THE GOLDEN GIRLS SIGNED TV SCRIPT THE LATE BEA ARTHUR

The Golden Girls was an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a Miami, Florida home. The series was produced by Touchstone Television and distributed by Buena Vista Television. It currently airs on the Hallmark Channel and WE tv.

The sitcom was originally conceived by NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff and created by Susan Harris. Tartikoff was visiting his elderly aunt one day, and saw how she and her next-door neighbor, who also was her best friend, interacted with each other. Despite their constant bickering and arguments, they were still the best of friends and loved each other. He thought that would make a great premise for a TV show.^{[citation needed]}

The Golden Girls won several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series twice. All four stars won at least one Emmy Award throughout the series' entire run.

The show starred Beatrice Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak; Betty White as Rose Nylund; Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux; and Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo, Dorothy's mother.

Estelle Getty was younger than Beatrice Arthur — despite playing her elderly mother. Getty was younger than both Beatrice Arthur (by 14 months) and Betty White (by 18 months). Rue McClanahan was almost 12 years younger than all of them.

Originally, McClanahan was cast as Rose and White was cast as Blanche, but both actresses felt the roles were too similar to those they had played previously. White had portrayed man-hungry Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, while McClanahan had co-starred as sweet but scatterbrained Vivian Harmon opposite Arthur in Maude. Anxious not to be typecast, the two suggested they switch roles, and the producers agreed.

During its original run, The Golden Girls received 65 Emmy nominations, 11 Emmy awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Viewers For Quality Television awards. All the lead actresses won Emmy Awards for their performances on the show. The Golden Girls, along with All in the Family and Will & Grace, is one of the few shows where all the principal actors have won Emmy Awards.