Why Bea Arthur Decided To Leave The Golden Girls

[TMC]

https://screenrant.com/golden-girls-...-exit-reasons/

The Golden Girls came to an end when Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy Zbornak, walked away from the show, but why did she actually leave the sitcom?

[CJMD03]

The show should have ended at the end of Season 06. Went on a season too long. The plots and jokes were old and tired.

[BestTVever]

I was devastated in real time in the fall of 1991 when it was announced it would be the last season of the Golden Girls. It still was a top 10 show.
Looking back OMG yes it was time to pull the plug. While the show was still very popular Bea could see the quality slipping and it makes sense to leave the show while still popular rather than the network cancelling it. The last season is mostly cheezy sitcom writing. The scripts were focused only on simple insult jokes over and over and they had weak plots. There are few decent episodes but most of the season is not good. I also think season 6 is weak. I cant even imagine how dumb a season 8 would be. But Bea was smart. She announced and pulled the plug on Maude when she accidently heard the network planned on cancelling the show.
All the characters became caricatures of their former self. Estelle had to read cue cards which was really distracting. Her lines had no depth and she was just to hurl insults at Dorothy. The 2 part episode Full Moon Party is just plain dumb.
Long story short, I applaud Bea now for calling it off before it lost its audience. I only own the first 4 seasons on DVD. The series changes dramatically in season 5 with new writers.

[king of comedy]

Originally Posted by CJMD03

The show should have ended at the end of Season 06. Went on a season too long. The plots and jokes were old and tired.

Hearing Rose repeating those St.Olaf stories drove me crazy and Rose got dumber. I agree with you.

[Duster76]

I feel people have a tendency to overthink things like this. Arthur became a TV star at 50, she was no spring chicken. Over the next 20 years she starred in two TV series that were on the air for a total of 13 seasons. She served in World War II! She raised two children, she had a full life. She was 70 years old when the Golden Girls was finishing its run, and continued to work when she wanted to work into her late seventies. With respect to her leaving Golden Girls, she she didn't want the grind of having to do a weekly series, it makes perfect sense. There's an old saying in show business, always leave the audience wanting more.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Duster76

I feel people have a tendency to overthink things like this. Arthur became a TV star at 50, she was no spring chicken. Over the next 20 years she starred in two TV series that were on the air for a total of 13 seasons. She served in World War II! She raised two children, she had a full life. She was 70 years old when the Golden Girls was finishing its run, and continued to work when she wanted to work into her late seventies. With respect to her leaving Golden Girls, she she didn't want the grind of having to do a weekly series, it makes perfect sense. There's an old saying in show business, always leave the audience wanting more.

All of what you said is true. But she was professional enough to know it was time to pull the plug before the show got really dumb and lost its audience. There also was friction on the set. She said it in 1992, it was so nice to go out while still on top.
Looking back, she was so right.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Duster76

I feel people have a tendency to overthink things like this. Arthur became a TV star at 50, she was no spring chicken. Over the next 20 years she starred in two TV series that were on the air for a total of 13 seasons. She served in World War II! She raised two children, she had a full life. She was 70 years old when the Golden Girls was finishing its run, and continued to work when she wanted to work into her late seventies. With respect to her leaving Golden Girls, she she didn't want the grind of having to do a weekly series, it makes perfect sense. There's an old saying in show business, always leave the audience wanting more.

All of what you said is true. But she was professional enough to know it was time to pull the plug before the show got really dumb and lost its audience. There also was friction on the set. She said it in 1992, it was so nice to go out while still on top.
Looking back, she was so right.