The Real Inspiration Behind the Show
The idea of a show revolving around older women came about after network executives watched an NBC skit featuring Doris Roberts and Selma Diamond.
Both were starring on NBC shows at the time (Doris was then-starring in Remington Steele, and Selma was on Night Court) and were asked to do a skit where they mishear the name of Miami Vice as Miami Nice, and they then imagine that the show was about a group of old retired people.
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.
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.
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.