Guest Author - Amy Ralston Young

The seventh and final season of “Golden Girls” is out on DVD. “Golden Girls,” the classic show set in Miami, follows the lives of four post-menopausal roommates as they make the most of their golden years. The show features sitcom stars Betty White (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Betty White Show,” and “Mamma’s Family”), Bea Arthur (“All in the Family,” “Maude”), and Rue McClanahan (“Mamma’s Family”). Estelle Getty, although younger than White and Arthur, played mother to Arthur’s character.

Blanche (McClanahan) is a widow in Miami and in her search for roommates, finds divorced substitute-teacher Dorothy (Arthur), and the naive widow Rose. Sophia (Getty) soon joins the three when her retirement home burns down and she is left without a home. The good times and laughter start there and never end.

Man-crazy Blanche spends her time scheming to land the perfect gentleman – someone with money who can keep up with her sex drive. Nothing seems to work out for her though as each episode finds Blanche courting a new beau.

Rose fumbles her way through life, sharing outrageous stories of her hometown St. Olaf. Although she appears to be ditzy and less-than-intelligent, Rose has her share of witty moments.

Dorothy, bitter and lonely, is still trying to get over her marriage to Stan, who left her for a younger woman. Arguably the most educated of the foursome, Dorothy is quick with a joke. The practical if not pessimistic one of the group, Dorothy is usually the one to get the women out of whatever mess they have put themselves into this episode.

Sophia shares sarcasm and wisdom, as only a Sicilian can. Many of her stories begin with the words “Picture this…” and end with an exaggeration of the truth. Dorothy is always there to poke holes in her stories.


The collection contains 26 episodes on three discs. The season begins as the women try to get their lives back together after Dorothy calls off her planned second wedding to Stan. Lovable characters such as Rose’s penny-pinching lover Miles Webber and Dorothy’s Uncle Angelo return as well as guest appearances from Alex Trebbek, Leslie Nielsen, Merv Griffin, and Peter Graves.

As usual, Blanche is up to her promiscuous ways trying to “convert” a priest, and helping a baseball player reach out to his feminine side. Rose continues to date Miles and Dorothy finally finds true love.

The show, created by Susan Harris, debuted on NBC in 1985 and ran until 1992. In its run, the show won four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, and numerous other awards for acting, directing, music and comedy. Many of those nominations came in the seventh season.
In my opinion, this is the best season of the show and now you can own it. Catch up with the many adventures and misadventures of Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia as the show draws to an unforgettable end.