Copyright Variety
Forty years after four women in Miami redefined what TV friendship looked like, “The Golden Girls” is returning to primetime. ABC will air “The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – A Special Edition of 20/20” on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10 p.m. ET, celebrating the beloved sitcom’s enduring cultural legacy with rare behind-the-scenes footage, cast interviews and reflections from celebrity fans. The hourlong special will broadcast on ABC but cable-cutters can stream the program live the next day on Hulu and Disney+. The special revisits how creator Susan Harris’ series broke ground when it premiered in 1985, putting older women — played by Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty — at the center of mainstream comedy. The program explores the show’s impact on topics like aging, friendship, and female independence, and how its quick-witted writing helped it become one of television’s most quoted sitcoms. It also features archival clips, bloopers, and commentary from fans and cultural figures who credit the show with influencing generations of comedy writers and audiences alike. Its continued resonance has only grown with time — from endless streaming marathons to the “Golden Girls”–themed drag brunches and merchandise that keep Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia firmly in the pop-culture canon. “The Golden Girls,” which originally aired on NBC from 1985 to 1992, was produced by Disney’s Touchstone TV shingle, along with Witt/Thomas/Harris Prods. The series’ seven seasons are now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers; according to Disney, “The Golden Girls” has been streamed over 1 billion hours globally on Disney+ and Hulu. Viewers can tune in to ABC for the 40th anniversary special on Tuesday night.
