The Golden Girls is an American television sitcom created by Susan Harris and produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. The series focuses on four older women all sharing a home in Miami, Florida. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty portray the four main characters Dorothy Zbornak, Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux and Sophia Petrillo. The Golden Girls aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, broadcasting 180 episodes over seven seasons during its initial run.
During the series' run, The Golden Girls received nominations for a variety of different awards, including 68 Emmy Awards (with 11 wins), 21 Golden Globe Awards (with 4 wins), 5 American Comedy Awards (all wins), 3 Directors Guild of America Awards (with 2 wins), and 5 Writers Guild of America Awards (with one win). The lead actresses all won Emmy Awards — Arthur, McClanahan and White won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Getty won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The cast were named Disney Legends in 2009.
Awards and nominations American Comedy Awards Betty White won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication in 1987 and received a nomination for the award in 1990. In 1990, White also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy. Estelle Getty won the award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series in 1991 and 1992. Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1987 Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication Betty White 1990 Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy 1991 Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Estelle Getty 1992
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1988 Top TV Series George Aliceson Tipton 1989 1990 1991
BMI Film & TV Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1987 Best TV Series Andrew Gold 1988 1989 1990 1991
Directors Guild of America Awards Director Jay Sandrich won a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series in 1985 for his work on the pilot episode "The Engagement". Terry Hughes, one of the series' most prominent directors, received the award the following year for his work on the second-season episode "Isn't it Romantic?". Hughes was also nominated for the same award in 1987, but lost to Will Mackenzie, for the Family Ties episode "My Name is Alex". Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1985 Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series Jay Sandrich 1986 Terry Hughes 1987 Terry Hughes
Emmy Awards
The Golden Girls received 58 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, with eleven wins — eight Primetime and three Creative Arts. The series won the award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1986 and 1987. All four principal stars won an Emmy Award for their performances, a milestone that only three other series (All in the Family, Will & Grace, and Schitt’s Creek) have achieved; of these four series, it is the only one whose cast had actors competing against each other in the same category. Betty White won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986, with Rue McClanahan winning the award in 1987 and Bea Arthur winning in 1988. In 1988, Estelle Getty won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the first-season episode "A Little Romance". Terry Hughes won the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the season two episode "Isn't It Romantic?". The three Creative Arts Emmy Awards the series won were for Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series in 1986, 1988 and 1992.
Primetime Emmy Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Episodes(s) Result Ref 1986Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Bogart, Terry Grossman, Kathy Speer, Tony Thomas, Marsha Posner Williams, and Paul Junger Witt Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur Rue McClanahan Betty White Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Jim Drake Terry Hughes Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan Susan Harris 1987 Outstanding Comedy Series Barry Fanaro, Terry Grossman, Susan Harris, Winifred Hervey, Mort Nathan, Kathy Speer, Tony Thomas, Marsha Posner Williams, and Paul Junger Witt Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur Rue McClanahan Betty White Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Terry Hughes Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Jeffrey Duteil Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Herb Edelman Lois Nettleton Nancy Walker 1988Outstanding Comedy Series Jeffrey Ferro, Terry Grossman, Susan Harris, Winifred Hervey, Kathy Speer, Tony Thomas, Fredric Weiss, Marsha Posner Williams, and Paul Junger Witt Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur Rue McClanahan Betty White Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Terry Hughes Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Herb Edelman Geraldine Fitzgerald 1989 Outstanding Comedy Series Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, Susan Harris, Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan, Barry Fanaro, Eric Cohen, Martin Weiss, and Robert Bruce Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Bea Arthur Rue McClanahan Betty White Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Terry Hughes Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Jack Gilford 1990 Outstanding Comedy Series Robert Bruce, Tracy Gamble, Susan Harris, Terry Hughes, Philip Jayson Lasker, Gail Parent, Marc Sotkin, Tony Thomas, Richard Vaczy, Martin Weiss, Tom Whedon, and Paul Junger Witt Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Terry Hughes Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Jerry Orbach Dick Van Dyke 1991 Outstanding Comedy Series Nina Feinberg, Tracy Gamble, Susan Harris, Paul Junger Witt, Philip Jayson Lasker, Gail Parent, Jerry Perzigian, Don Seigel, Marc Sotkin, Tony Thomas, Richard Vaczy, and Tom Whedon Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Brenda Vaccaro 1992 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Estelle Getty
