If you still live by the rules of The Golden Girls, get ready for something special. An all-Black cast is bringing back the Emmy-award winning show. The original series followed the lives of Betty White and Bea Arthur as they embarked on their retired years, living together in Miami, Florida. This revival will feature Regina King and Tracee Ellis Ross in the lead roles.
The original show enjoyed seven successful seasons, featuring four white women sharing a home in Miami during their “golden years”. It captivated viewers from 1985 to 1992. This remake aims to breathe new life into the concept by reimagining the program from a Black perspective.
While the news of the revival is exciting for fans of The Golden Girls, there’s a catch. Instead of bringing the show back in its entirety, this reimagining appears to be a one-night special that will be broadcast over Zoom.
Ross, best known for her role in Blackish, delighted her fans with the news of The Golden Girls revival on Instagram. It seems that she will be taking on the character of Rose Nylund, originally played by Betty White. Regina King will portray Dorothy Zbornak, the role once made iconic by Bea Arthur.
Joining the cast are Sanaa Lathan (Nip/Tuck), who will play the role of Blanche Devereaux, and Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave), who will portray Sophia Petrillo.
The special will be aired in partnership with Zoom and Color of Change, the largest online racial justice organization in the country. With Zoom’s increased success due to the pandemic, this collaboration promises to reach a wide audience.
Further details about the special are yet to be revealed. The women may perform from the original script, or an entirely new one could be created for this occasion. The latter option would likely attract a larger audience.
When Ross shared the news on Instagram, her fans expressed their excitement and anticipation in the comments. People are eager to see how The Golden Girls will be reimagined from a Black perspective.
“I’ll be watching! Signed up and ready!” wrote one fan.
“Dreams come true!” shared another.
A third fan added: “I’ve been saying we needed a Black Golden Girls!”
While most viewers are thrilled about the remake, some people take offense at the idea of “messing with a classic.” One critic expressed, “Please no. I mean no disrespect, but The Golden Girls is a classic, and it should stay that way!!” Another critic suggested, “As much as I would love to see you all create magic together, it would be nice to see an original piece of work and leave this classic alone. I would never want to see white counterparts redo your original work or anyone else’s for that matter. I love you all too much not to support, but I’m just saying.”
What are your thoughts on The Golden Girls remake?
