As “The Golden Girls” celebrates its 40th anniversary, Disney Entertainment TV is showing appreciation for fans with a plethora of merchandise and collaborations to fill up the lanai. The festivities kick off with “Golden Girls Day” on July 30, where the show will be honored through a variety of products including wines, yogurt treats, brick toys, and more.
One of the exciting announcements is that for the first time, the estate of singer-songwriter Andrew Gold has allowed lyrics from his song “Thank You for Being a Friend,” famously known as the theme song for “The Golden Girls,” to be featured on products from Furbish Studio, Yogurtland, and Candier.
“We’re thrilled to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ‘The Golden Girls’ with a campaign that blends nostalgia with modernity,” said Erin Weir, executive vice president of marketing at Disney Entertainment Television. “Every aspect of this celebration has been carefully curated to honor the show’s enduring legacy and fandom while also inviting new generations to connect with its timeless themes of friendship, humor, and heart. This celebration spans across lifestyle, food, fashion, and entertainment, reminding us why ‘The Golden Girls’ continues to resonate four decades later.”
Here are some of the exciting tie-ins planned for “The Golden Girls”:
1. Furbish Studio will launch the limited-edition “Thank You for Being a Friend” pillow, available for pre-order on their website starting August 19.
2. Yogurtland will introduce a limited-edition cheesecake-flavored yogurt called “Thank You for Being Cheesecake” to celebrate National Cheesecake Day on July 30.
3. Candier will release limited-edition candles with the phrases “I’ll get the Cheesecake!” and “Thank You for Being a Friend” on September 14.
4. Zero Waste Daniel, a Brooklyn-based fashion brand, will unveil a limited-edition capsule collection inspired by “The Golden Girls” from July 31 to August 17, available online and at their flagship store.
5. Nocking Point Wines will launch a special wine assortment on August 17 with four bottles dedicated to each of the show’s characters.
6. Brickcraft will debut a limited-edition “The Golden Girls” brick-building set in November.
In addition to these external collaborations, Disney Entertainment Television has partnered with Fisher-Price to create a short-form content series called “Little People Collector Mini Adventures.” The series will reenact iconic moments from “The Golden Girls” using the Fisher-Price Little People Collector set.
Furthermore, ABC News is preparing a one-hour special to honor the 40th anniversary of “The Golden Girls,” featuring series creator Susan Harris, producer Tony Thomas, and other key figures. The special will delve into the show’s impact on pop culture and its portrayal of women over 50.
Disney has already begun celebrating “The Golden Girls” with events like the ATX TV Festival’s “The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary Script Reading & Conversation” and the Disney+ Throwback Experience featuring a themed area called The Lanai Closet.
“The Golden Girls,” which originally aired from 1985 to 1992, was produced by Disney’s Touchstone TV and continues to be a beloved series, streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The show has amassed over 1 billion hours of streaming globally on these platforms.
