It was a top 10 show for the first six seasons but Season 7 took a tumble to 30 when they removed the show from its Saturday slot.

Had Bea Arthur stayed, would it have only lasted two more seasons if it continued to drop?

Good question. I think she was right. She (Bea), I've read, was tired and ready to move on. Seven years is a long time. It was a great show and I'm glad it went out while still funny and heart-warming.

At the time I was so upset that Bea decided it was going to be the last season. I was so mad. But looking back it was so smart. Watching in real time I did not realize how dumb the show got by the last season. The writing was just one corny line after the other without deep scripts. It happens in every sitcom after the 4th or 5th year. GG was no different. I own every GG season on DVD except the last 2.
So Bea knew it was the right time to go out on top. I fear what another season would have brought.

At the time I was so upset that Bea decided it was going to be the last season. I was so mad. But looking back it was so smart. Watching in real time I did not realize how dumb the show got by the last season. The writing was just one corny line after the other without deep scripts. It happens in every sitcom after the 4th or 5th year. GG was no different. I own every GG season on DVD except the last 2.
So Bea knew it was the right time to go out on top. I fear what another season would have brought.
one can argue that Golden Palace was the 8th season

She could see the quality of the show suffering and actually didn’t even want to do Season 07, but was convinced to. She made the right decision.

She could see the quality of the show suffering and actually didn’t even want to do Season 07, but was convinced to. She made the right decision.
Season 7 was milking it. Season 6 should have been the last season. Maybe Golden Palace could have had legs for 2 seasons then.
Season 1-3 are some of the best sitcoms ever. Season 4 is really good. Season 5 is when it starts jumping the shark. But it happens in every sitcom that is really successful. By season 5 they become characters of their former self. The writers changed too. It was becoming more like Cheers with cheezy laughs from the audience line after line. There are a few good or ok episodes scattered in those last seasons but they are rare.

I call Season 05 the “very special season” because of all the serious episodes they tried to do - but the stupid B plots ruined them (that’s hlwhy I really liked the Season 06 episode where Phil dies because there is no B plot). I liked Season 06 a lot, but 07 was a tired rehash. Arthur wa right to say no to an 08.