‘Golden Girls’ Writer Reflects On Finale 30 Years Later

Mitchell Hurwitz, a writer and producer on “The Golden Girls,” remembers what it was like to work on the show’s finale.
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#GoldenGirls #MitchellHurwitz #Television

[@PDC-yb9qs]

There isn't a day passes that I don't watching The Golden Girls. I am utterly obsessed with it. My 40th birthday cake was Golden Girls themed. THE best show there has ever been 👏🏽👏🏽

[@bluedragon4]

I don't watch daily but I own the DVD's and the digital seasons on Vudu, so I watch a lot. I also collect items of them. I have the Funkos, Dorbz, rare reaction figures, fisher price figures, Neca figures, the key rings. I mean the list goes on. Love them.

[@thomasloveless4800]

Grown man and former Army Ranger. I have the entire series in a box set. The humor is timeless and still makes me laugh out loud.

[@PDC-yb9qs]

@@thomasloveless4800 Isn't it just magical

[@lucieloves2000]

Me too! The funny part is, that I never watched it, until it was well off the air! During the 80s and 90s, I was too busy working, at the time. The best and funniest show there was!

[@eliranpinhasov5940]

Oh my God I still watch every single day.and TV LAND mix videos ✌😘🇮🇱🕎✡

[@A22DNAL]

It is unreal that this show...these women...this body of work...has endured season over season, generation after generation, and it NEVER gets old! NEVER!

[@brandonstafford9577]

One of the greatest shows ever made. It’s very sad they are all gone now.

[@landreaulover]

Yet, watching these characters will live on forever!

[@user-nr2fy8oz6l]

So say, they are my life time favorite, I miss them all

[@mrsheatherteske]

They did send Bea/Dorothy in style getting married etc ❤️ I was so happy for her. She really deserved it

[@Jumbaride]

Except for that wedding dress... She deserved better than that wedding dress. 😉❤️

[@williethomas5116]

Agreed all she had been through with that botchagloop Stan. Dorothy deserved a happy ending. Such and ending and new beginning.

[@mrsheatherteske]

@@Jumbaride True.

[@mrsheatherteske]

@@williethomas5116 yeah...the episodes making us think they were going to remarry we're interesting, even though I had mixed feelings. Glad they didn't marry them.

[@Jumbaride]

@@mrsheatherteske 😉

[@barbarak.7637]

Picture it. New Year's Eve 2021. Four friends are finally together again. 💛

[@user-cr8dq7sc6h]

The 2020s have sucked so far. In between the pandemic and upheaval in the world, we lost so many cultural icons like Betty White, Chadwick Boseman, Bob Saget, Tina Turner and Matthew Perry

[@jeepthing98]

Bea breaking the 4th wall and looking at the camera was how you could tell she wasn't just acting in that moment.

[@Cicilo1983]

The concluding scene of this episode had me crying and laughing at the same time. It still does, decades later.

[@amandapirot1022]

Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman (my 1st cousins) were also Writers and Producers from day 1 of the series. Kudos to them and all of you.

[@material___]

I grew up watching this with my late grandmother. She was all 4 of these ladies in one.

[@Jordi7174]

One of the best series finale ever. Period.

[@DEvaTVoficial]

The only series finale that makes me every single time that I watch it! I love these ladies! May the always rest in peace!

[@dannysimion]

Man I remember tearing up as the three consoled each other officially saying goodbye to Dorothy and the credit and music cuts in. A memorable finale and the few that I still hold a candle in comparisons to other shows.

[@jennifergragg1850]

One of my favorite shows no matter how many times I’ve watched it! The other day I was talking to my mom and I said “shady pines ma!” 😂😂💜💜

[@madgemackles4337]

I can’t believe they’re all gone😪, I feel like they were all my aunts and perhaps grandmas

[@jackiehoward7300]

I can’t watch the final episode. It always breaks my heart. Thank you for this gift.

[@adua78]

This show got better and better. Some of my favorite episodes are in the final season, including this amazing finale - One of the best finale’s EVER.

[@deborahwilkerson9302]

I still cry every time I see that ending . And I’ve seen it thousands of times !!! I loved Dorothy and I love Bea !!!! She made the show . Definitely my favorite of all the girls . I still watch it everyday and night . Been watching since it’s debut . When I was 18 and now . I’m 55 so I am a Golden girl . I would have loved to live with them

[@kikecolunge2704]

Just watch the ending for the very first time and I cried A LOT. Like A LOT. I love The Golden Girls ❤️

[@NaturalBohemia]

I absolutely love The Golden Girls and rewatch every chance I can. I just discovered The Golden Palace this year on Hulu and loved it too! No show like it to this day.

