miami nice - the golden girls origin video!!

'The Golden Girls' Origin Story May Not Be What You Think 

BY: EMMANUEL RONQUILLO
PUBLISHED AUG 13, 2023

Looking back, The Golden Girls feels like it was always meant to be a cultural mainstay, but the origin of the idea came from a surprisingly effective source. It was a skit that featured actresses Selma Diamond and Doris Roberts parodying hit NBC show Miami Vice that inspired the overall conceit of the show. So, how did this comedic duo making fun of a crime drama lead to the creation of The Golden Girls?

An article from South Florida newspaper, Sun Sentinel, revealed all the necessary factors that led to the creation of The Golden Girls. Prior to the 1984-85 television season, executives at NBC were looking for a show that could maximize the Saturday time slots. They needed to find an idea that garnered a wide audience, as Saturday was a tricky day for television, since many viewers weren't home and those that did stay in often rented movies.
The idea for The Golden Girls was first planted when then-Entertainment President Brandon Tarkitoff happened upon How to Marry a Millionaire, a 1953 movie that starred Hollywood icons Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall in their attempts to, well, marry a millionaire. Tarkitoff found the premise of women pursuing a wealthy partner interesting, but it wasn't enough just yet.
A preview session for NBC's upcoming shows helped push Tarkitoff's initial musings to new heights. The NBC All-Star Hour was a TV special that previewed and celebrated the upcoming slate of shows that season. It featured clips of the shows, live musical performances, and a plethora of skits, comedy, and conversation from actors and other notable figures.

At the preview, Selma Diamond and Doris Roberts joked around about a new hit show set in Miami. Selma painted the scene about a show that involved cha-cha lessons, mink coats, and sitting on the beach, but Doris had to correct her before it got too far. The show they were promoting wasn't called "Miami Nice," it was Miami Vice. At the time Diamond was known for her role on Night Court while Roberts was known for Remington Steele and would later play a major role in Everybody Loves Raymond.
The chemistry and humor of Diamond and Roberts inspired Tarkitoff, who realized that the idea of an older woman pursuing a rich doctor was more fun than watching a younger girl do the same thing. A "Miami Nice" show could actually work, and Roberts and Diamond had shown him that firsthand. Susan Harris, who had created the two sitcoms Soap and Benson, was given the reins to the show and the star-studded cast soon followed. When the show debuted the next year, it was a smash hit that helped NBC rake in the weekend ratings that they were looking for.