I wonder why Bea Arthur decided she no longer wanted - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

FBH75 · 01-10-2014, 05:33 PM

to do the show? Was it because she just wanted another project or maybe retire? Boy, it sure killed the show when she left. I never watched the Golden Palace because I never knew it ever existed until I read about the show on this board. But her presence in Golden Girls was bigger than I thought because Golden Palace only lasted one season or at least that is what I understand.

Dr. Thong · 01-10-2014, 08:43 PM

It definitely wasn't the same without her on Golden Palace. It made me realize how much she brought to the group and she really grounded that cast with her character.

I don't know why Bea decided to leave, but maybe after so many seasons, she'd had enough and felt she'd given the character and the show all she could.

Some actors and actresses leave shows because they feel there's nothing more they could have done with their characters.

Will and Grace Fanatic · 01-10-2014, 11:54 PM

I think the last season the show left the top 30 as far as ratings go. That could be one reason she realized that viewers where starting to leave the show by that point.

Bloem · 01-11-2014, 01:52 PM

70 yrs of age and tired of working so much

FBH75 · 01-11-2014, 02:08 PM

Well that makes sense. I didn't realize she was that old.

JR1 · 02-02-2014, 09:46 PM

She said she felt it wasn't as magical/hilarious as it was- and she was right on that point. The jokes became too predictable, and some of them weren't even LOL funny.

ohmrwilson · 02-13-2014, 11:02 AM

Bea Arthur is very underrated and without Bea, IMHO Golden Girls would not have worked. (Sort of like the Beatles reunited the otherday with only Paul and Ringo and not John and George). Bea was the John Lennon of the show (IMHO).

BTW-I have a question, will ask in a new thread.

ramled · 03-15-2014, 06:37 AM

Season 6 definitely the worse of the 7 seasons. The jokes became formulaic and the characters kinda stalled a bit. And you could see it in the ratings. Bea made the decision to quite right after season 6 ended. Season 7 had not even started when her decision to leave was made. I think the show picked back up a bit in season 7, and the show probably had a little more gas in the tank. But Bea chose to leave, and I can respect that.

ShamelessFanGirl · 04-06-2014, 11:01 PM

I am glad when they ended when they did. So many shows drive themselves into the ground with the terrible jokes and uninteresting plotlines. I'm glad that The Golden Girls didn't do that and left things on a happy note. Thank you Bea Arthur for leaving with us with nothing but happy memories of the Golden Girls.

bliss · 04-13-2014, 07:09 PM

Her performance in season 7 (final) wasn't her best compared to earlier seasons.So going through the motion.....

MeganEHannigan · 05-13-2014, 07:01 AM

The women of that time were so full of life.Without all that make-up the actresses put nowadays, without all those petite profile and those "designer" dresses; they still could make you want to be them! I just admire and love those ladies. I wish I had all that fashion sense, to be so simple and yet so glamorous. Their cool plus size clothes are lovely.

hch · 02-18-2015, 12:57 PM

Bea Arthur did that exact same thing with "Maude". She felt the show had gone as far as it could and she quit both shows while they were ahead.

Yong Fang · 03-21-2015, 10:50 PM

.....and Betty White was Ringo, someone who would not have been missed and replaced with a hundred other people better than her.

ThomasE · 03-21-2015, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

.....and Betty White was Ringo, someone who would not have been missed and replaced with a hundred other people better than her.

Betty would have been missed for sure. She was iconic as Rose. Me thinks that "Hateration" is kicking in.

Yong Fang · 03-24-2015, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Betty would have been missed for sure. She was iconic as Rose. Me thinks that "Hateration" is kicking in.

Yup....guilty. Can't stand her, and never have.....

Dorothy, Sophia and Blanche.....

SHUT UP ROSE!!!!

01-10-2014, 05:33 PM	#1
FBH75 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 09, 2009 Location: Marion, NC Posts: 24	I wonder why Bea Arthur decided she no longer wanted to do the show? Was it because she just wanted another project or maybe retire? Boy, it sure killed the show when she left. I never watched the Golden Palace because I never knew it ever existed until I read about the show on this board. But her presence in Golden Girls was bigger than I thought because Golden Palace only lasted one season or at least that is what I understand.

01-10-2014, 08:43 PM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	It definitely wasn't the same without her on Golden Palace. It made me realize how much she brought to the group and she really grounded that cast with her character. I don't know why Bea decided to leave, but maybe after so many seasons, she'd had enough and felt she'd given the character and the show all she could. Some actors and actresses leave shows because they feel there's nothing more they could have done with their characters.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

01-10-2014, 11:54 PM	#3
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	I think the last season the show left the top 30 as far as ratings go. That could be one reason she realized that viewers where starting to leave the show by that point.
	__________________ love is love

02-13-2014, 11:02 AM	#7
ohmrwilson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 25, 2012 Location: ny Posts: 314	Bea made Golden Girls what it was. Bea Arthur is very underrated and without Bea, IMHO Golden Girls would not have worked. (Sort of like the Beatles reunited the otherday with only Paul and Ringo and not John and George). Bea was the John Lennon of the show (IMHO). BTW-I have a question, will ask in a new thread.

05-13-2014, 07:01 AM	#11
MeganEHannigan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 13, 2014 Posts: 6	The women of that time were so full of life.Without all that make-up the actresses put nowadays, without all those petite profile and those "designer" dresses; they still could make you want to be them! I just admire and love those ladies. I wish I had all that fashion sense, to be so simple and yet so glamorous. Their cool plus size clothes are lovely.
	Last edited by MeganEHannigan; 05-15-2014 at 05:47 AM.

01-11-2014, 01:52 PM	#4
Bloem Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 13	70 yrs of age and tired of working so much

01-11-2014, 02:08 PM	#5
FBH75 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 09, 2009 Location: Marion, NC Posts: 24	Well that makes sense. I didn't realize she was that old.

02-02-2014, 09:46 PM	#6
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	She said she felt it wasn't as magical/hilarious as it was- and she was right on that point. The jokes became too predictable, and some of them weren't even LOL funny.

03-15-2014, 06:37 AM	#8
ramled Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 20, 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 44	Season 6 definitely the worse of the 7 seasons. The jokes became formulaic and the characters kinda stalled a bit. And you could see it in the ratings. Bea made the decision to quite right after season 6 ended. Season 7 had not even started when her decision to leave was made. I think the show picked back up a bit in season 7, and the show probably had a little more gas in the tank. But Bea chose to leave, and I can respect that.

04-06-2014, 11:01 PM	#9
ShamelessFanGirl Great Power and Resposbility Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 16, 2011 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 581	I am glad when they ended when they did. So many shows drive themselves into the ground with the terrible jokes and uninteresting plotlines. I'm glad that The Golden Girls didn't do that and left things on a happy note. Thank you Bea Arthur for leaving with us with nothing but happy memories of the Golden Girls.

04-13-2014, 07:09 PM	#10
bliss THAT GIRL Senior Member Join Date: Apr 26, 2009 Posts: 1,000	Her performance in season 7 (final) wasn't her best compared to earlier seasons.So going through the motion.....

02-18-2015, 12:57 PM	#12
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	Quit while you are ahead Bea Arthur did that exact same thing with "Maude". She felt the show had gone as far as it could and she quit both shows while they were ahead.
	__________________ "You don't own the rights or the patent on scuffling!" Willona from "Good Times"

03-21-2015, 10:50 PM	#13
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	.....and Betty White was Ringo, someone who would not have been missed and replaced with a hundred other people better than her.