https://www.metv.com/stories/how-a-television-failure-made-bea-arthur-nervous-about-the-golden-girls

"What if we bomb?"

Bea Arthur didn't pay any mind to typecasting (https://www.metv.com/stories/bea-arthur-didnt-mind-being-typecast)

Arthur was known for playing strong-willed women.

I totally forgot about Bea's 1983 sitcom Amanda's. All of those half season shows are on youtube and I was watching them. Its surreal because its like Golden Girls meets Golden Palace. Bea's character is very Dorothy and she runs a hotel. Apparently Bea was proud of the show but it bombed and hurt her. So I understand her reluctance to do another sitcom.

On Amanda’s, only BA and the characters Aldo were any good. The rest of the cast were terrible .

On Amanda’s, only BA and the characters Aldo were any good. The rest of the cast were terrible .
That's part of the reason it failed. It was too singularly star heavy. The other characters need development for the audience instead of each saying a few zany lines each episode. The Paul Lynde Show and Lotsa Luck sitcoms were the same way. He had all the jokes and was too star focused. That's why Golden Girls worked so well because 4 characters living together each had such development for the audience. The good and strong shows like All In The Family or Roseanne may have a star of the show but all the supporting cast is fully developed and shares the load and wealth.
I think another reason Bea got annoyed with Golden Girls is she was used to being the star of the show like Maude or Amanda. She was not used to sharing the show.

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