By Arwa Haider - 1st April 2020
In these uncertain times, we need to take solace in the arts more than ever ? and so in a new series of essays, writers reflect on particular pieces of culture that bring them joy ? beginning with Arwa Haider on the classic sitcom that's still loved 35 years after it first aired.
Miami, 1985 ? the starting point for arguably one of the greatest TV shows of all time. The Golden Girls ran for seven seasons, spanning 180 episodes from that original NBC transmission 35 years ago, seizing numerous awards including Golden Globes and Emmys, and broadcasting all over the world (besides inspiring international versions, including Spain, Russia and The Philippines).
The original premise, and its star quartet, still feels exceptional: here was a prime-time sitcom that revelled in its focus on four female senior-citizen housemates.
The Golden Girls was fiercely funny, unashamedly soppy, brazenly glamorous (with an abundance of ?80s shoulder pads and hairspray), and bravely outspoken ? and there has never been a better time to treasure its legacy.