On December 31st, 2021 the world lost Betty White. With her passing, it marked having to say goodbye to all four of the Golden Girls. From 1985 to 1992, the misadventures of Dorothy Zbornak, Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux and Sophia Petrillo brought laughter and a sense of wonderful friendship into the homes of millions. And even though the actresses who played them, Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, have all gone, their legacy looms large as the popularity of “The Golden Girls“ remains large even to this day. 2025 marks 40 years since the show premiered, and it’s going to be celebrating that anniversary in style with all new merchandise and special presentations.
One of the biggest things that fans will have to look forward to is how the memorable theme song, “Thank You for Being a Friend” will now be usable in branding for products associated with the show. The song was originally written by Andrew Gold and was a top 40 hit, but is more known for the shortened version Cynthia Fee sings at the start of every episode. Now you’ll be able to see that phrase on a pillow from Furbish Studio and a candle from Candier amongst other things.
If you’re more into enjoying a glass of wine with the girls, Nocking Point Wines has you covered with the launch of four assorted wines that will launch on August 17th. Each of the bottles is associated with one of the four main girls. “A full-bodied red for strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak, rosé in honor of spacey Rose Nylund, a sauvignon Blanc befitting flirtatious Blanche Devereaux, and a red blend perfect for the wise-cracking Sophia Petrillo.”
Or if you want something fun that doesn’t involve alcohol, you can pick up “The Golden Girls” brick-building set in November from Brickcraft. Fittingly enough, another set of toy versions, specifically Fisher-Price Little People toys, will be used to make short-form episode recreations starting July 30th. The episodes can be viewed on the social media sites for “The Golden Girls” as well as Mattel and Fisher-Price. Other special episodes will appear sporadically throughout the year, culminating in a “most memorable moments” special on November 18th.
If you like your “Golden Girls” tributes a bit more live-action though, ABC News has you covered with a 40th anniversary special featuring series creator Susan Harris and producer Tony Thomas. No official release date has been given yet for the broadcast, but it’ll be something fans surely wouldn’t want to miss out on. Even though the Girls themselves have passed away, some of the people behind the show are still around to share stories and memories.
So, go out, grab some cheesecake and keep an eye out for some “Golden Girls” swag you certainly won’t want to miss out on!
