Jim Colucci

Preface: Back in 2020, I briefly switched to Hulu for live TV, because they were the only streaming service that included the Marquee Network, which is the channel owned by the Chicago Cubs that broadcasts all their games. Then they dropped Marquee, and I switched back to YouTube TV, which has a cleaner user interface and much better DVR. But by the time that happened, I was already a couple of seasons into a re-watch of The Golden Girls, one of the sitcoms my mom and I watched together back in the 1980s, so I kept the basic Hulu service to finish it up.

The series was as good as I remembered, although all of the references to current events of the era would probably go over the ahead of anyone less decrepit than I am. Anyway, when I finally got the end of the seventh and final season, I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye. A friend who is a huge fan of the Golden Girls recommended this book to me, and I picked up the ebook.

Actual review content: With the series so fresh in my mind, I very much enjoyed the book. The first part details the development of the show, shooting the pilot and analyzes what made the show such a touchstone for so many people. Most of this was new information to me, and very interesting to someone who loves behind-the-scenes logistics.

The hefty middle section provides summaries of individual episodes, combined with photos and reminiscences from cast and crew members and guest stars. It's not every episode, but it's a lot of them. I think this part would have been much less enjoyable if I hadn't just refreshed my memory with the rewatch, but since I had I liked reading what was happening offstage and what people involved with the show thought about each episode.

The last section delves into the actual production details, especially the set design. I was relieved to read that the layout doesn't really make sense if you think too hard about it, because I could never figure out how all the pieces fit together. Especially the kitchen, which was a last-minute addition and doesn't fit with the rest of the set, and yet turned out to be maybe the most important set, given all the discussion over cheesecake that occurred there.

There's also a section that details the ways that the show has inspired more modern television sitcoms, and includes short blurbs from all sorts of entertainment folks about what the show means to them and which Golden Girl they think best embodies their own persona. This was pretty meh, especially because I haven't heard of the majority of the people being quoted.

Given my recent re-acquantance with the show, I'm glad I was able to read this. I don't think I'd recommend to anyone who either wasn't a big fan of the show or who hasn't watched it in the last decade or so. It isn't earth-shattering, but it's a nice read for what it is.… (more)