As soon as Rue McClanahan saw the first The Golden Girls script, she knew it was a winner. But here's the twist: She hadn't actually read a single page. She had only seen the cover.

"It was a sixth sense, actually," McClanahan said in a 1989 interview with The Springfield News-Leader. "I took the script out of the envelope and saw that it said 'The Golden Girls.' I knew it would be special."

Her sixth sense was eerily accurate. The Golden Girls went on to become one of television's most beloved sitcoms. Decades later, its theme song, merchandise and four leading ladies remain recognizable across multiple generations.

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McClanahan was drawn to The Golden Girls before she even knew much about the character she would play. She had initially been offered Rose, but another role caught her attention.

"I immediately picked up on Blanche," McClanahan said. "I thought, 'Oh, what a wonderful character.'"

According to the interview, she also had plenty of faith in NBC's comedy lineup. Both Cheers and The Golden Girls were considered among the best-crafted shows on television at the time. Why? Both series proved that intelligent comedy could also be wildly funny.

"The Golden Girls script was from Susan Harris, the acid-witted creator of Soap," McClanahan said. "I knew it couldn't be a miss."

Sometimes, you just know a hit when you see the title. And in McClanahan's case, that sixth sense certainly paid off!