“The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – Special Edition of 20/20” Airs Tuesday, November 11, on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu [VIDEO]

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Beloved Sitcom’s Enduring Impact on Television and Culture, Including Interviews With Superfans Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kelly Ripa, Laverne Cox, and Former Guest Star Mario Lopez

“The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – Special Edition of 20/20” looks at the lasting cultural phenomenon of the beloved sitcom four decades after it originally premiered, airing Tuesday, November 11 (10:01-11:00PM EST) on ABC, and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The special chronicles the making of “The Golden Girls,” from its early inception and pilot episode to becoming one of the most treasured shows in television history. At a time when Hollywood heavily favored youth, “The Golden Girls” famously put four older women – Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty – front and center, using uninhibited comedy to rewrite the narrative for women over 50. Often tackling taboo and groundbreaking topics, the sitcom redefined aging, while its timeless appeal has attracted new audiences and created a lasting influence on pop culture.

“The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – Special Edition of 20/20” features new interviews with series creator Susan Harris, Emmy® Award-winning executive producer Tony Thomas, and director Terry Hughes, and includes rarely seen behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals, outtakes, and camaraderie on set. The special also features new interviews with celebrity fans of the show, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kelly Ripa, Laverne Cox, Erika Alexander, Pamela Adlon, and former guest star Mario Lopez, as well as interviews with many of the sitcom’s original writers and producers. The documentary ultimately pays tribute to the legendary actresses who brought the main characters of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia to life, while also taking viewers inside the world of fans of the show, including dedicated trivia nights, podcasts, fashion collections, live theater shows and even college courses.

The iconic series has been streamed over 1 billion hours globally on Disney+ and Hulu. All seven seasons are available to stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

“The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – Special Edition of 20/20” is produced by ABC News Studios and “20/20.” Melia Patria is executive producer, and Eileen Murphy is senior editorial producer. David Sloan is the senior executive producer. Janice Johnston is the executive producer of “20/20.”

About ABC News Studios

ABC News Studios is inspired by ABC News’ trusted reporting and is an award-winning, premium news and documentary original production house and commissioning partner of series and specials. ABC News Studios champions untold and authentic stories, driving the cultural zeitgeist, spanning true crime, investigations, pop culture, and news-adjacent stories. ABC News Studios’ original titles include critically acclaimed documentaries “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” “BRATS,” “Sound of the Police,” “The Lady Bird Diaries,” “Aftershock,” Emmy-winning “Patrice: The Movie,” “Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything” and most recently “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story.” Other popular docuseries and documentaries include “Scamanda,” “The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer,” “Betrayal: Under His Eye,” “Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?,” “Wild Crime,” “Mormon No More,” “The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump” and “Jelly Roll: Save Me.”

About “20/20”

ABC News’ “20/20” is an award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, “20/20” features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports, and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories. Janice Johnston is the executive producer. The two-hour “20/20” events air Fridays from 9-11PM ET on ABC and are available to stream on ABC News digital platforms, Disney+ and Hulu.

About “The Golden Girls”

Critically acclaimed series “The Golden Girls” premiered in 1985 and follows four vibrant friends sharing life and laughter in Miami: strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), sweetly naive Rose Nylund (Betty White), flirtatious Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and wise-cracking Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). The show’s magic has bridged generations, delighting original TV audiences and new streaming viewers alike. Though these distinctive personalities occasionally clash, their enduring friendship – celebrated in the theme song “Thank You for Being a Friend” – remains the heart of this beloved series. “The Golden Girls” is one of only four sitcoms where every performer in the main cast won at least one Emmy Award®. The series won 11 Emmy Awards overall, including two wins for Outstanding Comedy Series, and earned four Golden Globes® and several other prestigious industry honors. The iconic series ranked among the Nielsen ratings’ Top 10 for six of its seven seasons and ranked 18 out of Variety’s 100 Greatest TV Shows of all time.