[@stellaelmaleh7064]

Love Golden Girls ♥️♥️♥️. I was so happy Dorothy got her happy ending.

[@LilRocker2005]

Mr. Hurwitz, you wrote a great series finale but to this day, I can't watch it because I'm almost always bawling my eyes out during that last scene! To this day, I refer to all 4 of these talented ladies as my "TV grandmas" because each of them had elements that reminded me of my grandma. I saw my grandmother in how tough Dorothy was, how sweet and kind, yet naive like Rose was, in how loving Blanche was, and in Sophia, I saw the part where she would just tell it like it is with no filter! I hope that when they each departed this world, they knew that there were generations of people who grew up watching them and loved them like they were a part of our own families!

[@LadyRockville]

With the exception of Dorothy’s cardboard looking wedding dress it was a fitting end to an amazing show🥰

[@melissahollowell7255]

Someone needs to be held accountable for that dress choice.

[@MaryTheresa1986]

I liked her dress. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@HoneyInTheSunset]

Toilet paper roll on a sheet lmao

[@smoothnubian]

right. the dress could have been better

[@blessedchild8996]

All four of these women did an amazing job acting.

[@macaelatice-loma1048]

now all 4 of these girls are making people smile in heaven... such a fantastic show!!

[@n.v.1173]

Love this show still watch it. ⭐️However, this was my absolute favorite episode. 💃🏻 That Dorothy married a FOX!

[@classicredwine]

Long live the Golden Girls!

[@rajs7876]

Greatest comedy show of all time! Still lifts my mood!

[@gregg9672]

I have watched this show for so many years over and over it always pulls me through my depression

[@tanyastalking8495]

One of my absolutely favorite shows!! RIP ladies!!!

[@mJ-sm4ss]

Still the best writing and acting in a TV sitcom EVER!

[@hellobecky84]

Love, love hearing from an actual writer on the show. Have been re-watching for months on Hulu, and the show is just so funny, joyful and still surprisingly fresh!

[@urfever]

I was born in 1981. Saw the Golden girls at the age of 8. I'm 40, in Istanbul and I watch their DVDs every day. They are my girls... Thanks for this great effort, Mitchell...

[@chrispeplinski7306]

Can't believe 30 years has passed since the show ended

[@quintinthomas5807]

Always watching this loved that Hulu has all the seasons and NO edits like it is on tv. Hidden laughs in every episode!

[@garyrobertson6778]

best show ever. i still laugh at every rerun, no matter how many times i've seen them.

[@_PAIGE94]

I still watch this show and laugh as if I’ve never seen it

[@terrellrobinson3286]

One of my favorite TV shows ever. Seen every episode approximately 1,260 times. Such iconic television.

[@ophthodoc]

I can quote all the lines. Nobody likes watching it with me LOL

[@terrellrobinson3286]

@@ophthodoc Same. It annoys my mother to no end.

[@bluedragon4]

Huge fan since I was a kid. I used to watch them new and stay home to watch them in high school. I own them and watch them often. It's my comfort show. The writer looks so young! He must have been really young when he wrote this 30 years ago.

[@chriscourson2824]

one of the best shows ever!

[@alanbrand1383]

Great writers Brilliant Actors the best comedy series in the world nothing holds a candle to it. Love the Girls

[@MariaMartinez-jb3zn]

I just binged Golden Girls and watched last episode last night witch I had never seen…great show! Well done! Now that all the ladies are gone, well we miss them but we have their work to watch again and again. Comedy is great isn’t it? 🙏🏽🙋🏻‍♀️👍🏽

[@Aisha.The.Traveler]

I loved & will always love The Golden Girls. 😢

[@tod3msn]

Great job, Mitchell. A look back from someone who was there instead of a glib Today Show personality talking about "The Golden Girls." You hit it on the head it was a character driven experience where aging is looked at realistically and that these 4 women were played by talented actresses and characters. I was not as much a fan of the show but of the actresses. They were so good.

[@jennynayoungkim1544]

the ending was perfectly executed and it still gives me goosebumps. i love this show and it'll be forever one of my favorites.

[@Jumbaride]

Watched this as a little kid with my grandparents and still watching it. 💙💜💚💛

[@Cutie-loves-cupcake]

These lady comedy legends I watch this show every day I know this show word by word

[@youtubecommentsonly2860]

I'm still watching, a classic

[@MVR326]

It really was and is a landmark show. Four extremely defined characters which were even further enhanced by the brilliant talent of the actresses, a fine supporting recurring cast, and also the fact they this show faced very serious social, political, and personal subjects with complete class and a sense of humor, but never once lost sight on what they were addressing. It never gets old, and personally, I always found the arrangement kind of cozy and assuring on the four of them living under one roof

[@oscarsoto8428]

How old is this man?! The show ended 30 years ago, and he was at least in his 20s when he was writing it!!!! He looks like he’s in his early 40s!!!!!

