown episodes)
Michael Saperton	....	engineer in charge (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Dick Gilbert	....	in memory of (1 episode, 1987)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Television
• Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1985-1992) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD) (19??) (Germany) (TV)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 1 and 2)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 3)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Television (1990-)
• RTL (????) (Germany) (TV)
• Vox (????) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• Caliber Productions  facilities
• Carefree Video Company  facilities
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min (180 episodes) | Germany:25 min (180 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Norwegian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 (one episode) | UK:PG (some episodes) | Sweden:Btl (Season 1 DVD) | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Television

Trivia:

In one episode, Blanche wants to watch the soap opera "Another World" (1964). Rue McClanahan, who played Blanche, made several appearances on that soap opera.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The background set with two elevator doors is used as the backdrop for numerous interiors: the museum where Blanche works, the counseling center where Rose works, and the city hospital to name three. Also, the museum where Blanche works was used as a psychiatrist's waiting room.

Quotes:

Rose: We weren't allowed to wear berets at my school, it was against the St. Olaf dress code. They did let me wear a paper cap, though. It was long and pointy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Seinfeld: The Pen (#3.3)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Thank You For Being A Friend

One of the best shows that ever come out of 80's

It's amazing that the Lifetime Network runs it three to five times a day,but this was one of the best shows ever to come out of the golden age of the 1980's. "The Golden Girls" was produced by the creating team of Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas who also was behind the most successful series ever devised like "Soap","Benson","It's A Living", "Empty Nest" and so many more. The series originally ran during the 80's as NBC-TV's most successful prime-time of Saturday night sitcoms and dramas which include "227","Amen",and the crime drama series "Hunter". Anyways,Bea Arthur's character was simply classic like vintage wine,but all that change when she left the series in 1992 ending the show. Also, Estelle Getty's character was simply a riot of classic comedy. Enough said.