Before there was Sex and the City, there was the four 50-something women living in Tampa, FL together. These women paved the way for other television shows such as Girls and was completely successful for its wittiness and likable characters. The Golden Girls title says it all: it's a golden relic that will never go away because it was that good.
Before we say we know every one-liner and episode out there, we'd like to provide these 20 little known facts that the biggest fan might not even know. Rose, Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia have been gracing our television screens for decades, but we still can't get enough of every little detail we are given.
20 Dorothy's Earrings Were Always Clip-Ons
Bea Arthur always had fabulous earrings to play the part of Dorothy Zbornak, so it's quite a surprise that she chose to go a safer route and wore clip-ons. Since they were so gaudy and large, the costume designer decided to offer her a less painful option and thus, the clip-ons were introduced to The Golden Girls.
19 All Of Rue McClanahan's Clothes Were Custom Made Just For Her
Staying on the fabulous vibe was Rue McClanahan's wardrobe to get into the character of Blanche Devereaux. She always seemed to have the cutest heels and glitzy dresses to get the men's attention and for a dramatic effect.
In fact, the show's producers let her keep her famous pieces and later on, McClanahan made sure to auction off her items before she passed away.
18 Estelle Getty Was Actually Younger Than Bea Arthur
Even though Estelle Getty played the oldest character of Sophia Petrillo, she was actually a year younger than fellow cast mate, Bea Arthur, Getty's daughter on the show. To get a bit specific, she was three months younger than her on-screen daughter. To prove that she could play the iconic role, Getty sat in makeup for four hours, every time she had to get in character.
17 Bea Actually Hated Cheesecake Even Though It Was Their Go-To Dessert On The Show
If anyone is a fan of this iconic show, they know that when times get tough, the women congregate in the kitchen, spill their problems and eat cheesecake. After a while, it became a staple in just about any conversation they were having; so it's interesting that Bea Arthur despised the dessert and didn't want any part of it. Over a hundred cheesecakes and we're wondering how many Arthur turned down.
16 Betty White And Rue McClanahan Switched Roles At The Last Minute
These two ladies played Rose Nylund and Blanche Devereaux, two of the most spot on castings in our opinion. So, it would make sense that Betty and Rue decided to switch parts. We're not sure we could see McClanahan as the bubbly, innocent woman and Betty as the sultry woman who more than often prefers the company of a man.
15 Bea Was The One To Call It Quits On The Show
All good things must come to an end and after 18o episodes, the women parted ways from their seven-year stint on The Golden Girls. It wasn't because of low-ratings or a lack of a good script, Bea Arthur was the one to pull the plug. Saying she thought the material wasn't living up to earlier seasons, she decided to leave before a good thing turned bad.
14 Bea Arthur Wasn't All Buddy Buddy With Her Co-Stars Like It Seemed
Even though the women had a tight bond on-screen, it was nothing but the opposite off-set. Narrowing in on one relationship, it was Betty and Bea's that was the most strained. Allegedly, Betty had beat Bea out on an award and after that situation was said and done, the relationship was even more damaged. Bea also kept to herself on set and would stay in character the entire time.
13 A Gay Cook Was Supposed To Be The Fifth Roommate
In the 1980's, things weren't as progressional as they are now in the year 2020. When The Golden Girls took off, they signed on Charles Levin to play Coco, the groundbreaking gay chef that was supposed to be a fifth character on the show.
While Estelle Getty wasn't supposed to be a regular on the show, her presence ended up wowing the team and after the second episode, Levin was unfortunately cut from the show.
12 Estelle Had Major Thanatophobia
Even though Estelle Getty brought Sophia's character to life with her sassiness and one-liners, Getty had a rather odd phobia when it came to certain scenes. As older women dealing with life, there were episodes that revolved around funerals and the subject of death in general; but Getty was extremely uncomfortable with the subject and would have rather avoided those scenes altogether.
11 The Fourth Seat At The Table Was Propped Up To Avoid A Back To The Camera
If someone is a true fan, they'll notice that each woman took their turn when it came to sitting at a chair at the table. What an ultimate fan would notice is that if a scene required all of the women, a fourth seat would be added.
It wasn't always there because it was quite awkward and because the film crew wanted to avoid one of the actresses backs to the camera. Fans will also notice that Bea was mostly always given the center chair because of her height.
