‘Golden Girls’ tops Nielsen’s highest-rated shows after Betty White’s death

Fans of the late Betty White are collectively grieving her death — by rewatching “Golden Girls” and sending the series to the top of Nielsen’s charts, 30 years after its series finale.

The sitcom following a group of older women as they enjoy their fabulous and unapologetic lives in Miami is still widely being streamed today on Hulu, where viewers can watch the entire seven-season show that aired between 1985 and 1992.

The show has now capped Nielsen’s Top 10 Streaming Acquired Programs list at No. 8, beating out “Shameless” and “The Thundermans,” and short of “Supernatural,” in the week after star Betty White’s passing.

White’s death at the age of 99 on Dec. 31 came amid buzz of her upcoming milestone birthday celebrations on both silver and small screens.

About 41% of people who watched the classic show during the first week of 2022 were aged 35-49, reported the Wrap. From Jan. 3 until Jan. 9, all 180 episodes of the series were streamed for 384 million minutes on Hulu. The ratings company said the bereaved bingeing brought the show to No. 8 on the acquired streaming shows chart.

On Monday, NBC aired “Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl,” lauding the life and career of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” actress. The star-studded doc brought in 4.3 million views. President Joe Biden, Drew Barrymore, Cher, Goldie Hawn, Jay Leno, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon and Tracy Morgan were among the many other A-listers who paid tribute to the iconic comedian during the special.

Nielsen’s latest reports are proof that White’s legacy will live on through the generations of TV viewers. As her longtime agent Jeff Witjas said in a statement on the day of her death, “Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever.”

White also recorded a sentimental message for her fans just 11 days before her passing. The video was shared on her official Facebook page and was taped in anticipation for what would have been her 100th birthday.

“I just want to thank you all for your love and support over the years,” White said. “Thank you so much, and stick around!”