Rue McClanahan on the casting of "The Golden Girls" - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG

[mlc2005]

There have been some amazing casts out there, for sure, but there was just something about the four ladies on Golden Girls that elevated them to the very best. Perhaps it was that they were older and at that absolute peak of their talents; it was also that they all had the best chemistry EVER on a comedy sitcom, and they seemed to know their characters to the core.

Rue and Betty were PERFECT as Blanche and Rose, and I'm so happy they changed it up.

[powrxplor69]

"between the ages of something & something" lol

Loved the golden girls....RIP Rue

[carogirlyaya]

i love the way she says 'white'

[mint83]

dead.



[woohooboy]

As talented as Elaine Stritch is, I think her take on Dorothy would have been a tad too harsh. Bea Arthur was the ONLY one who could play that role. As for Rue and Betty, it was great that the show's creative team decided to swap things around because it worked brilliantly.

Having Rue play Rose and Betty play Blanche would have been a continuation of what both actresses had done previously on "Maude" & "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

And to cap it off with Estelle, you've got the PERFECT CAST!

[02chevyguy]

More than once, I've tried to imagine Rue playing Rose. There's NO WAY it could've been done. Now, she did have a few off the wall "Rose moments", but that was about it. :)

Bea was DEFINITELY my favorite! Her timing on certain jokes and responses was impeccable.

[babyboi1002]

@02chevyguy She would have played Rose like she played Vivian

[AlbieGray]

RIP Rue McClanahan and Blanche. I have to admit, I would think in Heaven, Blanche is going after every man in Heaven, until she runs into her beloved George; and she runs into Dorothy (Bea Arthur) and Sophia (Estelle Getty). I can bet the reunion was FANTASTIC!

[armanisilk]

Hey Bea Arthur is dead on!!!!

[weyoun36]

@armanisilk and dead!!!

[jimmysudar]

the stuff about the casting of the roles is quite interesting, and i always thought of vivian and sue anne nivens as prototypes in a way. it's good to hear it from the horse's mouth.