Who could leave and the show would still get ratings and go on?

I dont think any of them could leave and be the same. A good example was the show "Golden Palace", without Bea the show wasnt a big hit and only made it 1 season.

I agree! I don't think it can be done!!! Each Golden Girl brings something different to the show and in turn, compliments the others.

If you took one away, you would have to have her characteristics spread out among the girls... and then I don't think it would work.

So, it's an all-or-nothing situation.

I agree. It just wouldn't work without one of them--The Golden Palace being proof of that.

I agree! Each lady brought something unique to the table...and it was proven that it wouldn't work without Bea Arthur/Dorothy (The Golden Palace, anyone?).

I think that it is interesting that the last two posters mentioned the "Golden Palase" as proof that the show dose not work without all four women together. I will have to agree that in this sequential show on a rival network was filled with humor that was "very" forced and artificial! The two episodes that I despised the most were the one about Roland being insulted by the Confederate Flag and the one about Blanch's older brother who was retarted. The flag episode was simply a takeoff of an issue that was all over the news at the time. It was typical and highly predictable that Blanch would take the attitude that there is a lot more to being from the South than just being a decendant of slave owners and that just because she takes pride in her Southern heritage dose not mean that she condones one person owning another or judgeing someone by the color of his skin. The retarted brother was an episode that was made because we were in the age of inclusion that started sometime in the seventies. Whenever anyone would prove to have characteristics that were different from the norm, that persons parents, teachers and councilor would play the card of "they laughed at Einstien too!" The point that I am trying to make is that these issues simply do not go with a bunch of people who we all know and love as cheesecake eating old babes!

I agree.... it just isn't the same if you don't have all four!!!

As much as I thought that the "Golden Palace" was forced and artificial from the get-go (see my response two post ago) there was one line in one episode that I found to be "very" funny! The Black manager of the hotel mentioned to the Hispanic chef that he was going to his college reunion at Harverd. He then asked the chef where he went to college. The chef responded with "I never went to college, instead I went to a special program for minority high school graduates who could not afford higher education. The boss asked him what program that was and the chef said "Vietnam"! I guess that the writers of any show can get lucky once!

I think that it is interesting that the last two posters mentioned the "Golden Palase" as proof that the show dose not work without all four women together. I will have to agree that in this sequential show on a rival network was filled with humor that was "very" forced and artificial! The two episodes that I despised the most were the one about Roland being insulted by the Confederate Flag and the one about Blanch's older brother who was retarted. The flag episode was simply a takeoff of an issue that was all over the news at the time. It was typical and highly predictable that Blanch would take the attitude that there is a lot more to being from the South than just being a decendant of slave owners and that just because she takes pride in her Southern heritage dose not mean that she condones one person owning another or judgeing someone by the color of his skin. The retarted brother was an episode that was made because we were in the age of inclusion that started sometime in the seventies. Whenever anyone would prove to have characteristics that were different from the norm, that persons parents, teachers and councilor would play the card of "they laughed at Einstien too!" The point that I am trying to make is that these issues simply do not go with a bunch of people who we all know and love as cheesecake eating old babes!

Disagreed, Smartboy. Bea Arthur was the most important actress on the show. Her Dorothy was the one who couldn't be moved. Rose was probably by and far the most expendable of the four. But we didn't get to see it happen.

I have no problem understanding and respecting the last poster's point of view, however the only thing that I do not really understand is what I said that he or she is disagreeing with. I was simply trying to make the point that the "Golden Palace" was a very forcred and artificial series. By the way, in among trying to make the point that I made, I mentioned the "They laughed at Einstein too" generation." I would just like other readers to know how close to home that subculture is for me. I was in special ed. courses ever since first grade and I am presently a client in an organization for special needs adults.

Rose was probably by and far the most expendable of the four. But we didn't get to see it happen.

Really? I thought Sophia was.

Probably Sophia because we already have Dorothy for the snappy remarks. Sophia wasn't really needed. I like all 4, though. :)

I dont think any of them could leave and be the same. A good example was the show "Golden Palace", without Bea the show wasnt a big hit and only made it 1 season.


agreed

I felt that Blanche was the most expendable character. She was funny, and a great character, but the other three just had a slight something more.

That's such a tough question. First off I'd say none, the show wouldn't work as good without any of them.
But the question is "if you HAD to remove one", I hate to say I think it would be Sophia. The two most similar characters (in relation to their roll on the show) were Sophia and Rose. Pure Comedy.
Dorothy was the serious one and I guess you could call her the straight character.
Blanche was the bitchy and the most easily put in the antagonist role when needed.
So that leaves Sophia and Rose, who's characters were there for pure comedy. (not saying they didn't expand at times over the series).
Rose's age was similar to the other two, and would fit together with the theme of adult roommates living together.
Plus I think originally Sophia's character wasn't supposed to be part of the main cast. Probably similar to what Stan was, pop in 2 or 3 times a season.
But like what most said here. The show wouldn't of had its success if all 4 were not on it.

Dorothy

You just can't remove one Golden Girl. They worked well together the chemistry was electric :)

none

I am glad to see that at least this page is getting some action! All evening, I have been posting messages on the pages of all of the shows that I like trying to stimulate some conversation. I have not had too much success!

Sophia was often excluded from many of the escapades the other 3 got into, but then, she's usually there to save the day in a crisis, or have a wisecrack response to the trouble they would get into.