The Classic Theme Song
The producers of the show originally wanted to use Bette Midler’s song, “Friends,” as The Golden Girls theme song. However, it was too expensive so they settled with “Thank You For Being A Friend.” (Thankfully!)
“Thank You for Being a Friend,” was originally written and recorded by Andrew Gold. For the show, they chose to go with Cynthia Fee who’s the person voice you hear.
The Golden Girls Introduced Some Floridian Lingo
The show introduced a new word to its viewers. Most non-Floridian viewers probably weren't familiar with the term lanai. Which, architecturally speaking, is a porch or veranda with a cement floor and an awning, sometimes enclosed by screens. Of course, we can always count on miss Sophia to simplify matters.
Remember this scene? "Dorothy: We are throwing a surprise birthday party for Blanche. I want you to go out to the lanai and mingle with the other guests. Sophia: Check! ...What's a lanai? Dorothy: The porch! Sophia: Excuse me, Krystle Carrington!"
Forever Co-Stars
Many of the stars of the Golden Girls had already worked with each other previous to the show.
Rue and Betty both co-starred in the show Mama's Family, While Bea Arthur and Rue had both previously co-starred together on Maude.
Getty Wanted to Stay True to Her Heritage
McClanahan once said in an Interview that Getty, a Jewish woman, tried to make her character Sophia's background more similar to hers. “She kept saying, ‘Can’t we make these characters Jewish?!’ She would’ve felt so much more comfortable than trying to be Italian,” she recalled. “Although, I mean, it worked.”
Bea Arthur, Getty's daughter in the show was also Jewish. So that could have been cool if they got to portray an authentic Floridian, Jewish, mother-daughter duo, but the show producers just weren't into it.
Actors That Have Made an Appearance on the Show
Many of your favorite actors have guest-starred on the Golden Girls show including Leslie Nielsen, Caesar Romero, Sonny Bono, George Clooney, and even Quentin Tarantino on the show, he played an Elvis impersonator on Golden Girls. You have to look it up, it's rather entertaining.
And let us not forget the episode Mario Lopez played when he guest-starred on the show. He played one of Dorothy’s students whose family was facing a threat of deportation.