‘The Golden Girls’ celebrates 40th anniversary with special edition

Forty years after four Miami women changed the way TV portrayed friendship as The Golden Girls is making a return to primetime.

On Tuesday November 11 at 10 p.m. on ABC aired The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship as a Special Edition of 20/20, a celebration of the show’s lasting cultural impact.

The special edition included rare behind the scenes footage, cast interviews and reflection from celebrity fans.

The hourlong special aired on ABC, while those without cable can stream it the next day on Hulu and Disney+.

The program looks back at how creator Susan Harris broke new ground in 1985 by placing older women Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty at the center of a mainstream comedy.

It explores how the show began themes of aging, friendship and female independence and how its sharp funny writing made it one of the most quoted sitcoms in TV history.

Viewers will also see archival clips, bloopers and insights from fans and cultural figures who credit the show with inspiring generations of comedy writers and audiences.

Its influence continues to grow from streaming marathons to The Golden Girls themed drag brunches and merchandise that keep Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia alive in pop culture.

Originally airing on NBC from 1985 to 1992 as The Golden Girls was produced by Disney’s Touchstone TV and Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions.

All seven seasons are currently available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ and according to Disney, The Golden Girls has been streamed over 1 billion hours globally.