# The Golden Girls season 5

The fifth season of The Golden Girls premiered on NBC on September 23, 1989, and concluded on May 5, 1990. The season consisted of 26 episodes.

## Broadcast history

The season originally aired Saturdays at 9:00-9:30 pm (EST) on NBC from September 23, 1989, to May 5, 1990.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 103 | 1 | "Sick and Tired: Part 1" | Terry Hughes | Susan Harris | September 23, 1989 (1989-09-23) | 103 | 34.8 |
| After five months of worsening fatigue and pain, Dorothy believes she is seriously ill. Two doctors tell her there's nothing wrong with her, as does a specialist whom Sophia then rebukes. Traveling with Rose to New York City, Dorothy sees neurologist Dr. Budd (Michael McGuire), who tells her she's just aging and any other problem is in her head, despite two psychiatric assessments that she's mentally healthy. Dorothy breaks down, thinking she may be crazy, but Rose reassures her that she is sick. Sophia fears losing Dorothy to an unknown disease. Blanche decides to become a novelist, but immediately suffers writer's block. Guest stars: Jeffrey Tambor as Dr. Stevens; Michael McGuire as Dr. Budd ||||||||
| 104 | 2 | "Sick and Tired: Part 2" | Terry Hughes | Susan Harris | September 30, 1989 (1989-09-30) | 104 | 34.8 |
| Harry refers Dorothy to Dr. Chang (Keone Young), who diagnoses her with chronic fatigue syndrome. Although there is no cure, Dorothy is relieved to put a name to her condition. She treats Sophia, Blanche, and Rose to dinner at a fancy restaurant, and sees Dr. Budd in the restaurant with his wife Helen (Bibi Besch). She confronts him, and Helen insists he hear Dorothy out. Dorothy laments his lost humanity and hopes he'll have a better doctor than himself when he needs one someday. Blanche stays awake for three days and deliriously writes a manuscript, but is rejected by publishers. She believes there will be nothing special about her if she fails to achieve fame, but Rose explains that her Minnesota upbringing taught her that friends and family are special. Special Guest Appearances by: Richard Mulligan as Dr. Harry Weston; Park Overall as Laverne Guest stars: Michael McGuire as Dr. Budd; Keone Young as Dr. Chang; Bibi Besch as Helen Budd; Glenn Walker Harris Jr. as Oliver; Eric Poppick as The Waiter Note: This episode is a crossover with Empty Nest. ||||||||
| 105 | 3 | "Accurate Conception" | Terry Hughes | Gail Parent | October 14, 1989 (1989-10-14) | 105 | 28.4 |
| Blanche's visiting daughter Rebecca (Debra Engle) intends to become a single mother through artificial insemination. Blanche objects; her friends share unusual details about their children's conceptions, but Blanche still considers it unnatural. A visit to a local sperm bank with her roommates and Becky also fails to convince Blanche, but Dorothy finally persuades Blanche to accept that Becky is an adult who must make her own decisions; Blanche apologizes. Dorothy succeeds in getting a reluctant Sophia to have a checkup. Guest stars: Debra Engle as Rebecca; James Staley as Dr. Manning; Kelly Ann Conn as Receptionist ||||||||
| 106 | 4 | "Rose Fights Back" | Terry Hughes | Marc Sotkin | October 21, 1989 (1989-10-21) | 106 | 30.7 |
| When the company that Rose's husband worked for cuts off his pension, Rose must find a better-paying job. When she goes to a TV station to complain to their investigative reporter, Enrique Mas (Chick Vennera), of the age discrimination that she is facing, she finds that he needs an assistant — and gets the job. Meanwhile, Sophia goes wild buying things in quantity at a warehouse store. Guest stars: Chick Vennera as Enrique Mas; Beth Grant as Terry Franco Note: Betty White was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for this episode. ||||||||
