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The Worst Episodes of The Golden Girls

Every episode of The Golden Girls ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Golden Girls!

Four Southern Florida seniors share a house, their dreams, and a whole lot of cheesecake. Bright, promiscuous, clueless and hilarious, these lovely, mismatched ladies form...
Genre:Comedy
Network:NBC

Worst Episodes Summary

"Empty Nests" is the worst rated episode of "The Golden Girls". It scored 3.7/10 based on 957 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Susan Harris, it aired on 5/16/1987. This episode scored 2.5 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Mister Terrific".

  • Empty Nests
    3.7/10957 votes
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    #1 - Empty Nests

    Season 2 Episode 26 - Aired 5/16/1987

    In this pilot for another series (Empty Nest, obviously the concept was retooled), the girls' friend Renee is feeling depressed and lonely with her children grown up and moved out and her husband's workaholic habits.

    Director: Jay Sandrich

    Writer: Susan Harris

  • Mister Terrific
    6.2/10507 votes
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    #2 - Mister Terrific

    Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 4/30/1988

    Rose begins to date "Mr. Terrific," a kiddie show host, who gets fired when Dorothy gets a part-time job as a consultant on the show, a job he helped her get.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman

  • The President's Coming! The President's Coming! (1)
    6.2/10392 votes
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    #3 - The President's Coming! The President's Coming! (1)

    Season 5 Episode 25 - Aired 5/5/1990

    An FBI agent investigates the girls' life's for a possible visit from President Bush. This leads the girls to reminisce about times they have spent together.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Gail Parent, Robert Bruce

  • The President's Coming! The President's Coming! (2)
    6.2/10392 votes
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    #4 - The President's Coming! The President's Coming! (2)

    Season 5 Episode 26 - Aired 5/5/1990

    When the FBI agent announces that George Bush will make a visit to their home, the girls continue to reminisce and Dorothy quickly readies a list of points she wants to make to the president.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Tom Whedon, Marc Cherry

  • Never Yell Fire in a Crowded Retirement Home (1)
    6.5/10379 votes
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    #5 - Never Yell Fire in a Crowded Retirement Home (1)

    Season 6 Episode 24 - Aired 4/27/1991

    The deathbed confession of an ex-patient at Shady Pines, means bad news for Sophia, since in her confession she stated that Sophia and her stated the 1985 Shady Pines fire.

    Director: Matthew Diamond

    Writer: Richard Vaczy, Mitchell Hurwitz, Tom Whedon, Tracy Gamble

  • Fiddler on the Ropes
    6.6/10445 votes
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    #6 - Fiddler on the Ropes

    Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 3/4/1989

    Without the consent of the other girls, Sophia sinks their life savings in, Pepe, a prize fighter. However, on the eve of the fight, the girls discover Pepe missing and make a shocking discovery.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman

  • We're Outta Here (1)
    6.6/10400 votes
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    #7 - We're Outta Here (1)

    Season 4 Episode 25 - Aired 5/13/1989

    Blanche, Dorothy and Rose return home from a play to discover Sophia in the midst of selling the house. It's later discovered a for sale sign was accidentally placed on the front lawn but Blanche begins to consider it after seeing the amount that she's offered.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Mort Nathan, Barry Fanaro

  • We're Outta Here (2)
    6.6/10390 votes
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    #8 - We're Outta Here (2)

    Season 4 Episode 26 - Aired 5/13/1989

    Blanche debates on whether or not to sell the house as her and the rest of the girls recall times they have spent together (via flashbacks).

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman

  • Never Yell Fire in a Crowded Retirement Home (2)
    6.6/10366 votes
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    #9 - Never Yell Fire in a Crowded Retirement Home (2)

    Season 6 Episode 25 - Aired 4/27/1991

    Sophia cannot recall the events that lead to the Shady Pines fire.

    Director: Matthew Diamond

    Writer: Richard Vaczy, Mitchell Hurwitz, Tom Whedon, Tracy Gamble

  • Golden Moments (1)
    6.7/10430 votes
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    #10 - Golden Moments (1)

    Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 2/13/1988

    Sophia announces her intentions of moving out and in with her son Phil. This prompts the girls to reminisce about the good times and the bad times they've had together.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Mort Nathan, Barry Fanaro

  • Golden Moments (2)
    6.7/10422 votes
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    #11 - Golden Moments (2)

    Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 2/13/1988

    As Sophia makes up her mind on whether or not to move in with her son, the girls continue to reminisce about the years they've shared together.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Winifred Hervey

  • All That Jazz
    7.0/10406 votes
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    #12 - All That Jazz

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 12/2/1989

    Dorothy's son, Michael, shows up on her doorstep with news that he's separated with his wife and needs a place to stay. However, Dorothy quickly gets tired of his freeloading and dumps him on Stan. Meanwhile, Rose's stress is getting terrible and is reluctant to talk to her boss about cutting back on her "things-to-do" list.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Robert Bruce

