https://screenrant.com/golden-girls-season-8-almost-happened-bea-arthur-refused/

The Golden Girls was almost renewed for season 8, but one cast member refused to sign a new contract, leading to the show's abrupt ending.

[QUOTE=TMC;6383628]https://screenrant.com/golden-girls-season-8-almost-happened-bea-arthur-refused/

The Golden Girls was almost renewed for season 8, but one cast member refused to sign a new contract, leading to the show's abrupt ending.

Let's start here:

"the show certainly could have run for many more years".

There's no evidence of that, the rating had dropped dramatically, the show was number 9 in season 6 and number 26 in season 7. At best the show may have had two years left, but once an older show begins dropping to this extent it almost never turns around. I don't think Arthur's relationship with White played a significant role, she was 70, she had starred in a TV series in 14 out of 20 television seasons, she wanted to do other things with the rest of her life. I don't think there is a mystery here. There's an old saying in show business, always leave the audience wanting more.

[QUOTE=TMC;6383628]https://screenrant.com/golden-girls-season-8-almost-happened-bea-arthur-refused/

The Golden Girls was almost renewed for season 8, but one cast member refused to sign a new contract, leading to the show's abrupt ending.

Let's start here:

"the show certainly could have run for many more years".

There's no evidence of that, the rating had dropped dramatically, the show was number 9 in season 6 and number 26 in season 7. At best the show may have had two years left, but once an older show begins dropping to this extent it almost never turns around. I don't think Arthur's relationship with White played a significant role, she was 70, she had starred in a TV series in 14 out of 20 television seasons, she wanted to do other things with the rest of her life. I don't think there is a mystery here. There's an old saying in show business, always leave the audience wanting more.
I agree. I remember when I heard Golden Girls was entering its last season. I was on shock like most people. It was such a popular show. Watching it in real time I was not noticing how dumb it was becoming and the characters were not the same from the earlier seasons. The writing was totally different. I am not a fan of Cheers because of how the audience is forced to laugh every 2 lines every actor says. The Golden Girls was written this way in the last couple seasons. Sophia became mean just for laughs. However none of this is unique to Golden Girls. Every great sitcom from All In The Family to Threes Company suffers the same fate. When I watch today I can see the slow demise of the show that starts in season 4 and accelerates towards the following seasons. I only own the first 3 seasons on DVD.
Bea jumped from Maude before it was announced it would be cancelled. Why run the show into the ground. Having said that I bet Golden Girls probably could have run 2 more seasons but it would have been really dumb.

Season 07 was absolutely awful. So glad there wasn’t a Season 08.

Season 07 was absolutely awful. So glad there wasn’t a Season 08.
Season 6 was the worst season to me. Marc Cherry should’ve never been allowed to touch the pen. He almost ruined the show.

Season 6 was the worst season to me. Marc Cherry should’ve never been allowed to touch the pen. He almost ruined the show.
Yeah the writing got so freaking stupid. The writing is what made Golden Girls a hit in the first few seasons. It was what lured Rue and Bea to do the show. They were seasoned TV actresses and both said they had never seen such good writing for a sitcom. The show was eventually turned into a clumsy, cheezy line every 3 lines. If the show had those same writers from season 6 in season 1, the show would have flopped.

Season 6 was the worst season to me. Marc Cherry should’ve never been allowed to touch the pen. He almost ruined the show.

I liked more eps. in that season than 5 and 7. I refuse to watch Seaon 5, period, and only a few from 7.