The Golden Girls

This 90-minute special broadcasted on the Lifetime network in June 2003 served as a reunion show for 3 out of the 4 golden girls. Unfortunately, Estelle Getty could not attend because of her Parkinson's disease. Basically, this show has clips from the girls' favorite musical and show moments, as well as some never before seen (and unfortunately censored) bloopers and outtakes from the show. In addition to the aforementioned, the special contains the girls' favorite scenes and music numbers as well as interviews with the girls, executive producers Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas, and creator and talented writer Susan Harris. The special earned Lifetime an all time high rating. After the special originally aired, Lifetimed broadcasted the pilot and finale episodes. Please be aware that syndication requires more commercial time, so you may notice that two or three minutes of dialogue and/or scenes may be missing. Other than that, the special was very interesting and very well done.

One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening honors "Golden Girls," a comedy series about four older women -- two widows, a divorcee, and her mother -- who share a home in Miami and help each other to cope with growing older and being single again. Ron Simon (curator, The Museum of Television & Radio) offers opening remarks and introduces the panelists: creator Susan Harris; writers Marc Cherry, Mitchell Hurwitz, and James Vallely; director Terry Hughes; executive producer Paul Junger Witt; and cast members Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux) and Betty White (Rose Nylund). (Beatrice Arthur, who plays Dorothy Zbornak, was scheduled to appear, but could not attend).

DVD bonus: A look back and 15' of shared memories of Bea, Betty and Rue, post 2000.

In the Pilot, Sophia arrives after her retirement home burns down and Blanche prepares to get married.

Dorothy's daughter, Kate, comes to Miami with an announcement. She's engaged to a podiatrist named Dennis. Dorothy is thrilled but her happiness quickly turns to anger when she realizes that ex-husband, Stan, is going to be invited. After 38 years of marriage, Stan had left Dorothy for a woman half her age. Dorothy threatens to make a scene at the reception which places Rose and Blanche in the role of peacemaker.

Having not dated since her husband died, Rose reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date. This date turns into a serious relationship when she is invited on a cruise which would involve sharing a stateroom.

Blanche is mortified after taking a pregnancy test which indicates she's pregnant. Then after visiting her doctor, she learns the truth, she's beginning menopause. Meanwhile, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia go into the mink breeding business.

The house is fumigated and the girls move into a Miami Beach hotel. Previously, Blanche had won three tickets to see the opening of Burt Reynolds new movie and passes to the party held afterwards where they could meet him. However, on the evening of the opening, the hotel is raided and, mistaken as prostitutes, Dorothy, Blanche and Rose are dragged off to jail.

Dorothy dumps a depressed Stan on Blanche but then becomes incredibly jealous when Blanche and Stan hit it off. Meanwhile, Sophia and Rose begin selling sandwiches on the Boardwalk but they inadvertently make an enemy of another vendor, "Johnny No Thumbs".

Sophia befriends an old man on the boardwalk whom she becomes quick friends with. However, his strange behavior signals that he has a medical condition, Alzheimer's disease. Meanwhile, Blanche accidentally gives away Rose's teddy bear at a garage sale.

Sophia's latest get rich quick scheme prompts the girls to recall other various get rich quick schemes they've had over the years including, catering, a dance marathon and a memory of Sophia's from 1954.

Rose is shocked to learn that in her late-uncle's will he left her his ""Baby"". However she is quickly delighted to learn the ""baby"" is a pig but delighted is not a word to describe Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia, at least not until they learn that when Baby dies Rose gets a large sum of money.

Blanche's latest boyfriend is a charming Cuban whom sweeps Blanche off her feet but she's not the only one when Blanche discovers he's been dating Sophia behind her back. Meanwhile, Rose takes a course taught by Dorothy in order to get a high school diploma.

This episode does a study in contrast, Sophia's busy day to Blanche, Dorothy and Rose's lazy day. While Sophia, organizes a band to raise money, volunteers at the hospital and battles return policies at the supermarket, Blanche, Dorothy and Rose sit around discussing what they should do that's constructive.

Blanche is determined to sleep with the one man who has refused her once in the past. Meanwhile, Rose claims to have seen a UFO and gets the Air Force involved.

Dorothy is feeling rundown, tired all the time and has a lack of energy. She is sure she is ill, but all of the doctors she visits tell her she's fine. Meanwhile, Blanche decides to write a romance novel.

Dorothy continues to seek medical advice and turns to Harry Weston for help. Meanwhile, Blanche goes on a writing binge resulting in a novel that is less than enthralling.

Blanche's daughter, Rebecca has some wonderful news. She's going to become a mother, through artificial insemination. However, Blanche is less than thrilled, she's totally against the entire thing.

Blanche's daughter wants to give birth in a birthing center while Blanche is preoccupied by the possibility of Rebecca delivering in a local hospital. Blanche doesn't want to be embarrassed by the fact that her daughter was artificially inseminated.

Rose makes a stunning discovery while admitting a patient at the hospital. Meanwhile, Sophia has to have surgery but a mix-up occurs after the operation and Sophia becomes lost in the hospital.

Stan has finally hit it big with a new invention but still Dorothy can't be happy for him. Meanwhile, Rose and Blanche fight over some war bonds that if cashed could bankrupt St. Olaf.

Rose discovers an old camera of Charlie's with some undeveloped film still in it. After getting it developed, Rose is stunned when one of the pictures shows Charlie in bed with Blanche. Meanwhile, Dorothy tries to get Sophia to have her hearing checked.

The girls participate in a murder mystery weekend and Dorothy has a ball when she solves a mystery. However, when Blanche is accused committing a real murder, Dorothy will have to use all her keen detective skills to find the real murderer.

Blanche is visited by her granddaughter, Melissa, and the only thing that Blanche has on her mind is Melissa winning a Little Miss Beauty Contest. Meanwhile, Dorothy hires a nurse to look after a recuperating Sophia