| 107 | 5 | "Love Under the Big Top" | Terry Hughes | Richard Vaczy and Tracy Gamble | October 28, 1989 (1989-10-28) | 108 | 28.8 |
| Dorothy is dating a lawyer (Dick Van Dyke) and believes he is on the verge of proposing. However, he tells her he is leaving law to become a circus clown. Meanwhile, Rose and Blanche put together a protest to save dolphins from tuna fishermen. Special Guest Appearance by: Dick Van Dyke as Ken Guest stars: Mel Stewart as Judge; John Di Santi as Fisherman Note: Dick Van Dyke was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for this episode. ||||||||
| 108 | 6 | "Dancing in the Dark" | Terry Hughes | Phillip Jayson Lasker | November 4, 1989 (1989-11-04) | 110 | 31.0 |
| Rose becomes romantically interested in her ballroom dancing partner Miles (Harold Gould), a college professor, but begins to doubt that the relationship can work when she meets his intelligent friends. Special Guest Star: Harold Gould as Miles Guest stars: G.F. Smith as Gale; Mimi Cozzens as Lillian; John Ingle as Harry; Channing Chase as Elise; Edgar Justice as Mr. Morelli; Al Berry as Paul ||||||||
| 109 | 7 | "Not Another Monday" | Terry Hughes | Gail Parent | November 11, 1989 (1989-11-11) | 109 | 32.2 |
| Sophia's friend Martha (Geraldine Fitzgerald) wants to commit suicide and she wants Sophia there to hold her hand; Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy become singing nursemaids to a sick baby that they are taking care of for the weekend. Special Guest Appearance by: Richard Mulligan as Dr. Harry Weston Guest stars: Geraldine Fitzgerald as Martha; Jayson Kane as Maitre D'; Doug Cox as Young Man; Bonnie Urseth as Young Woman Note: This episode is a crossover with Empty Nest, that concludes in "Rambo of Neiman Marcus". Estelle Getty was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for this episode. ||||||||
| 110 | 8 | "That Old Feeling" | Terry Hughes | Tom Whedon | November 18, 1989 (1989-11-18) | 107 | 33.6 |
| Blanche is visited by her brother-in-law Jamie (George Grizzard) and is taken aback by his resemblance to her late husband George; Sophia secretly starts driving. Guest stars: George Grizzard as Jamie ||||||||
| 111 | 9 | "Comedy of Errors" | Terry Hughes | Don Reo | November 25, 1989 (1989-11-25) | 113 | 31.3 |
| Dorothy finds a list of things that she wanted to accomplish before a certain age and realizes that she has not accomplished many of them, so she signs up to do stand-up comedy at a nightclub. Meanwhile, Blanche finds herself battling the Internal Revenue Service when they discover her failure to report her rental income, and Rose tries to figure out why an employee dislikes her. Guest stars: Oliver Clark as Roger; Tom La Grua as Jimmy ||||||||
| 112 | 10 | "All That Jazz" | Terry Hughes | Robert Bruce and Martin Weiss | December 2, 1989 (1989-12-02) | 111 | 30.1 |
| Dorothy's son, Michael (Scott Jacoby), shows up on her doorstep with news that he has separated from his wife and needs a place to stay; Dorothy tires of his freeloading and dumps him on Stan, who also tires of him. Meanwhile, Rose is under much stress at work, but she is reluctant to ask Enrique Mas to cut back her duties. Special Guest Star: Herb Edelman as Stan Guest stars: Scott Jacoby as Michael Zbornak; Stan Roth as Make-up Man; Chick Vennera as Enrique Mas ||||||||
| 113 | 11 | "Ebb Tide" | Terry Hughes | Marc Sotkin | December 9, 1989 (1989-12-09) | 112 | 31.4 |
| When Blanche goes back to her childhood home for Big Daddy's funeral, she argues with her sister, Virginia (Sheree North), and decides not to attend. Meanwhile, Sophia tries to raise cash for a TV and rents out the girls' rooms in their absence. Guest stars: Sheree North as Virginia; Steven Gilborn as Howard; Paul Eiding as Peter; Brandis Kemp as Maddy ||||||||
