All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

New book examines ‘The Golden Girls’ pop culture references

Matt Browning
Matt Browning

Author to sign “The Definitive Golden Girls Cultural Reference Guide” at ARGO BOOKS April 2 

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – If you’ve ever watched an episode of “The Golden Girls” and scratched your head at one of the many dated pop culture jokes from the 1980s, a new book from West Virginia author Matt Browning provides the answers. Browning will sign copies of The Definitive Golden Girls Cultural Reference Guide at ARGO BOOKS in Buckhannon on Saturday, April 2, at 1 p.m.

Meticulously researched episode by episode, The Definitive Golden Girls Cultural Reference Guide is an eye-opening, illuminating encyclopedia of “the who, the how, and the ha!” of thousands of topical jokes from the show’s 180 episodes. From Joe Isuzu to Socrates, Alan Alda to Shinola, Martha Raye to Madge, and Ishtar to Tattletales, at long last fans of The Golden Girls will finally be saying, “Oh, now I get it!”

“I’ve been watching The Golden Girls since it was released, and in many ways it is timeless, but there are so many references to then-current people, places and events that really anchor it in its 1980s-1990s era,” Browning said. “This book is meant to serve as a guide so viewers can follow along and come to understand those dated jokes as they were meant to be understood.”

The book is structured episode by episode, featuring snippets of dialogue to provide context to the reference, followed by an explanation. An alphabetical index is also included. The book was released last fall from Lyons Press, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield. It retails for $24.95.

Browning is a lifelong Golden Girls fan and creator of EmptyNestTV.com, devoted to The Golden Girls spinoff series, Empty Nest. Based in Charleston, West Virginia, he is represented by Stephen Fraser of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. This spring, Browning will be a featured panelist and exhibitor at Golden-Con, the first-ever Golden Girls fan convention, in Chicago, where he will be interviewing Empty Nest star and Tony award-winning actress-turned-novelist Dinah Manoff. The Definitive Golden Girls Cultural Reference Guide is his third book. Learn more at MattBrowningBooks.com.

ARGO BOOKS is located at 6 N. Spring Street in Buckhannon.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Election Update: Latest local candidate filings as of Jan. 21

The candidate filing period is underway for West Virginia’s May 12, 2026, Primary Election. Here’s a rundown of who has filed so far for Upshur County and Buckhannon races.

Basketball Bucs move up to eighth in latest WVSACA poll

Buckhannon-Upshur moved up to eighth in the WVSACA poll at 8-3 after a 1-1 week, earning 36 points and preparing to face Class AAAA No. 6 University and Class AAA No. 6 East Fairmont.

Basketball Lady Bucs win second in a row; down Sissonvile, 57-44

Allie Key’s 16 points and 11 rebounds and strong bench play helped Buckhannon-Upshur beat Sissonville 57-44 for their second win of the season, with Madelyn Tucker and Aubrey Key adding 11 each.

Rock Cave man arrested on methamphetamine charge following traffic stop

A Rock Cave man was arrested on charges of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and conspiracy.

Upshur County Commission Agenda: January 22, 2026

The Upshur County Commission will hold a meeting on January 22, 2026, with the posted agenda outlining items for discussion and action.

Buckhannon man arrested for allegedly entering laundromat while it was closed

A Buckhannon man was arrested after allegedly entering the Speed Wash Laundromat after hours while another person stole from the quarter machine.

Upshur County students show gains in reading, math at mid-year benchmarks

Upshur County students posted mid-year gains on i-Ready benchmarks, with fewer students falling behind in both reading and math. Superintendent Christy Miller also flagged chronic absenteeism as a key focus.

Annette Reel

Annette Reel, 67, of Hurricane, WV, an FBI analyst and Christian Fellowship Church member, died January 18, 2026; she is survived by two children, five grandchildren, four siblings, and will be cremated with a later celebration of life.

Blanche Grace (Helmick) McCartney

Blanche Grace (Helmick) McCartney, 99, a former West Buckhannon Methodist Church choir member and longtime resident of the Buckhannon area, died January 18, 2026, leaving three sons, multiple descendants, and a large extended family.