In my mind, nobody could beat the chemistry and timing of the cast that this show had. They were the best!

But, have you ever wondered who else could have played each of the characters?

Here's my idea:

Dorothy OR Blanche: Vivian Vance, Doris Roberts
Rose: Jean Stapleton
Sophia: Florence Halop

Others could have given it their all, but it really is difficult to imagine any other four doing it as superbly.

You wonder who tried out for the parts.

I think Katherine Helmond would have been good as Blanche, considering she played a promiscuous post-menopausal woman on Who's the Boss?.

I can't think offhand of any remakes which were better than the original. This maxim holds for sitcoms,films,and individual characters. Please prove me wrong..

Mayyyybe Doris Roberts as Rose, only because she's the only other actress I can think of who is amazing at delivering a bitchy line while smiling

Slappy White, of course.

George Burns, Jonathan Winters, Dick Cavett, and Bob Newhart.

I CAN'T STAND Doris Roberts..... that's why I've never watched Everybody Loves Raymond.

I think Vicki Lawrence could have played one of the girls.

I think Vicki Lawrence could have played one of the girls.

Well, considering she was in her 30s, they definitely would have had to have made her up (realistically that is, unlike just donning a wig and glasses for Mama, lol).

Yep, I agree that Vicki Lawrence would have been good. And someone said Katherine Helmond and she would have been good also. What about Polly Holiday, from the old show "Alice".

Others could have given it their all, but it really is difficult to imagine any other four doing it as superbly.

Agreed. It's difficult to even imagine four different actresses that would have brought the same amount of talent and chemistry to the series...