[@martinarmbrust3606]

That was my immediate thought 😊

[@kristen8484]

lol literally came to ask if he wrote this when he was 10?????????????

[@sertorrhenclegane]

58, almost 59 to answer your question.

[@oscarsoto8428]

@@sertorrhenclegane 😱

[@sertorrhenclegane]

@@oscarsoto8428 I know, right?

[@roxannepearson4089]

You Rock!! Still watching ...on the daily . Brilliant And I Love You!!!💖

[@andreawillerby9401]

Growing up my grandmother use to watch it and i ddnt really pay attention now i know why she did its golden im 37 going on 38 and love it great show beautiful and funny...

[@aneesackbarali5149]

Rip to all of them 🙏

[@deshaunx776]

Sheesh it hurts to read that when I briefly forgot Betty White is gone now...

[@misstee101]

@@deshaunx776 I'm still in shock about her untimely death too

[@texan903]

@@misstee101 her death at the age of 99, was expected sooner or later, it just came later for her.

[@sashalin8888]

I happened to re-watch the last episode last night; I mean, I was in for Leslie Nielsen actually, but the last scene really moved me to tears…

[@jeshkam]

*Nielsen

[@sashalin8888]

@@jeshkam Thanks

[@jeshkam]

@@sashalin8888 No problem 👍

[@toddbeaton1512]

the golden girls are so amazing

[@jasondavidstapleton8337]

i miss the girls i even miss Stan

[@kimknowlton3334]

I love this show…been watching since day one.

[@heronpage3883]

I think that's probably the best finale for any TV play for any TV show ever. It was really really funny and I loved the fact that Dorothy, who was always the one who couldn't get a date, finally got a handsome command some, funny, charming guy. I remember the 1st time I watched it it was not while the show was in its initial run. Somehow I had missed it. So I was happy to find it On Hallmark Channel years later.. When I saw that last scene where they're all hugging I was sobbing! Incredibly well done, stands up solid 30 years later.

[@tresaemerick6042]

I always watch this show every night! Love it !

[@madgemackles4337]

I was in love with this series in my twenties and that was two years ago

[@HoneyInTheSunset]

Don’t know if I’ve ever watched any other show as much as this show

[@mrmartywaring]

I still watch this show every night

[@charlottesmythee]

I go to bed with golden girls on every single day! Love these ladies. So timeless

[@ellemere9884]

I thought I was the only one. I play it on my laptop every single day. All the seasons...I just let them play back to back and start the whole list all over again. My absolute favourite series of all time. Now they're all gone. May their souls rest in peace. They left behind a legacy that will never die.

[@sleazyslytherin6836]

He gave a great reflection on the finale and on Bea and just the show overall! I could listen to these behind the scene stories all day

[@bostonbean]

A writer on The Golden Girls?? Was he 10 when he started writing. Wow, this dude aged very well 😍

[@chadmiller2224]

Thats what I was thinking .... Hope I age that well he looks in his 40's.

[@gregrich]

I know it is hard to believe he is 58, he looks like he is in his early 40s. It must have been amazing for him to work on The Golden Girls in his 20s for his first job as a writer on a tv show. Marc Cherry who created Desperate Housewives was also a writer of The Golden Girls early in his career.

[@franko6677]

I was about to write a comment about that. He looks early-mid 40s!

[@bradleyscarton3931]

Fun fact: Mitchell would later go on to create Arrested Development!

[@timfahey7127]

Thank you for writing this!!!

[@jackpotdeagonlink9911]

this man looks really young for his age

[@kamikazekid94]

He was probably very young when he started probably early 20’s

[@amandasunshine2]

Not everyone was the Golden Girls' age when they were filming

[@samuelosler1994]

I remember reading that most of the writing staff of The Golden Girls were young men on their 20s, Bea Arthur used to joke that "frat boys" wrote the show

[@mrsj1417]

He was 24 then and 58 now.

[@SoliRhymesWithJulie]

Dorothy Zbornak had a big role in shaping my personality. Truly an amazing show.

[@bingovegas4867]

I wouldn't brag about that if I were you. Bea was physically abusive on set, you see it when she grabs things from her mother or hits Rose over the head with a newspaper or shoves her. A complete bully. FACT.

[@macaelatice-loma1048]

@@bingovegas4867 first of all ok MA!! anyway shes just acting and its apart of what her character is shes the one that tries to keep everyone in line like the strict older sister... then you got rose the innocent nitwitt, Blance the romantic one, and Sophia for sarcastic comedic relief...