| 114 | 12 | "Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas" | Terry Hughes | Tom Whedon | December 16, 1989 (1989-12-16) | 115 | 31.2 |
| The ladies volunteer at a soup kitchen on Christmas and are shocked when Stan shows up, broke and needing a meal. Special Guest Star: Herb Edelman as Stan Guest stars: Matt McCoy as Father Avery ||||||||
| 115 | 13 | "Mary Has a Little Lamb" | Terry Hughes | Harold Apter | January 6, 1990 (1990-01-06) | 117 | 34.8 |
| The girls take in 16-year-old pregnant Mary (Julie McCullough), who has been thrown out of her home; Blanche's prison pen pal, Merrill (John Dennis Johnston), has just been released and is looking for her. Guest stars: Julie McCullough as Mary; John Dennis Johnston as Merrill; Lorry Goldman as Fred ||||||||
| 116 | 14 | "Great Expectations" | Terry Hughes | Robert Bruce and Martin Weiss | January 13, 1990 (1990-01-13) | 116 | 32.2 |
| Rose joins a positive-thinking group and tries to get a pessimistic Dorothy to join. Meanwhile, Blanche is scared to get physical with her boyfriend Steven (Robert Mandan), especially after he has a heart attack. Guest stars: Robert Mandan as Steven; Michele Pawk as Mary Ellen; Kat Sawyer-Young as Woman ||||||||
| 117 | 15 | "Triple Play" | Terry Hughes | Gail Parent | January 27, 1990 (1990-01-27) | 119 | 33.0 |
| Blanche tries to lure men by placing an ad for a Mercedes she does not intend to sell. Meanwhile, Rose has to deal with meeting Miles's daughter, Caroline (Molly Hagan); Dorothy discovers Sophia is hoarding Social Security money she's receiving, thanks to a computer error, in excess of her entitlement. Special Guest Star: Harold Gould as Miles Guest stars: Molly Hagan as Caroline; Bonnie Schell as Thomas; Bill Cort as James Note: Terry Hughes was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for this episode. ||||||||
| 118 | 16 | "Clinton Avenue Memoirs" | Terry Hughes | Richard Vaczy & Tracy Gamble | February 3, 1990 (1990-02-03) | 114 | 32.4 |
| Sophia decides to try to regain some of the memories she has lost by taking a trip to Brooklyn to see their old apartment. Meanwhile, Blanche works for Rose. Guest stars: Sid Melton as Salvadore Petrillo; Kyle Hefner as young Salvadore; David Correia as Mr. Hernandez, Flo Di Re as young Sophia, Jandi Swanson as young Dorothy. ||||||||
| 119 | 17 | "Like the Beep Beep Beep of the Tom-Tom" | Terry Hughes | Phillip Jayson Lasker | February 10, 1990 (1990-02-10) | 120 | 31.0 |
| Blanche has a pacemaker implanted, and is afterward so scared of intimacy that she decides to give up sex. Guest stars: Robert Culp as Simon; Peter Michael Goetz as Dr. Stein ||||||||
| 120 | 18 | "An Illegitimate Concern" | Terry Hughes | Marc Cherry and Jamie Wooten | February 12, 1990 (1990-02-12) | 118 | 28.2 |
| Blanche is stunned when a young man named David (Mark Moses) comes to the house and claims to be the illegitimate son of her late husband George; Dorothy and Sophia enter a mother-daughter pageant at Shady Pines. Guest stars: Mark Moses as David ||||||||
| 121 | 19 | "72 Hours" | Terry Hughes | Richard Vaczy and Tracy Gamble | February 17, 1990 (1990-02-17) | 121 | 31.3 |
| Rose is afraid that a blood transfusion that she had six years ago may have contained HIV-infected blood, and has to wait three days for her test results (hence the episode's title); Sophia reacts poorly to the possibility of having an HIV-positive roommate. Meanwhile, Dorothy struggles to put together a charity function to save the local wetlands. Guest stars: Tony Carreiro as the Doctor; Peggy Walton-Walker as receptionist. ||||||||
| 122 | 20 | "Twice in a Lifetime" | Terry Hughes | Robert Bruce and Martin Weiss | February 24, 1990 (1990-02-24) | 122 | 32.1 |
