The great herring war scene from The Golden Girls is a perfect example of why the show is still loved today. I dare you not to laugh.
The Golden Girls is a classic for a reason, and the “great herring war” scene shows the funny ladies at their best. When I am sad or feeling low, I have certain shows or scenes that I watch repeatedly because they are guaranteed to make me laugh or cry, depending on how I want to feel. This is one of those scenes that makes me giggle every time.
If you’ve ever wondered why The Golden Girls is so beloved, look no further than the herring war scene. Most of the story Rose tells was improvised by the ever-funny Betty White, causing actresses Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan to break character. I can’t stop laughing every time I watch it.
In the episode “The Way We Met,” which comes at the end of season 1, the three roommates look back at how they all came to live together. It was a rocky start, and just as it seems one or more of them might need to move out, Rose likens their situation to a herring war back in St. Olaf.
If you can make it through this without so much as a giggle… you might be an android. Watch!