  • The Truth Will Out
    7.1/10641 votes
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    #13 - The Truth Will Out

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/18/1986

    Rose is apprehensive about a visit from her daughter and granddaughter, since their reason for coming is to settle Rose's late-husband's will. Meanwhile, Blanche gets caught up in the tabloids of a society murder.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Susan Beavers

  • Big Daddy
    7.1/10597 votes
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    #14 - Big Daddy

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/3/1986

    Blanche's father, Big Daddy, comes to Miami for a visit, with an announcement, he's sold the family plantation and is setting out to become a country singer. Meanwhile, Sophia places a curse on a neighbor who refuses to remove his tree that fell over onto the lanai during a storm.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Mort Nathan, Barry Fanaro

  • Family Affair
    7.1/10569 votes
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    #15 - Family Affair

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/22/1986

    Dorothy's son, Michael, and Rose's daughter, Bridget, each come to Miami for a visit and each of them become a little too friendly for Dorothy and Rose's liking. Meanwhile, Blanche hurts her back in aerobics class.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Winifred Hervey

  • Son-In-Law Dearest
    7.1/10515 votes
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    #16 - Son-In-Law Dearest

    Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 4/11/1987

    Dorothy's daughter, Kate is coming for a visit and has a big announcement. Dorothy is excited when she thinks the announcement is going to be that Kate is pregnant. However, when Kate arrives, her announcement is far from exciting. Meanwhile, Blanche and Rose stay up and watch an "I Love Lucy" marathon.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Harriett Weiss, Pat Shea

  • On Golden Girls
    7.2/10780 votes
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    #17 - On Golden Girls

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/1985

    Blanche's 14-year old grandson comes to Miami for a visit and brings a new meaning to the term "generation gap." Meanwhile, Dorothy studies for her French final.

    Director: Jim Drake

    Writer: Liz Sage

  • That Was No Lady
    7.2/10639 votes
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    #18 - That Was No Lady

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/21/1985

    Dorothy latest boyfriend Glen gives her a shock when he tells her that he's married. She surprises herself when she finds herself sneaking around to be with him. Meanwhile, Blanche unloads her old car on Rose in order to buy a new one.

    Director: Jim Drake

    Writer: Liz Sage

  • Before and After
    7.2/10509 votes
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    #19 - Before and After

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/24/1987

    Rose is convinced she died during a throat spasm. This leads her to live her life to the hilt, totally disrupting the other girls lives. Then, when the girls complain about her new lifestyle, Rose moves out.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Bob Rosenfarb

  • Dorothy's Prized Pupil
    7.2/10543 votes
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    #20 - Dorothy's Prized Pupil

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 3/14/1987

    Dorothy feels that it's her fault when her prized pupil wins a writing contest which inadvertently signals the INS that he's an illegal alien.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Christopher Lloyd

  • Letter To Gorbachev
    7.2/10522 votes
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    #21 - Letter To Gorbachev

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 10/31/1987

    Rose becomes concerned about nuclear war when girls in her cadet troop draw pictures of a bleak future. This prompts her to write letters to Gorbachev and Reagan. She's stunned when she gets a response and learns that Gorbechev would like to meet her.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Mort Nathan, Barry Fanaro

  • Charlie's Buddy
    7.2/10478 votes
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    #22 - Charlie's Buddy

    Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 12/12/1987

    A wartime buddy of Rose's late husband arrives in Miami to see Rose, however he has more in mind than just a friendly visit. Meanwhile, Dorothy and Blanche haggle over the same dress to wear to a social event.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Terry Grossman, Kathy Speer

  • Blanche's Little Girl
    7.2/10595 votes
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    #23 - Blanche's Little Girl

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 1/9/1988

    Blanche is thrilled by a visit from her daughter, Rebecca, an ex-model who has now gained quite a bit of weight. Also visiting with Rebecca is her oafish beau who constantly puts down her weight. The kicker: she's thinking of marrying him.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman

  • Rose's Big Adventure
    7.2/10438 votes
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    #24 - Rose's Big Adventure

    Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 3/12/1988

    Rose's latest boyfriend has just retired and she is ready to spend a whole lot more time with him but his retirement quickly turns him into a couch potato. Meanwhile, the girls deal with remodeling the garage into a guest room.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: N/A

  • Cheaters
    7.2/10393 votes
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    #25 - Cheaters

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 3/24/1990

    The married man whom Dorothy once dated re-enters her life and has news that he's now divorced and would like to reconcile with Dorothy. Meanwhile, Blanche and Sophia become the victims of a con game.

    Director: Terry Hughes

    Writer: Tom Whedon