TV Recommendation: The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

My mother always used to say: “The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana.”

-Rose Nyland-

The Golden Girls lasted for seven seasons. It first aired on September 14, 1985 and last aired on May 9, 1992. There were 26 episodes in all the seasons except 25 in season 1 and 3. All the major cast of Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty won an Emmy for their roles. White played Rose Nyland, Arthur played Dorothy Zbornak, McClanahan as Blanche, and Getty as Sophia. In addition to the four major cast members, Herb Edelman played Stanley Zbornak, Harold Gould played Miles Webber, and Sid Melton played Salvadore Petrillo. Golden Girls was created by Susan Harris. There were seasons and 180 episodes that ran between 22 to 24 minutes long per episode. Here is my favorite and runner up episodes in each season although all were great, but these were the most memorable. The Golden Girls will go down as one of the best comedic shows in history. Sadly, the only Golden Girl still living is Betty White at age 99 and will turn 100 on January 17, 2022. Bea Arthur died on April 25, 2009 at age 86 of lung cancer. Rue McClanahan died on June 3, 2010 at age 76 of a brain hemorrhage. Estelle Getty died on July 22, 2008 at age 84 of Lewy body dementia.

*******

Season One

Episode 13 titled “A Little Romance” that aired on December 14, 1985 is my favorite episode. It is when Rose invites Dr. Jonathan Newman over for dinner

Episode 18 titled “The Operation” that aired on February 8, 1986 is my runner up episode. It is when Dorothy misses out on performing a dance routine with Rose and Blanche because she needs foot surgery.

Season Two

Episode 25 titled “A Piece of Cake” that aired on May 9, 1987 is my favorite episode. It is when the women recall past birthday celebrations.

Episode 12 titled “The Sisters” that aired on January 3, 1987 is my runner up episode. It is when Angela, Sophia’s sister, continue their feud from decades ago.

Season Three

Episode 14 titled “Blanche’s Little Girl” that aired on January 9, 1988 is my favorite episode. It is when Blanche sees her daughter after a long estrangement.

Episode 21 titled “Larceny and Old Lace” that aired on February 27, 1988 is my runner up episode. It is when Sophia’s boyfriend may or may not a mobster and may or may not robbed a bank.

Season Four

Episode 8 titled “Brother, Can You Spare That Jacket?” that aired on December 3, 1988 is my favorite episode. It is when the women try to find Blanche’s leather jacket that has a winning lottery ticket.

Episode 2 titled “The Days and Nights of Sophia Petrillo” that aired on October 22, 1988 is my runner up episode. It is when Dorothy is worried Sophia’s only highlight in life is going to the grocery store to buy fruit.

Season Five

Episode 13 titled “Mary Has a Little Lamb” that aired on January 6, 1990 is my favorite episode. It is when the Blanche’s pen pal is released from prison and wants to be with her.

Episode 18 titled “An Illegitimate Concern” that aired on February 12, 1990 is my runner up episode. It is when Dorothy and Sophia enter a mother and daughter pageant at Shady Pines.

Season Six

Episode 4 titled “Snap Out of It” that aired on October 13, 1990 is my favorite episode. It is when Dorothy helps a man overcome his fear of leaving his apartment.

Episode 21 titled “Witness” that aired on March 9, 1991 is my runner up episode. It is when Rose needs to choose between Karl, the man she is dating, and Miles, the man she was dating.

Season Seven

Episode 24 titled “Home Again, Rose: Part 2” that aired on May 2, 1992 is my favorite episode. It is when Kirsten, Rose’s daughter, doesn’t care for Blanche, Dorothy, or Sophia.

Episode 19 titled “Journey to the Center of the Attention” that aired on February 22, 1992 is my runner up episode. It is when Dorothy becomes more popular than Blanche at one of the bars she visits.

I rate The Golden Girls FOUR FINGERS and ONE THUMB at 95%.