The Golden Girls is one of the most iconic sitcoms on television— but did you know there were many more shows within the Golden Girls universe?
The Golden Girls is considered to be one of the best sitcoms of all time—but many don’t know that more shows existed within the Golden Girls universe. The iconic sitcom started back in 1985, racking up an impressive array of awards and critical acclaim, and is still beloved 36 years later. Beyond the original series, four more sitcoms running into the 90s existed in the same universe and featured many of the same characters.
The Golden Girls tells the story of four older women—Rose (Betty White), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Sophia (Estelle Getty), and Dorothy (Bea Arthur)—as they navigate life as housemates (though the four Golden Girls originally had a male roommate). Their outlandish personalities and scathing wit quickly earned them a place in pop culture history, leaving audiences wishing they had pals and confidants like the Golden Girls. The show lasted for seven seasons until 1992 when Arthur decided to move on and the series ended with Dorothy leaving her friends behind to move to Atlanta.
But the love for The Golden Girls didn’t end there. One spin-off series, Empty Nest, had already been running since 1988 and three more spin-offs were created after the original series came to a close, creating one of the few multi-show universes to broadcast on television at the same time—and even on the same night. Each series featured characters that connected them to the others, but Estelle Getty was the only one to star in every show in The Golden Girls universe, including one crossover episode of Blossom.
Empty Nest
The cast of Empty Nest
Empty Nest was the first spin-off in the Golden Girls universe. The sitcom followed Miami pediatrician Dr. Harry Weston (Richard Mulligan), who lived next door to the Golden Girls. After his wife’s death, Harry’s grown children move back into his home and turn his life upside down. Empty Nest was originally piloted as an episode of The Golden Girls, but the show’s premise faced a major overhaul before it premiered. All four Golden Girls made guest appearances throughout the show’s run, with Sophia appearing as a recurring character towards the end of the series.
Nurses
The cast of Nurses (1991)
Nurses was a spin-off series from Empty Nest that aired in 1991 surrounding a group of nurses who worked in Miami’s Community Medical Center, the same hospital as Dr. Harry Weston. Harry frequently appeared on the show throughout its 3-season run, as well as appearances from Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, as well as other Empty Nest characters. This grandchild of Golden Girls never really achieved the same fame as its predecessors and didn’t last nearly as long, but it contained some memorable characters.
Blossom
Mayim Bialik in Blossom
While not an official spin-off of The Golden Girls, Blossom did exist in the same universe. Blossom, starring a young Mayim Bialik, followed the lives of Blossom, her father, and two elder brothers as they adjusted to their new life after their mother left. The show lasted five seasons and is perhaps best known for Joey Lawrence’s catchphrase as Blossom’s older brother. In season 1 episode 6, “I Ain’t Got No Buddy,” Estelle Getty reprises her role as Sophia when Blossom dreams that the two become roommates after a fight with her best friend, Six, leaves her feeling all alone. While not as extensive as the other shows, this connection confirms Blossom exists within the Golden Girls’ universe.
The Golden Palace
The Cast of The Golden Palace
The Golden Palace served as a one-season spin-off continuation of The Golden Girls. After Dorothy’s exit, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia decide to invest in a Miami hotel and run it together. The hotel came with two employees—played by Cheech Marin and Don Cheadle—and the show featured a revolving door of guest stars, including Margaret Cho, Harold Gould, and Bea Arthur, who reprised her role as Dorothy. Golden Palace wasn’t as successful as Golden Girls, and after the show’s cancellation, Sophia returned to Shady Pines, where she joined the cast of Empty Nest.
