The Golden Girls was a sitcom centered around four older women named Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche and Rose, living together in a home in Miami, Florida. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty had such amazing chemistry that they launched the series into stardom and still has a cult classic status today. Every year it seems that more and more memorabilia items come out including cookbooks and board games, plus there has even been a Golden Girls-themed cruise for the biggest fans.
Since The Golden Girls did so well with viewers, it seems that a spin-off show would do just as well, right? Wrong. When the series ended in 1992, a spin-off show called The Golden Palace premiered. It showcased Sophia, Blanche and Rose as they decided to run their own hotel despite having no experience. Actors Don Cheadle and Cheech Marin rounded out the cast as the staff of the hotel.
Fans proved that the chemistry between the four women is what cemented The Golden Girls as a beloved series. In the spin-off, Dorothy only appeared in two episodes as she got remarried and moved to Atlanta. Despite the fact that the premiere of The Golden Palace had 15 million viewers, it quickly dropped off and was subsequently canceled after one season. Fans have remarked on social media that it just wasn’t the same without the core four.
Even celebrity cameos couldn’t save the series. Stars such as Anne Haney, Bill Engvall, Herbert Edelman and more appeared on the show to help give it a ratings boost but in the end, it was on CBS‘ chopping block for low ratings. The series was initially greenlit for a second season but executives changed their minds at the last second, so sadly, we never got to see the storylines wrap up for our favorite ladies.
Did you watch The Golden Girls and The Golden Palace? What do you think of the short-lived spin-off series? Watch the series on Hulu.
