Thank You for Being a Friend

Picture it, gathered around your television screen on September 14th, 1985 and hearing the opening to the now iconic and hit TV show making its premiere that evening to audiences for the very first time, The Golden Girls. What you might not know is that the song is actually a cover of American Singer, Andrew Gold and his third album, “All This and Heaven Too”. The song in 1978 reached 25 on the US Billboard Top 100. The version you are more familiar with was covered by Cynthia Fee for the TV show. 

The Golden Girls ran for seven seasons and produced 180 half hour episodes. It starred Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty better known as Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia. All four women would receive an Emmy Award for the show, being only one of four sitcoms to have achieved such a feat. Sharing a house in Miami, the show centered around the four women navigating their “golden” years and facing whatever dilemma together usually late at night gathered around their kitchen table sharing a slice of cheesecake. 

The show dealt with many controversial issues including coming out, same-sex and inter-racial marriage, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, elder care, sexual harassment, antisemitism, assisted suicide among many others.

It has lived on and continues to inspire future generations with its stories of friendship and can be streamed on HULU or seen on re-runs on cable television.