After All These Years, Still Laughing... Lifetime Television Celebrates Twentieth Anniversary of 'The Golden Girls' With Gala Party Beginning Friday, November 11

'I am obsessed with The Golden Girls. I should be president of the fan club. My girl friends have decided that I have the feistiness of Sophia but the random stories and weird anecdotes of Rose. I'm definitely not like Blanche.' Jennifer Love Hewitt

'Ooh, I love Golden Girls...' Venus Williams

- Comedians Mo Rocca and Judy Gold Host On-Air Roundtable Discussion -

- Lifetimetv.com Trivia Game and Special Cell Phone Download Features -

- New DVD Releases: November 8 'The Golden Girls: A Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series' and November 22 Series' Third Season -

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 -- Twenty years -- and still laughing! To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the "The Golden Girls," one of television's most beloved and enduring sitcoms, Lifetime Television is throwing a gala on-air, on-line, wireless party beginning Friday, November 11 from 12noon-11PM (ET/PT) showcasing the series' 20 greatest episodes, followed by an encore presentation of "The Golden Girls Reunion" -- the network's highest-rated special ever.

Lifetime's celebration of "The Golden Girls," where more than 16 million people watch the series on Lifetime in any given week -- and which boasted "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry as a writer for three seasons -- includes a trivia game at http://www.lifetimetv.com along with innovative wireless features that fans can download onto their cell phones, such as:

-- Ringtones -- The theme song, "Thank You For Being a Friend," available as a ringtone

-- Voicetones -- Funny lines from each of the Girls available as both ringtones and ringbacks

-- Original voicemail greetings -- Bea Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan have recorded special greetings fans can send as gifts, such as an Arthur 'Happy Birthday' message

-- Graphics -- The cast of The Golden Girls and series logo accessible as cell phone wallpaper

Additionally, during "The Golden Girls Reunion," fans will have the opportunity to text in their "shout out" which will be scrolled on screen throughout the program.

As well, comedians Mo Rocca and Judy Gold, along with Michael D. Craig, author of Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book, host an on-air roundtable discussion aired as interstitials throughout the day. These interstitials feature the most 'obsessed' "Golden Girls" real life fans expressing their love for this classic sitcom by singing the theme song, showing off their memorabilia and even doing a dance inspired by the Girls.

Often called the original "Sex and the City," "The Golden Girls," which starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty (all of whom won Emmy Awards), bowed on NBC in 1985 and joined Lifetime's lineup in 1997.

During its seven year run on NBC, the series featured a treasure trove of famous guest stars, such as George Clooney, Rita Moreno, Mickey Rooney, Quentin Tarantino, Merv Griffin, Ruby Dee, Dick van Dyke, Jeffrey Tambor, Debbie Reynolds, Martin Mull, Mario Lopez, Alan Rachins, Park Overall, Julio Inglesia, Alex Trebek, and Leslie Nielsen.

Leading up to the anniversary day, lifetimetv.com is sponsoring a text-to- win sweepstakes where the winner and a guest will travel to New York City, have lunch with Rue McClanahan and receive tickets to see McClanahan star in the Broadway musical "Wicked."

On November 8 Warner Home Video, in partnership with Lifetime, will release a special DVD package "The Golden Girls: A Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series," featuring the Intimate Portrait profiles of Arthur, White, McClanahan and Getty, while on November 22, Buena Vista will release "The Golden Girls" third season on DVD.

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Launched in 1984, LIFETIME serves more than 89 million households nationwide. In 1998, LIFETIME launched Lifetime Movie Network, now in 46 million homes, and in 2001, Lifetime Real Women. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment, Lifetime Radio for Women and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE Lifetime
Web Site: http://www.lifetimetv.com