From what I've heard, when Bea Arthur announced that Season 7 would be her, last NBC did toy around with the idea of replacing her. Diana Muldaur was seriously considered to play Dorothy's sister Gloria, who moves in with the girls after losing all her money.

Telly Savales in a dress.

Telly Savales in a dress.
As Sophia once said:

Fess Parker in a dress.

Diana Muldaur's a fine actress but I'm not sure I can see her being comedic.

As Sophia once said:

Fess Parker in a dress.


Actually, it was "Fess Parker in heels."

I remember in an early episode of The Golden Girls, Blanche said that in the morning, Dorothy looked like Buddy Ebsen. So, they could have used Buddy Ebsen.... LOL

Then again, the network would've likely have seen the ratings go down for the later years in syndication and on cable. They also likely already saw what Facts of Life and Designing Women did going on for two years after the departure of their first-billed star and decided to do something different: a separate series, hence The Golden Palace.