Let's say that they would be given a half a season to wrap things up. The 3 remaining would make future plans, figure out their job situations, have a big yard sale, pack what they're keeping, meet with a realtor, meet prospective buyers at an open house, the Westons and other neighbors come over to say goodbye, etc. Would there have been enough story lines for 4.5 months worth of shows?

Let's say that they would be given a half a season to wrap things up. The 3 remaining would make future plans, figure out their job situations, have a big yard sale, pack what they're keeping, meet with a realtor, meet prospective buyers at an open house, the Westons and other neighbors come over to say goodbye, etc. Would there have been enough story lines for 4.5 months worth of shows?
I think the Golden Girls became more and more fantastical, the good one-liner but no real cohesion. The Susan Harris-written shows were more authentic. The Golden Palace suffered without Dorothy.

I think the Golden Girls became more and more fantastical, the good one-liner but no real cohesion. The Susan Harris-written shows were more authentic. The Golden Palace suffered without Dorothy.
So true. The later years of the Golden Girls was more getting a funny line than script and character development. Its common on many sitcoms. The show became popular and the characters just became a mouthpiece for silly lines for laughs.
Golden Palace sort of continued this. Sophia just became an insult cannon without any depth.
It was an excellent sitcom that became a typical sitcom that many times was quite dumb.