‘The Golden Girls’ Spawned This Lost Spinoff With Some Famous Faces

The Golden Girls was a beloved sitcom that followed four older women—Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, and Rose—sharing a home in Miami, Florida. The undeniable chemistry between Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty propelled the series to iconic status, maintaining its cult following even today. Over the years, an array of memorabilia, from cookbooks to board games, has emerged, and even a Golden Girls-themed cruise has been created for devoted fans.

Given the show’s immense success, a spin-off seemed like a sure hit—but that wasn’t the case. When The Golden Girls ended in 1992, The Golden Palace debuted, following Sophia, Blanche, and Rose as they attempted to run a hotel with no prior experience. The new cast featured Don Cheadle and Cheech Marin as hotel staff, but something was missing.

Fans quickly realized that the magic of The Golden Girls lay in the dynamic between all four leading ladies. Dorothy (Bea Arthur) only appeared in two episodes before her character moved to Atlanta, and without her, the show struggled. Despite a strong premiere with 15 million viewers, ratings plummeted, leading to The Golden Palace’s cancellation after just one season. Many fans took to social media over the years to express that it simply didn’t feel the same without the original quartet.

Not even a star-studded lineup of guest appearances, including Anne Haney, Bill Engvall, and Herbert Edelman, could save the show. Although CBS initially planned for a second season, the network ultimately pulled the plug, leaving the series unfinished and fans wondering what could have been for their favorite characters.