Golden Pearls

NBC’s Entertainment division president Brandon Tartikoff pitched this assignment (to two men) for a new show in the 1980’s: “Take some women around 60. Society has written them off, has said they’re over the hill. We want them to be feisty as hell and having a great time.” Tartikoff reportedly was told by one man that NBC would never air such a show. There was concern about an all-female cast (who became The Golden Girls), so the pilot episode also featured a gay housekeeper named “Coco” (played by Charles Levin). Dubbed “the fancy man in the kitchen,” he offered the Golden Girls tea and made enchiladas rancheros for them; he disappeared by episode two.

Writers interpreted “having a good time” to be sassy and sexy. “Blanche” (played by Rue McClanahan) bragged in season six that she had been in 143 relationships with men, while “Dorothy” (Bea Arthur) chalked up 43 guys, “Rose” (Betty White) had 30 companions, and “Sophia” (Estelle Getty playing Dorothy’s mother) added 25 notches to her belt. The Golden Girls’ sex quips even crossed the ocean to give Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, a huge fan of the show, some spice in 1988 at the London Palladium. This quip was part of the London episode: when “Dorothy” asked “Blanche” how long she waited to have sex after her husband died, “Sophia” jumped in with the response, “Until the paramedics came.”

Busy with a growing family and a demanding career in the 80’s, I may be one of a small number of people to never watch The Golden Girls. I recently asked other women what they thought about the show. Their responses were fascinating. The Golden Girls TV show was simply entertaining to some; despite canned laughter, others found feminist stronghold messages. People have different perceptions, but 30+ years later there still is a following of folks watching reruns.

Online I learned one of the more educational details about this show — actress Bea Arthur suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as did Susan Harris, a writer for the show. Bea’s character, “Dorothy,” in season 5 becomes ill but her doctor tells her that there is nothing wrong with her. Finally, “Dorothy” is diagnosed with CFS. For the many suffering from this mysterious and disabling condition, the show became validating. “Dorothy” shares other personal details that women experience — as a teenager “Dorothy” becomes pregnant and marries quickly. After 38 years of marriage her husband leaves her for a young flight attendant.

Life takes challenging turns. There are many single women in their older years due to widowhood, divorce, or never marrying. Some of today’s encore women are trying out the Golden Girls version of co-living, bunking together in one home, to save money and fend off loneliness. Time will tell if their experiment works well for them.

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

275. What TV series offers stories that you find poignant?

276. Do you know any women who decided to live together to share costs?