The Golden Girls (season 2)

The second season of The Golden Girls premiered on NBC on September 27, 1986, and concluded on May 16, 1987. The season consisted of 26 episodes.

The Golden Girls
Season 2
DVD cover
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes26
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 27, 1986 (1986-09-27) –
May 16, 1987 (1987-05-16)
Season chronology

Broadcast history

The season originally aired Saturdays at 9:00-9:30 pm (EST) on NBC from September 27, 1986, to May 16, 1987.[1][2]

Episodes
See also: List of The Golden Girls episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		Rating/share
(households)
261"End of the Curse"Terry HughesSusan HarrisSeptember 27, 1986 (1986-09-27)02625.6/45[3]
Blanche is depressed when she thinks she is pregnant, but is devastated when she finds out she is beginning menopause. Rose and Dorothy try their hands at mink-breeding with no success.
Guest Stars: Philip Sterling as Dr. Barensfeld and Vince Cannon as Dr. Parks.
Note: Rue McClanahan won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for this episode. Philip Sterling appears in a Season 3 episode as Dr. Ashley
272"Ladies of the Evening"Terry HughesBarry Fanaro and Mort NathanOctober 4, 1986 (1986-10-04)02727.3/47[4]
Blanche wins three tickets to a premiere of Burt Reynolds's new movie and passes to the after-party, leaving Sophia angry about being left out. The girls decide to make a weekend out of attending the premiere and get arrested when their hotel is raided for prostitution. Sophia then gets revenge by claiming the tickets and passes and going to the premiere alone, leaving the others in jail. However, the story has a happy ending when Burt stops by the house to take Sophia up on a dinner offer and the roommates get to meet him after all.
Guest Stars: Peter Jason as The Policeman, Rhonda Aldrich as Meg, Ron Michaelson as Carl
283"Take Him, He's Mine"Terry HughesKathy Speer and Terry GrossmanOctober 11, 1986 (1986-10-11)02824.6/40[5]
Blanche takes Dorothy's ex-husband Stan out as a favor to Dorothy, but when Blanche says they hit it off, Dorothy becomes jealous. Rose and Sophia team up to sell sandwiches and end up threatened by the mob.
Guest Stars: Herb Edelman as Stan; Lana Schwab as The Girl; Tom La Grua as Vinnie.
294"It's a Miserable Life"Terry HughesBarry Fanaro and Mort NathanNovember 1, 1986 (1986-11-01)03425.0/43[6]
The girls work on saving a 200-year-old oak tree in their neighborhood and become frustrated when the grouchy neighbor on whose property the tree is located does not object to it being removed and actually encourages it. At a local council meeting, Rose reaches her limit and yells at the woman, who then dies of a heart attack, leaving Rose feeling guilty.
Guest Stars: Nan Martin as Frieda Claxton, Thom Sharp as Mr. Pfeiffer
Note: Nan Martin would appear in a season 4 episode.
305"Isn't It Romantic?"Terry HughesJeffrey DuteilNovember 8, 1986 (1986-11-08)02927.3/45[7]
Dorothy's lesbian friend Jean visits and develops feelings for Rose.
Guest Star: Lois Nettleton as Jean.
316"Big Daddy's Little Lady"David SteinbergRussell MarcusNovember 15, 1986 (1986-11-15)03525.3/42[8]
Blanche is thrilled when her father, Big Daddy, announces he is getting married, but quickly changes her attitude when she finds out how young the bride-to-be is. Dorothy and Rose enter a song-writing contest and creative differences almost come between them.
Guest Stars: David Wayne as Big Daddy, Sondra Currie as Margaret Spencer
327"Family Affair"Terry HughesWinifred HerveyNovember 22, 1986 (1986-11-22)03626.8/43[9]
When Rose's daughter, Bridget, and Dorothy's musician son, Michael, both visit and sleep together, it prompts a vicious fight between their mothers.
Guest Stars: Scott Jacoby as Michael and Marilyn Jones as Bridget
338"Vacation"Terry HughesWinifred HerveyNovember 29, 1986 (1986-11-29)03025.0/41[10]
Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche vacation in the Caribbean, but find the accommodations seriously not to their liking. Back in Miami, Sophia woos the girls' Japanese gardener.
Guest Stars: Keye Luke as Toshiro Mitsumo, Tom Villard as Rick, Stephen Lee as Dwayne, Brett Porter as Winston Hardwick III, Stuart Pankin as Jacques DeCourville
Note: Tom Villard appears in a season 7 episode as Randy.
349"Joust Between Friends"Terry HughesScott Spencer GordonDecember 6, 1986 (1986-12-06)03123.6/39[11]
Dorothy takes a job working with Blanche at the museum and things go well until Dorothy starts keeping secrets from Blanche.
Guest Stars: Reid Shelton as Mr. Allen and Inky as the Stray Dog
3510"Love, Rose"Terry HughesKathy Speer and Terry GrossmanDecember 13, 1986 (1986-12-13)03723.8/40[12]
With Rose feeling lonely, she takes Blanche's advice and places an ad in the local newspaper's personals column. When she gets no response and feels even more depressed, Blanche sends her a response under the name Isaac Q. Newton. Their deception works until Rose invites Isaac to be her date at a formal banquet, and Issac turns out to be a real person who contradicts the imaginary one in every way. Blanche and Dorothy are forced to confess when Rose starts accusing Issac of lying. Meanwhile, Sophia is stalked by an elderly gentleman and ends up going to the banquet with him, only to discover his actions are because he mistakenly believes she's rich.
Guest Stars: Paul Dooley as Isaac Q. Newton and Colin Drake as Wilfred Witley Cheswick
Note: Paul Dooley appears in a later episode as George Corliss
3611"'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas"Terry HughesBarry Fanaro and Mort NathanDecember 20, 1986 (1986-12-20)03823.5/41[13]
A series of mishaps almost ruins the girls' Christmas. They plan to fly home to visit their families, but are taken hostage at Rose's office by a lonely man dressed as Santa Claus. Sophia defuses the situation, but their flights are subsequently cancelled due to the weather, and they have to spend Christmas Eve in a roadside diner.
Guest stars: Terry Kiser as Santa Claus, Craig Richard Nelson as Thurber, Teddy Willson as Albert, Sam Anderson as Meyer, Buddy Daniels as Airport Mendicant
3712"The Sisters"Terry HughesChristopher LloydJanuary 3, 1987 (1987-01-03)03927.0/41[14]
Dorothy arranges for Sophia's sister, Angela, to fly from Sicily to Miami, as a surprise gift for Sophia's birthday, not realizing that Sophia and Angela have been feuding for decades, over what turns out to be a big misunderstanding.
Guest Stars: Nancy Walker as Angela
3813"The Stan Who Came to Dinner"Terry HughesKathy Speer and Terry GrossmanJanuary 10, 1987 (1987-01-10)04126.6/41[15]
After a major heart surgery, Stan temporarily moves in with the ladies, and quickly overstays his welcome.
Guest Stars: Rod Sabbe as Rob, Odil Sabbe as Bob, Steve Kramer as Dr. Stephen Deutsch
3914"The Actor"Terry HughesBarry Fanaro and Mort NathanJanuary 17, 1987 (1987-01-17)04025.0/40[16]
When a handsome actor comes to Miami to star in a play at the local community theater, he dates Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy simultaneously, leading each of them to believe he will marry them.
Guest Stars: Lloyd Bochner as Patrick Vaughn, Janet Carroll as Phyllis Hammerow, Frank Birney as the Stage Manager
4015"Before and After"Terry HughesBob RosenfarbJanuary 24, 1987 (1987-01-24)03226.4/42[17]
After suffering an esophageal spasm, Rose decides to "live for the day", upsetting the other girls and eventually moving out.
Guest Stars: Deborah May as Liz, Rosanna Huffman as Stephanie, Nat Bernstein as Dr. Wallerstein
Note: Nat Bernstein appears in the following episode as Emily's father
4116"And Then There Was One"Terry HughesRussell MarcusJanuary 31, 1987 (1987-01-31)04221.8/35[18]
The girls volunteer to babysit the children of participants in a local marathon, in which Sophia participates, and become concerned when a baby girl's parents don't come to pick her up after the race. It turns out the girl's mother went into labor and Sophia forgot to give the girls the message.
Guest Stars: Christopher Burton as Norman, Nat Bernstein as Emily's father, Ray Combs as Bob Henderson, Ariana Richards as Lisa
4217"Bedtime Story"Terry HughesKathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan, and Barry FanaroFebruary 7, 1987 (1987-02-07)04324.1/39[19]
Trying to decide on sleeping arrangements for visiting relatives, the ladies reminisce about places where they have previously slept, from a train station to Sophia's bed.
Guest Stars: Randy Bennett as Stationmaster
4318"Forgive Me, Father"Terry HughesKathy Speer and Terry GrossmanFebruary 14, 1987 (1987-02-14)04523.7/38[20]
Dorothy has her eye on a handsome teacher colleague at the school where she has been working, but doesn't realize he is a priest. He further confuses her when he tells her he is thinking of "leaving the church."
Guest Stars: John McMartin as Fr. Frank Leahy, and Barney McGeary as Father Callahan
4419"Long Day's Journey Into Marinara"Terry HughesBarry Fanaro and Mort NathanFebruary 21, 1987 (1987-02-21)04624.5/41[21]
When Sophia's sister Angela moves to Miami, Sophia quickly begins to think she wants to take everything she has, including her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Rose, who has been babysitting a friend's piano-playing chicken, is horrified when it appears that Angela has killed the chicken and fried it up for dinner.
Guest Stars: Nancy Walker as Angela and Joe Alfasa as Tony
4520"Whose Face Is This, Anyway?"Terry HughesWinifred HerveyFebruary 28, 1987 (1987-02-28)04425.8/43[22]
After attending her college sorority reunion and seeing that her sorority sisters have had plastic surgery and seeing how old she looks in a video Rose made for community college class, Blanche decides to have an aggressive amount of plastic surgery herself.
Guest Stars: Joseph Whipp as Dr. Taylor
4621"Dorothy's Prized Pupil"Terry HughesChristopher LloydMarch 14, 1987 (1987-03-14)03323.8/38[23]
Dorothy tutors a young Hispanic boy and enters an essay of his in a local contest where it not only wins first prize, but results in the discovery that he is in the country illegally. Dorothy feels at fault and convinces Mario to fight to stay in America. Mario shows up after the hearing to tell Dorothy he is being deported, but will be able to undergo the procedures to legally return, much to Dorothy's relief. Meanwhile, Rose decides that she must become Blanche's personal servant for a week to atone for losing a pair of Blanche's earrings, which it turns out Blanche herself lost.
Guest Stars: Mario Lopez as Mario, John Braden as Sam Burns
4722"Diamond in the Rough"Terry HughesJan Fischer and William WeidnerMarch 21, 1987 (1987-03-21)04723.3/39[24]
Blanche dates a handsome caterer and shocks the other girls when she refuses to commit to a serious relationship with him.
Guest Stars: Donnelly Rhodes as Jake Smollens, Howard Witt as Hunter McCoy
4823"Son-in-Law Dearest"Terry HughesPatt Shea and Harriet WeissApril 11, 1987 (1987-04-11)04823.0/38[25]
Dorothy's daughter Kate visits (as well as Stan) and reveals that she has left her husband, Dennis, after he cheated on her. Dorothy is even more furious when Kate reconciles with him. Meanwhile, Blanche and Rose watch an I Love Lucy marathon on television.
Guest Stars: Deena Freeman as Kate, Jonathan Perpich as Dennis
4924"To Catch a Neighbor"Terry HughesRussell MarcusMay 2, 1987 (1987-05-02)04919.5/36[26]
The girls allow two undercover cops (Joseph Campanella and George Clooney) to use their house as a base for spying on their new neighbors, who are suspected of being jewel thieves. Dorothy develops a crush on the senior detective and Sophia takes advantage of this. In the middle of the night, the neighbors' house is raided as they try to sell the diamonds and they are arrested, but the junior cop is shot in the process, discouraging Dorothy's notions of a relationship.
Guest Stars: Joseph Campanella as Al Mullins, George Clooney as Bobby Hopkins, Barbara Tarbuck as Martha McDowell.
5025"A Piece of Cake"Terry HughesKathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan, and Barry FanaroMay 9, 1987 (1987-05-09)05019.2/37[27]
The ladies recall other birthday celebrations while preparing a surprise birthday party for a friend. Dorothy recalls Rose taking her to a children's restaurant, Rose recalls her first birthday following her husband's death, Sophia recalls her 50th birthday in 1955, when she fought with her husband as he pointed out an error on her birth certificate that made her think she was 48, forcing Dorothy to defuse the situation, and Blanche recalls her first birthday after the girls started living together, when she used to hate celebrating her birthday until the others throw her a surprise party with all the men from her address book. It turns out the party in the present is for Blanche as well, and the women celebrate by joining a conga line made up of the men from Blanche's past party.
Guest Stars: Lynnie Greene (credited as Lyn Greene) as Younger Dorothy, Alan Blumenfeld as Mr. Ha Ha, Jeffrey Weber as Bobby Spina, Sid Melton as voice of Salvadore Petrillo.
Note: Alan Blumenfeld appeared in an earlier episode as Lou.
5126"Empty Nests"Jay SandrichSusan HarrisMay 16, 1987 (1987-05-16)05117.8/34[28]
The girls' neighbor Renee feels lonely because her doctor husband, George, works constantly and their children have moved out.
Guest Stars: Rita Moreno as Renee Corliss, Paul Dooley as Dr. George Corliss, David Leisure as Oliver, Jane Harnick as Jenny Corliss, and Geoffrey Lewis as Chuck/Mr. Fix-It.
Note: This episode was a backdoor pilot for the spinoff series Empty Nest, although the concept was retooled and recast before the series actually went to air.

Awards and nominations

39th Primetime Emmy Awards

  • Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
  • Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Beatrice Arthur) (Episode: "The Stan Who Came to Dinner")
  • Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Rue McClanahan) (Episode: "End of the Curse")
  • Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Betty White) (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic?")
  • Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Estelle Getty)
  • Nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series (Herb Edelman) (Episode: "The Stan Who Came to Dinner")
  • Nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series (Lois Nettleton) (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic?")
  • Nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series (Nancy Walker) (Episode: "A Long Days Journey Into Marinara")
  • Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Terry Hughes) (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic?")
  • Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Jeffrey Duteil) (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic?")

44th Golden Globe Awards

  • Award for Best Comedy Series
  • Nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Beatrice Arthur)
  • Nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Estelle Getty)
  • Nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Rue McClanahan)
  • Nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Betty White)

Writers Guild of America Awards

  • Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Barry Fanaro, Mort Nathan) (Episode: "'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas")
  • Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Barry Fanaro, Mort Nathan) (Episode: "A Piece of Cake")

Directors Guild of America Awards

  • Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Terry Hughes) (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic?")

Home media

The Region 1, 2 and 4 DVDs were respectively released on May 17, August 1 and September 21, 2005.

References
  1. TV Listings for September 27, 1986
  2. TV Listings for May 16, 1987
  3. "NBC on a roll; wins first week of fall season". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 4. October 6, 1986. p. 48. ProQuest 1014719938.
  4. "NBC goes 2 for 2 in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 15. October 13, 1986. p. 64. ProQuest 1016915015.
  5. "NBC keeps on rolling". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 16. October 20, 1986. p. 38. ProQuest 1014736998.
  6. "Game seven, 'Cosby' lift NBC to victory". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 19. November 10, 1986. p. 73. ProQuest 1016910246.
  7. "NBC rolls a lucky seven". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 20. November 17, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1285762482.
  8. "NBC wins prime time and news in week eight". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 21. November 24, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1016917184.
  9. "Weekly Ratings Scorecard". Variety. Vol. 325, no. 5. November 26, 1986. p. 108. ProQuest 1438442741.
  10. "NBC narrowly wins week 10". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 23. December 8, 1986. p. 102. ProQuest 1014720590.
  11. "NBC stays undefeated". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 24. December 15, 1986. p. 91. ProQuest 1014742080.
  12. "NBC juggernaut keeps on rolling". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 25. December 22, 1986. p. 75. ProQuest 1016910304.
  13. "NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 26. December 29, 1986. p. 63. ProQuest 1016911139.
  14. "CBS wins the week, stopping NBC's streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 2. January 12, 1987. p. 130. ProQuest 1014721624.
  15. "CBS wins its second in a row". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 3. January 19, 1987. p. 210. ProQuest 1016906203.
  16. "NBC wins prime time and news". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 26, 1987. p. 58. ProQuest 1016900438.
  17. "Super Bowl was super for CBS". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 5. February 2, 1987. p. 70. ProQuest 1016913996.
  18. "NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 6. February 9, 1987. p. 107. ProQuest 1014727700.
  19. "Prime time and news go to NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 7. February 16, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016919377.
  20. "'Amerika' premiere pushes ABC to second". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 8. February 23, 1987. p. 74. ProQuest 1016922703.
  21. "NBC overcomes ABC's 'Amerika'". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 9. March 2, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016911964.
  22. "NBC on another winning streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 10. March 9, 1987. p. 44. ProQuest 1016912824.
  23. "NBC remains on top in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 12. March 23, 1987. p. 147. ProQuest 1014728499.
  24. "Weekly Ratings Scorecard". Variety. Vol. 326, no. 9. March 25, 1987. p. 48. ProQuest 1286026601.
  25. "NBC wins another as season draws to a close". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 16. April 20, 1987. p. 60. ProQuest 1016914413.
  26. "No prime time summer slump for NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 19. May 11, 1987. p. 78. ProQuest 1016918442.
  27. "NBC continues summer run". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 20. May 18, 1987. p. 96. ProQuest 1014717874.
  28. "NBC-TV wins in prime time and news". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 21. May 25, 1987. p. 62. ProQuest 1016924420.
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