What Was ‘The Golden Girls’ Spinoff, ‘The Golden Palace’ About?
The Golden Girls ran from September of 1985 to May of 1992, making audiences laugh for seven successful seasons. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable and unparalleled. From witty one-liners to a slew of memorable guest stars (Dick Van Dyke, Rita Moreno, George Clooney, and more), the show remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for The Golden Palace.
The show couldn’t go on forever, largely because Bea Arthur (Dorothy Zbornak) was ready to move on. During an interview with Fox News, Arthur’s son Matthew Saks explained that his mom wanted out of The Golden Girls to pursue other opportunities. Saks explained to Fox News:
“I think she got tired of it…She just thought it was time to leave the show. She wanted to leave a year before, but the others asked her to stay for a final year and she did.”
Though Arthur agreed to do one more year, those behind the show (and the others involved on-screen) yearned to continue on with the narrative, leading to The Golden Palace.
Bea Arthur appeared on ‘The Golden Palace,’ despite wishing to break free from ‘The Golden Girls’ world
Saks went on to explain that his mom came back for a reunion episode of The Golden Palace, noting:
“And then, of course, they did ‘The Golden Palace’ without mom on it. She came and did one episode, though. [But] I don’t think she really wanted to do that. But she did. Her logic was also that these shows ran their course. Something suffers, whether it’s the production, the writing. It loses its magic.”
Saks | Fox News
The Golden Palace still featured Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White, yet it wasn’t built to last.
All about ‘The Golden Palace’
The Golden Palace featured Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, who arrive at their newly purchased hotel and realize that it is severely understaffed. The show ran for one season in 1992, with the final episode airing in May of 1993.
The three women choose to purchase the hotel after selling off their Miami home at the end of The Golden Girls. In hopes to appear more profitable, the hotel has been stripped of nearly all its personnel, leaving the main cast members to perform all the tasks of the hotel’s staff. The show was also one of Don Cheadle’s early roles; He played Roland Wilson (the hotel manager).
