UWL professor’s book explores themes of groundbreaking sitcom

Posted 4:32 p.m. Friday , Jan. 16 , 2026

UWL professor's book explores themes of groundbreaking sitcom

Whether you first watched "The Golden Girls" during its original run in the 1980s or discovered it later through reruns, chances are the show offered more than just laughs. Beneath the witty one-liners and late-night cheesecake was a series willing to ask deeper questions about aging, friendship and social change.

This September marked 40 years since "The Golden Girls" first premiered on television, and a new book by a UW-La Crosse television historian offers fans and scholars a fresh way to explore its enduring impact.

"The Golden Girls: Tales from the Lanai," co-edited by UWL Assistant Professor of Media Studies Taylor Cole Miller and Alfred L. Martin, Jr., examines the groundbreaking sitcom through an immersive and thoughtful lens. Published in September, the book invites readers to revisit the show while reconsidering questions and myths surrounding it.

Miller will discuss the book during a January event hosted by 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection at Pearl Street Books. In homage to the who-dun-it episode of "The Golden Girls," the event will be a Golden Girls-themed Murder Mystery from 7:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. The event has limited capacity. Get tickets online.

"For better or worse, television is one of our culture's most powerful forces and most influential teachers," says Miller. "Studying its history reveals how popular shows like 'The Golden Girls' use storytelling to teach empathy, identity, and belonging while tackling tough social issues like AIDS, ageism, elder care, sexuality, and economic precarity."

Miller describes "The Golden Girls" as "radical, tender and hilarious." At a time when many topics were rarely addressed on network television, the show tackled many issues while centering older women as complex, vibrant characters.

Through 12 original chapters and extensive interviews with writers, producers and others involved in the show, the anthology explores the cultural, industrial and historical significance of "The Golden Girls." Each chapter offers a distinct perspective, drawing from fields such as queerness, feminism, critical Black studies and fat studies. Together, the contributors model a range of media studies approaches while providing rare behind-the-scenes insights into the making and legacy of the series.

While the book is rooted in scholarship, it is designed to be accessible to a wide audience. Fans can enjoy it as a deeper dive into a beloved show, while students and educators can use it as a credible academic resource for projects ranging from introductory English essays to speeches and media analysis.

Learn more about the book.