The Golden Girls turns 40 on Sunday, September 14 — the premiere date of its original seven-year run in 1985 — and Disney Entertainment Television (DET) is marking the anniversary with a campaign that, like the show itself, is deeply nostalgic and completely modern.
The critically acclaimed series follows four vibrant friends sharing life and laughter in Miami: strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak (Disney Legend Bea Arthur), sweetly naive Rose Nylund (Disney Legend Betty White), flirtatious Blanche Devereaux (Disney Legend Rue McClanahan), and wise-cracking Sophia Petrillo (Disney Legend Estelle Getty). The show’s magic has bridged generations, delighting original TV audiences and new streaming viewers alike. The series won 11 Emmy® Awards overall, including two wins for Outstanding Comedy Series, and earned four Golden Globes®, among several other prestigious honors.
“In celebrating this milestone, we’re celebrating the fandom as well,” said Erin Weir, DET’s Executive Vice President of Marketing. “We want to thank The Golden Girls for being a friend for 40 years and counting.”
Disney began the festivities earlier this summer with several activations: “The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary Script Reading & Conversation” at the ATX Festival in Austin, Texas; the Disney+ Throwback Experience in Los Angeles; and during Disneyland Resort’s Pride Night Celebration.
As the party rolls on, Weir noted that the thoughtfully curated immersive experiences, partnerships, and special tributes intersect lifestyle, food, and fashion, reminding fans why The Golden Girls continues to resonate four decades later. Marveling at the show’s staying power, she spoke about the show’s enduring legacy and how its timeless themes of friendship, humor, and heart invite new generations of fans into its orbit.
The Golden Girls has been a hit for years. Why do you think it’s so popular across generations?
The Golden Girls is timeless and iconic with enduring laughs and relatability that have resonated with fans for four decades. It’s rooted in friendship, hilariously funny, and groundbreaking, tackling current events and issues with care and humor. It evokes so much nostalgia and is a comfort show for many — myself included. And it is being discovered by new viewers every day evidenced by the over 1 billion hours streamed globally across Disney+ and Hulu.
How does the team turn the passion of a fan base into a successful marketing campaign?
The series is so firmly cemented in pop culture — starting with the legendary theme song. It’s endlessly quotable and meme-able. But it’s also the themes of friendship and found family that have built that lasting connection with fans. So, in celebrating this milestone, we are celebrating the fandom as well.
What are some of the fun ways that Disney Entertainment Television is celebrating the 40th anniversary?
The celebration officially kicked off July 30, which is known as Golden Girls Day, with new products, partnerships, entertainment, and, of course, cheesecake. Furbish Studio, known for its iconic collection of needlepoint pillows featuring witty sayings, playful prints, and vibrant patterns, launched the limited-edition “Thank You for Being a Friend” pillow. Yogurtland introduced a limited-edition cheesecake-flavored yogurt, “Thank You for Being Cheesecake,” to celebrate National Cheesecake Day.
Brooklyn-based fashion brand Zero Waste Daniel launched a limited-edition capsule collection inspired by Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia in-store at its Bushwick, New York, flagship location, which was transformed into a Golden Girls-inspired dreamscape, part fashion destination and part fan tribute. The collection reinterprets nostalgic elements from the sitcom through the studio’s bold, artistic and heartfelt vision and is still available online.
Fisher-Price® launched a playful short-form content series titled “Little People Collector Mini Adventures,” which reimagines fan-favorite moments and themes from the show for a new generation using the Fisher-Price Little People Collector™ The Golden Girls: Late Night Cheesecake set.
Finally, Candier will introduce two limited-edition candles: the “I’ll Get the Cheesecake!” and “Thank You for Being a Friend” candles, starting September 14.
How did this campaign inspire internal synergy?
We’ve been activating with so many partners across The Walt Disney Company in celebration of this iconic series, honoring its fandom and also inviting new audiences in.
The Disney+ Throwback Experience took place from June 12-15 and featured an immersive event filled with interactive games. Fans had the opportunity to explore a multiroom journey through the iconic worlds of 1990s and 2000s media, highlighting a Golden Girls-themed area, The Lanai Closet, designed to resemble a cozy corner from a Miami bungalow, complete with pastel blazers and wicker furniture.
On June 16 and 18, during Disneyland Resort’s Pride Night celebration, Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite, guests had the chance to recreate iconic scenes from the show while enjoying custom cheesecake and a commemorative chocolate coin.
This fall, we’ll air an anniversary special from ABC News detailing the incredible inside story of The Golden Girls, featuring series creator Susan Harris, Emmy® Award-winning producer Tony Thomas, and many of the show’s original writers and producers. Paying tribute to the legendary actresses who brought Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia to life, and to 40 years of friendship, laughter and their famous love of cheesecake, the special will explore how The Golden Girls used uninhibited comedy to rewrite the narrative for women over 50 and how its timeless appeal has created a lasting influence on pop culture.
What is your favorite Golden Girls episode?
There are too many to choose from, but I’ll give you three of my favorites for anyone looking to start a rewatch or watch for the first time on Hulu, which is the home to all seven seasons: “To Catch a Neighbor,” featuring a young George Clooney; “The Case of The Libertine Belle,” which takes place at a murder mystery party; and “Grab That Dough,” which has the girls competing on a game show. Gather some friends and some cheesecake and spend a little time out on the lanai with Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia.