In 2025 this show celebrated its 40th anniversary, sadly without its 4 main stars, the last of whom passed away in 2021 at age 99
The Final Jeopardy clue for Thursday, September 17, 2026, appeared in the category “TV Anniversaries” and read: “In 2025 this show celebrated its 40th anniversary, sadly without its 4 main stars, the last of whom passed away in 2021 at age 99.” The clue points to one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1980s and 1990s, a series centered on four older women sharing a home in Miami. The correct response is The Golden Girls.
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What Is The Golden Girls?
The correct response is The Golden Girls. The series premiered in 1985, meaning 2025 marked its 40th anniversary.
The clue’s reference to “4 main stars” points to Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, who played Dorothy Zbornak, Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux, and Sophia Petrillo. By the time the show reached its 40th anniversary, all four actresses had died.
The Four Stars of the Series
Bea Arthur played Dorothy, the sharp-witted and often sarcastic center of the group. Rue McClanahan played Blanche, known for her confidence, romantic life, and Southern background. Estelle Getty played Sophia, Dorothy’s outspoken mother, whose blunt one-liners became one of the show’s trademarks.
Betty White played Rose, the kindhearted and sometimes naïve character from St. Olaf, Minnesota. White was the last surviving member of the main cast and died on December 31, 2021, at age 99, just weeks before what would have been her 100th birthday.
Why the 40th Anniversary Mattered
The Golden Girls debuted on NBC in September 1985 and quickly became a major hit. Its combination of comedy, friendship, family tension, and candid discussions of aging helped distinguish it from many other sitcoms of the period.
By 2025, the series had remained popular for four decades through syndication, streaming, reruns, and a strong fan following. The anniversary highlighted how durable the show had become even without its original stars still alive.
The Show’s Lasting Appeal
The series was unusual for placing older women at the center of a prime-time comedy and treating their lives as full of romance, ambition, conflict, and independence. That made it stand out in the television landscape of the 1980s.
It also addressed subjects such as widowhood, illness, family relationships, sexuality, discrimination, and aging, often balancing serious themes with sharp comedy. That mix helped the show remain relevant long after its original run ended.
Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works
This clue works because the anniversary date narrows the answer to a show that debuted in 1985, while the detail about four deceased stars makes the identification even stronger.
The correct response, The Golden Girls, fits every part of the clue. It celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025, it was built around four principal actresses, and Betty White was the last surviving member of that quartet, dying in 2021 at age 99.
