TV

‘The Golden Girls’ is returning to TV with an all-black cast

The iconic Golden Girls are coming back to TV — with a twist.

It’s going to have an all-black cast with an all-star lineup that includes Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King, Alfre Woodard and Sanaa Lathan.

They’ll assemble for a Zoom production on Sept. 8 at 9 p.m., as part of a series called “The Zoom Where it Happens.”

The original sitcom, which followed the friendship between four older women living together in Miami, aired on NBC from 1985 to 1992 and starred Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty.

According to Ross’ Instagram post about the show, she will play Rose Nylund (played by White in the original), King will portray Dorothy Zbornak (Arthur in the original), Lathan will play Blanche Devereaux (McClanahan in the original) and Woodard will become Sophia Petrillo (Getty in the original).

Sanaa Lathan, Regina King, Alfre Woodard and Tracee Ellis Ross.
From left, Sanaa Lathan, Regina King, Alfre Woodard (in the foreground) and Tracee Ellis Ross.MobilizeAmerica

The new cast is significantly younger than the original cast; White was 63 when “The Golden Girls” premiered while Ross is 47.

The event is hosted by Lena Waithe and supports the racial justice organization Color of Change.

“The Golden Girls” joins similar shows, such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “The West Wing,” that are seeing revivals as the pandemic rages on. The Zoom production of “Golden Girls” is free, but requires registration.

Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Betty White.
Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Betty White.©Touchstone Television/Courtesy Everett