The Golden Girls
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the “The Golden Girls,”Lifetime Television is throwing a gala on-air, on-line, wireless party beginning Friday, November 11, 2005 from noon to 11 p.m. (ET/PT) showcasing the series’ 20 greatest episodes, followed by an encore presentation of “The Golden Girls Reunion” -- the network’s highest-rated special ever.
Lifetime’s celebration of “The Golden Girls,” where more than 16 million people watch the series on Lifetime in any given week – and featured “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry as a writer for three seasons -- includes a trivia game at www.lifetimetv.com along with innovative wireless features that fans can download onto their cell phones, such as:
· Ringtones -- The theme song, “Thank You For Being a Friend,” available as a ringtone
· Voicetones -- Funny lines from each of the Girls available as both ringtones and ringbacks
· Original voicemail greetings -- Bea Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan have recorded special greetings fans can send as gifts, such as an Arthur ‘Happy Birthday’ message
· Graphics -- The cast of The Golden Girls and series logo accessible as cell phone wallpaper
Additionally, during “The Golden Girls Reunion,” fans will have the opportunity to text in their “shout out” which will be scrolled on screen throughout the program.
As well, comedians Mo Rocca and Judy Gold, along with Michael D. Craig, author of Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book, host an on-air roundtable discussion aired as interstitials throughout the day. These interstitials feature the most ‘obsessed’ “The Golden Girls” real life fans expressing their love for this classic sitcom by singing the theme song, showing off their memorabilia and even doing a dance inspired by the Girls.
Often called the original “Sex and the City,” “The Golden Girls,” which starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty (all of whom won Emmy Awards), bowed on NBC in 1985 and joined Lifetime’s lineup in 1997.
During its seven year run on NBC, the series featured a treasure trove of famous guest stars, from George Clooney, Rita Moreno, Mickey Rooney, Quentin Tarantino, Merv Griffin, Ruby Dee, Dick van Dyke, Jeffrey Tambor, Debbie Reynolds, Martin Mull, Mario Lopez, Debbie Reynolds, Alan Rachins, Park Overall, Julio Inglesia and Alex Trebek to Leslie Nielsen.
Leading up to the anniversary day, lifetimetv.com is sponsoring a text-to-win sweepstakes where the winner and a guest will travel to
On November 8, 2005, Warner Home Video, in partnership with Lifetime, will release a special DVD package “The Golden Girls: A Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series,” featuring the Intimate Portrait profiles of Arthur, White, McClanahan and Getty, while on November 22, 2005 Buena Vista will release “The Golden Girls” third season on DVD.