Creative Arts Emmy Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Episodes(s) Result Ref 1986 Outstanding Art Direction for a Series Edward Stephenson Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series Judy Evans Outstanding Editing for a Series (Multi-Camera Production) Harold McKenzie Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series Alan Walker Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special Terri Lynn Fraser, Allen Patapoff, Craig Porter, and Ken Quale Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series Randy Baer, Victor Bagdadi, Gerry Bucci, Dale Carlson, Steve Jones, and Donna Quante 1987 Outstanding Editing for a Series (Multi-Camera Production) Harold McKenzie Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special Richard Burns, Ed Epstein, Allen Patapoff and Craig Porter Edward L. Moskowitz, John S. Orr, Allen Patapoff and Craig Porter Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series O. Tamburri, Jack Chisolm, Ritch Kennedy, Ken Tamburri, Carol Wetovich, and Bob Kaufman 1988 Outstanding Editing for a Series (Multi-Camera Production) Jim McElroy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series Alan Walker Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special Edward L. Moskowitz, Allen Patapoff, and Craig Porter Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series O. Tamburri, Jack Chisolm, Stephen A. Jones, Ritch Kenney, Ken Tamburri, and Bob Kaufman 1989 Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series Alan Walker Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special Edward L. Moskowitz, Allen Patapoff, and Craig Porter Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series O. Tamburri, Ritch Kenney, Ken Tamburri, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, and John O'Brien 1990 Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series Alan Walker Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series O. Tamburri, Ritch Kennedy, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, Dave Heckman, Randy Johnson 1991 Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series Alan Walker Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series Kenneth Tamburri, Ritch Kennedy, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, Dave Heckman, Randy Johnson 1992 Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series Dave Heckman, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, Randy Johnson, Ritch Kennedy, Bob Keys, John O'Brien, Richard Steiner, and Kenneth Tamburri
Golden Globe Awards
The Golden Girls received 21 Golden Globe Award nominations during its tenure, with four wins — three for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 1986, 1987, and 1988. Estelle Getty won the award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, tying with Moonlightings Cybill Shepherd for the award.
Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1986 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy 1987 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy 1988 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy 1989 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy 1990 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy 1991 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy 1992 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
TV Land Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 2003 Quintessential Non-Traditional Family Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White 2004 Favorite "Big, Bad Momma" Estelle Getty 2007 Favorite Elvis Impersonation Quentin Tarantino 2008 Pop Culture Award Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Betty White
Viewers for Quality Television Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1987 Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Betty White 1988 Best Quality Comedy Series
Writers Guild of America (WGA) Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1987 Award for Television: Episodic Comedy James Berg and Stan Zimmerman 1988 Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan, and Barry Fanaro 1989 Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman 1992 Marc Sotkin
Young Artist Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1987 Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor, Guest Starring in a Television, Comedy or Drama Series Billy Jayne 1989 Best Young Actress Guest Starring in a Drama or Comedy Series Jenny Lewis 1992 Best Young Actress Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series Alisan Porter
Other awards Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref Bambi Awards 1992 TV Series International Bea Arthur Online Film & Television Association Television Awards 2004 TV Hall of Fame — Television Programs People's Choice Awards March 13, 1986 Favorite New TV Comedy Program Retirement Research Foundation Awards 1989 Television and Theatrical Film Fiction Susan Harris, Paul Junger Witt, and Tony Thomas TCA Awards 1986 Outstanding Achievement in Comedy 2021 Heritage Award TP de Oro 1989 Best Foreign Series (Mejor Serie Extranjera)
References