[@myrgo1648]

Mitch writing the end of the Golden Girls at 28?! Meanwhile, I didn’t know anything about him until the Smartless podcast and he is exceedingly charming and funny. I’m a fan.

[@bcbritt777]

Watching Golden Girls as we speak 😁❤️

[@shaunsteele8244]

omg it's been 30 years since the show ENDED? how fking old am I

[@osaji922]

30 years since this show ended, Cosby Show, Night Court, Who's The Boss, Growing Pains and I'm sure I'm missing more.

[@john15008]

How old was this guy when he wrote the finale? 20? In any case, did anyone else bawl their eyes out when they watched the last scene?

[@OneLoveRSR]

He turned 29 twenty days after the finale aired.

[@sumilova]

thank you for being a friend, GG! 💝

[@Carandiru1992]

The major reason that I watched the Golden Girls , was because of Estelle Getty ( Sophia Petrillo ). I just thought that she had the funniest lines!

[@christymallesky8670]

Thank u

[@javimu111]

2 Shows I ever watched every episode of: "BREAKING BAD" and "THE GOLDEN GIRLS." Two Golden shows.

[@hiko331]

The irony of it all: a show about adjusting to life while getting older...never gets old.

[@yepitsyou]

❤❤❤❤

[@theshypersistence]

He must have been so young back then!

[@StormGIJane]

I'm watching the Golden Girls right now, thanks Hallmark Hilarious!!!

[@Jonathan-0001]

I only know about this show because I got my cable canceled, so I had to watch the left over channels , tru tv was one of them and I started watching this show outta boredom I ended up liking it.

[@antonecruz8165]

My favorite show!

[@Jabberstax]

This guy will always be a legend for Arrested development

[@TheBasher-_-]

Golden Palace was also very good.

[@stefaniamalatesta8076]

I cannot watch the finale of the Golden Girls. I always skip them. I love the show!

[@lizf3857]

Me too I dread that episode 🤣😭

[@stefaniamalatesta8076]

@@lizf3857 am glad I am not alone lol

[@lizf3857]

@@stefaniamalatesta8076 the only other episode that is tough that I skip is “not another Monday “ even though it ends on a positive note

[@stefaniamalatesta8076]

@@lizf3857 That one is difficult to get through, the one where Sophias friend was homeless bothers me too.

[@trevorpanno516]

I even remember when Stan was the limousine driver.

[@SimpleWorld08]

That’s a good looking writer.

[@Grimblenork]

He was also really funny in workaholics

[@freddietorres6633]

This is greater Show ever i watch golden girls with my grandma i miss This show already they need to create New sitcon golden girls women of color it would another hit on TV

[@tishawnmitchell8098]

He wrote for this show when he was, what, 15? He looks so young!

[@misstee101]

Much younger than you know, Mitchell

[@antoinettelopes]

I'm wondering what a Sophia vs. Lucille face off would have been like. 🤔

[@datswassup07]

I still can’t watch the finale it’s just too sad. I heard that they shot an alternate ending where they go into the kitchen one last time and have cheesecake. Don’t know if that’s true or not but I hate it ended on a sad note with all of them crying. I skip the last episode every time

[@chrispeplinski7306]

I wish one last helping of cheesecake would have been in the finale

[@clarisahernandez5280]

I laughed at the clips.

[@jefa3756]

Did anyone watch the spin-off ? Was at the hotel I believe.

[@clintcornett79]

Always wondered why there is not a blu ray of the golden girls? Still not in 2022

[@moonstoneuniverse8516]

What happens when there’s one of use left?

[@anniebananie7887]

I always laugh at the huge inconsistencies in the show, and I always wondered why Dorothy's kids weren't at their mom's wedding.

[@lilygrace6605]

How did I not know that the creator of Arrested Development wrote for Golden Girls?

[@lavenberry]

it would've been interesting to see the ladies continue to live in the house with a new roommate after Bea left the show. Golden Palace didn't work. I still watch Golden Girls even though I've seen every episode. It was my mom's and grandmother's fave show and not it's me.

[@macaelatice-loma1048]

yeah like my idea would be some older hippie whom kinda is trying to live a normal life but still acting like a hippy puffing weed and tie diye everything... oh id imagine one day she would be smoking with literal short shorts and bra and redone a entire room full of hypie stuff oh idk how Sophia would like that haha... it be a cool roomate...

[@DivineREDxo]

@@macaelatice-loma1048 Hahah, I immediately thought of the character Frankie (from Grace and Frankie) living with them.

[@kennywohl1061]

Always thought that Blanch would be the one who gets married and she'd give the House to Dorthy Rose and Sophia