Sarah Jessica Parker (©HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection)

Delta Burke (Everett Collection)

Felicity Huffman (ABC)

Somehow television producers got it into their thick heads that women hang out in packs of four. This notion was first advanced in 1985 on the senior-citizen sitcom “The Golden Girls.” Greatly helped by the comic timing of the actresses involved, “Golden Girls” was a huge hit, ran for seven seasons and still enjoys a healthy afterlife.

Since then, producers have come up with variations on this theme, but the basic characters on these shows do not change. How will HBO’s “Girls” fit into this pattern?

THE GOOD

Golden Girls: As Rose, Betty White ably filled this slot.

Designing Women: Jean Smart was so sweet as

Charlene she was too good to be true.

Sex and the City: As Charlotte, Kristin Davis never did anything inappropriate.

Desperate Housewives: As Bree, Marcia Cross made a religion out of propriety.

GCB: Sharon’s (Jennifer Aspen) disposition makes her an easy target.

Girls: Shoshannah (Zosia Mamet) might be the only virgin on HBO.

THE OFFBEAT

Golden Girls: As Sophia, Estelle Getty led with her mouth.

Designing Women: Divorcee Mary Jo (Annie Potts) held her own among the drama queens.

Sex and the City: Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) always kept her options open.

Desperate Housewives: Susan Meyer (Teri Hatcher) was both saint and sinner.

GCB: Heather Cruz (Marisol Nichols) doesn’t fit in with the Bs.

GIRLS: Hannah (Lena Dunham) lives a crazy life so she can write about it.

THE BAD

Golden Girls: Rue McClanahan was always on the prowl as Blanche.

Designing Women: Delta Burke was naughty ex-beauty queen Suzanne Sugarbaker.

Sex and the City: Kim Cattrall was Mae West in Manolos.

Desperate Housewives: As Gabby, Eva Longoria raked the yard boy.

GCB: Bible-thumping Carlene (Kristin Chenoweth) wrecked Amanda Vaughn’s life.

GirLS: Jessa (Jemima Kirke) is the lusty bohemian Brit.

THE ADULT

Golden Girls: As Dorothy, Bea Arthur was the wise one.

Designing Women: As Julia Sugarbaker, Dixie Carter was a feminist firebrand.

Sex and the City: Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda always came off like the most grownup.

Desperate Housewives: Lynette Scavo had the kids, the big job and could hold things together.

GCB: Cricket Caruth-Reilly runs a multimillion-dollar company and is the backbone of her family.

GIRLS: Marnie (Allison Williams) is the most stable of the group.