| Rose must decide between her boyfriend, Miles, and an old boyfriend (Eddie Bracken) who wants her to go to Europe with him. Meanwhile, fed up with Dorothy's rules, Sophia decides to move out. Special Guest Star: Harold Gould as Miles Guest stars: Eddie Bracken as Buzz; April Ortiz as Maria; Douglas Seale as Malcolm ||||||||
| 123 | 21 | "Sisters and Other Strangers" | Terry Hughes | Marc Cherry and Jamie Wooten | March 3, 1990 (1990-03-03) | 123 | 31.0 |
| Blanche and her sister, Charmaine (Barbara Babcock), reconcile after a life-long rivalry, until Blanche reads her sister's recently published romance novel and realizes that the heroine is based on her. Stan's visiting cousin Magda (Marian Mercer) from Czechoslovakia, wears out her welcome doing nothing but extolling the virtues of Communism. Guest stars: Barbara Babcock as Charmaine; Marian Mercer as Magda ||||||||
| 124 | 22 | "Cheaters" | Terry Hughes | Tom Whedon | March 24, 1990 (1990-03-24) | 124 | 30.3 |
| Glen O’Brien (Jerry Orbach), the married man Dorothy dated, re-enters her life with news that he is now divorced and would like to reconcile with her; Blanche and Sophia become the victims of a con game at the mall. Guest stars: Jerry Orbach as Glen; Sam McCurray as Mr. Kane; Nancy Lenehan as Nun Note: Jerry Orbach was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for this episode. ||||||||
| 125 | 23 | "The Mangiacavallo Curse Makes a Lousy Wedding Present" | Terry Hughes | Phillip Jayson Lasker | March 31, 1990 (1990-03-31) | 125 | 30.0 |
| The girls attend the wedding of Dorothy's goddaughter, who is marrying the grandson of a man who was once engaged to Sophia. Sophia thinks that the wedding reception is the perfect spot for revenge. Rose, however, is dreading the ceremony, due to her tendency to become sexually aroused at weddings. Dorothy asks to grab one of Blanche's former dates for her ceremony accompaniment, but gets mad at Blanche for her advances to him. Guest stars: Howard Duff as Mangiacavallo; Stuart Nisbet as Doug; Tanya Louise as Jenny; Paul Collins as Man, Jonathan Schmock as Waiter and Myles Berkowitz as Groom. ||||||||
| 126 | 24 | "All Bets Are Off" | Terry Hughes | Eugene B. Stein | April 28, 1990 (1990-04-28) | 126 | 22.4 |
| Dorothy's gambling problem re-surfaces after a visit to the racetrack; Rose takes up painting; and Blanche is insulted when a co-worker rejects her advances. Guest stars: Michael Ensign as Donald ||||||||
| 127 | 25 | "The President's Coming! The President's Coming!" | Lex Passaris | Marc Sotkin, Gail Parent, Martin Weiss, Robert Bruce, Philip Jayson Lasker, Tom Whedon, Marc Cherry, and Jamie Wooten | May 5, 1990 (1990-05-05) | 127 | 24.1 |
| 128 | 26 | "The President's Coming! The President's Coming!" | Lex Passaris | Marc Sotkin, Gail Parent, Martin Weiss, Robert Bruce, Philip Jayson Lasker, Tom Whedon, Marc Cherry, and Jamie Wooten | May 5, 1990 (1990-05-05) | 128 | 24.1 |
| The girls learn that President Bush (voiced by Harry Shearer) is coming to Miami and their house is a possible stop on his way to a retirement home. The girls reminisce as a Secret Service agent (Timothy Stack) does background checks. Special Guest Star: Herb Edelman as Stan Guest stars: Timothy Stack as Agent Bell; Harry Shearer as Voice of George Bush ||||||||

## Awards and nominations

42nd Primetime Emmy Awards
* Nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series
* Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Betty White) (Episode: "Rose Fights Back")
* Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Estelle Getty) (Episode: "Not Another Monday")
* Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (Jerry Orbach) (Episode: "Cheaters")
* Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (Dick Van Dyke) (Episode: "Love Under the Big Top")
* Nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Terry Hughes) (Episode: "Triple Play")
47th Golden Globe Awards
* Nomination for Best Comedy Series