What Happened in the Final Episode of ‘The Golden Girls’?
On May 9, 1992, The Golden Girls aired its final episode, titled “One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest.” For seven seasons, we enjoyed the chemistry, the comedic timing and all that cheesecake. But even if you spent so many hours watching the show that you felt like you were out on the lanai with the girls, too, you probably don’t remember how The Golden Girls ended.
From September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, The Golden Girls established their own unique space in the TV landscape – a sitcom about four women “of a certain age” sharing a home in Miami. There was the southern and sultry Blanche (Rue McClanahan), naïve-but-kind Rose (Betty White), no-nonsense Dorothy (Bea Arthur), and her sharp-tongued mother Sophia (Estelle Getty).
While the senior set gravitated towards a show that felt made just for them, The Golden Girls was just plain funny for all ages. With characters that continued to work, date, and lead active lives, the trials and tribulations of these four funny women were relatable (and hilarious) to all age groups.
Tackling storylines about love, sex and even topics considered controversial at the time like mental illness and homosexuality, The Golden Girls was a rating winner and received 68 Emmy nominations throughout the show’s run, with all four leads winning Emmy awards for their work on the show. So why did it finally come to an end?
Why did The Golden Girls Get Canceled?
Touchstone Television/Everett Collection
After seven successful seasons, all signs point to one person as the catalyst for the show’s demise: Bea Arthur.
According to Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind the Lanai by James Colucci, Arthur had become frustrated with a perceived drop in the quality of the show, as well as the constant scripted bashing of her character (while the leads frequently mocked each other throughout the series, jokes about Dorothy’s size and unattractiveness often felt particularly mean-spirited).
It’s been said that Arthur’s ultimate motivation was to end the show while it was still on top, while other rumors persist of feuding between her and Betty White. Regardless of the reasons, Arthur’s decision spelled the beginning of the end of the series.
What happened in the final episode of The Golden Girls?
Touchstone Television/Everett Collection
The events that take place in the final episode, “One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest,” are certainly abrupt, but also leave room for plenty of the show’s signature heart. In the episode, Blanche tricks Dorothy and her Uncle Lucas (Leslie Nielsen) into going on a date together, so they decide to play a prank by convincing Blanche they have fallen in love and are getting married. In short order, they fall in love for real, Lucas proposes, and Dorothy accepts, moving out and changing the lives of all four women forever.
Dorothy’s new path in life is clear, and the future of our other beloved girls is also sorted out quickly. Rose considers moving in with her daughter while Sophia ponders the idea of moving in with her daughter and new son-in-law.
In the end, Blanche, Rose and Sophia decide to stay together, paving the way for a bittersweet-yet-hilarious final goodbye to Dorothy (complete with multiple group hugs!) as she leaves to begin her new life with Lucas.
The followup sitcom The Golden Palace was short lived
Touchstone Television/Everett Collection
While we thought we’d seen the last of the “Golden” ones, you simply can’t keep a good girl down. In September of 1992, a “new” sitcom called The Golden Palace debuted on CBS, featuring the continued story of Blanche, Rose and Sophia, who had inexplicably decided to buy, operate and live in a hotel. Flanked by a new setting, a much different cast of supporting characters (Cheech Marin! Don Cheadle!), and even a two-episode guest appearance from Bea Arthur (more group hugs!), The Golden Palace’s ratings were anything but royal, leading to a speedy cancellation after one season.
The good news? Both series are currently available to stream on Hulu, so call your friends, hop onto your lanai, and get your “Golden” on!
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