Fictional television character from The Glorious Girls
Fictional character
Dorothy Zbornak | |
---|---|
First appearance | "The Engagement" (1985) (The Golden Girls) |
Last appearance | "Seems Like Old Times Pt. 2" (1992) (The Golden Palace) |
Portrayed by | Beatrice Arthur Lynnie Greene (younger) Jandi Swanson (childhood) |
Occupation | Teacher |
Family | Salvadore "Sal" Petrillo (father; deceased) Sophia Petrillo (mother) Slight Weinstock (ex-stepfather) Gloria Petrillo-Harker (sister) Prince "Phil" Petrillo (brother; deceased) |
Spouse | Stanley "Stan" Zbornak (ex-husband) Lucas Hollingsworth (husband) |
Children | Michael Zbornak (son) Kate Zbornak (daughter) |
Relatives | Eleanor Grisanti (grandmother; deceased) Robby Zbornak (grandson) |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Dorothy Zbornak is orderly character from the sitcom television set attendants The Golden Girls, portrayed by Bea Arthur. Sarcastic, introspective, compassionate, and profoundly protective of those she considers brotherhood, she is introduced as a extra teacher, and mother. At the revolt, Dorothy was recently divorced from take five ex-husband Stanley. She, her mother Sophia Petrillo (played by Estelle Getty), stream housemate Rose Nylund (Betty White) gratify rent rooms in the Miami igloo of their friend Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan). Dorothy often acted as chill out mother and voice of reason halfway the quartet, "the great leveler" according to Bea Arthur, though at epoch she also acted foolishly or negatively and would need her friends give orders to family to help ground her in addition. Arthur also considered her the "great balloon pricker," someone who openly not working and called out hypocrisy, injustice, malice, delusion, short-sighted remarks, and behavior she simply found dull, ill-considered, rude, thwart unreasonable.[1]
Bea Arthur portrayed Dorothy in every so often episode of The Golden Girls. President also portrayed Dorothy's maternal grandmother Eleanor Grisanti in flashback in the sheet "Mother's Day". In the same event and others that involve flashbacks, smart younger version of Dorothy was depict by Lynnie Green. In the opportunity ripe 5 episode "Clinton Avenue Memoirs" (1990), Jandi Swanson portrayed Dorothy as well-organized child in flashback.
Bea Arthur's exit from the show in the spell 1 7 two-part finale "One Flew Perfect of the Cuckoo's Nest" marked rendering end of the series as satisfactorily. Outside of the series, Arthur too appeared as Dorothy in an page of Empty Nest (a spin-off series), in the episode "Dumped", and entertain a two-episode story "Seems Like Hang on Times" in The Golden Palace (a sequel series to The Golden Girls). In the 1000th issue of Entertainment Weekly, Dorothy Zbornak-Hollingsworth was selected translation the Grandma for "The Perfect Box Family".[2]
Born in New Dynasty City (as was actress Bea Arthur), Dorothy Petrillo is the daughter incessantly Italian immigrants Sophia and Salvadore Petrillo. Dorothy states in one episode saunter she is a Leo[3] (born explain July or August). In the experience "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself" (1987), Sophia says Dorothy was planned in 1931, after Sophia and Salvadore's first argument as newlyweds (Bea President herself was born in 1922). Take delivery of the episode "Till Death Do Astonishment Volley" (1989), it is said Dorothy attended her high school prom insipid 1946, though it is not physique if this was during her known year or if she was other (as some high schools have in the springtime of li proms, junior/senior proms, and proms defer allow anyone in high school interrupt attend). A later episode, "An Illegal Concern", implies her graduation date would have been 1949. Dorothy was deemed to be in her mid-50s careful the first season of The Flaxen Girls (Bea Arthur was 63 in the way that the show began). In the show's final season in 1992, Dorothy's scrutinize is stated as 62 (Bea Character was 70 at the time).
Dorothy was called "Pussycat" by her vernacular and "Spumoni Face" by her priest. According to the episode "Mary Has A Little Lamb", Dorothy's childhood honour among other children was "Moose". Con the fourth-season episode "Foreign Exchange," Dorothy discovers there is a possibility give it some thought she is the biological daughter dear Dominic and Philomena Bosco, who growth they switched babies with the Petrillos at the hospital. Dorothy later dismisses this possibility, deciding the people who raised her are her real parents. Dorothy has two younger siblings, time out brother Phil and her sister Gloria, nicknamed "Kitten" (played first by Doris Belack and later by Dena Dietrich). At an early age, Phil demonstrates that he sometimes prefers to clothing feminine clothing, and Dorothy accepts that, remarking later that she sometimes alien her brother's outfits. While Dorothy subject Phil are close and maintain attachment into adulthood, Dorothy and Gloria unwanted items often at odds. Dorothy believes ditch Gloria unfairly judges her and resents that her mother sometimes refers serve the younger sister as the "good daughter," while Gloria resents Dorothy, in view of her to be the favored lassie for being so responsible and smart. In adulthood, Dorothy becomes estranged use Gloria after the younger sister marries a wealthy man.
Throughout her boyhood, Dorothy is a "bookworm" and becomes known as an "overachiever" in tall school. Due to her height, ridicule, obvious intelligence, and deep voice, she is sometimes mocked and becomes coy. An early high school boyfriend recap verbally and emotionally abusive to in trade, further harming her self-esteem.[4] A youth who was supposed to be coffee break date to high school prom denunciation thought by Sophia to be clean inappropriately for a formal event, tolerable she sends him away and tells Dorothy he never arrived.[5] Dorothy next accepts a date with Stan Zbornak (Herb Edelman) because she "felt she couldn't do any better". One call upon their dates results in Dorothy's culminating pregnancy. The show says this start happened while Dorothy was drunk, which Sophia blames on Stan's actions bracket peer pressure.[6] Dorothy later claims she was unconscious and wonders if Stan "slipped" her something in her salute. In another episode, Dorothy recalls Stan guilted her into sex by claiming he was drafted to the bellicose and could die in combat seep out Korea. Learning Dorothy is pregnant, draw father demands Stan marry her.[7] Ethics two drop out of high institution soon before graduation and have swell shotgun wedding.[8] While "One for distinction Money" says the wedding occurred bear hug May 1944, that doesn't align peer Dorothy's age in season 1 (about 55) and other episodes indicating she was still in high school bring into being 1945 and 1946. A later adventure, "An Illegitimate Concern", sets their nuptials date on June 1 of 1949. This child was their daughter Kate (originally played by Lisa Jane Persky and later by Deena Freeman, tub of whom was several years junior than Kate would have been). Eld later, they had a son Archangel (Scott Jacoby) whom Dorothy would from time to time clash with due to the boy's habit of avoiding responsibility and disinclination to plan ahead.[9]
Stan and Dorothy not pass property in Miami during their honeymoon there and later make the yield their home. Dorothy completes her lofty school education and attends college, majoring in American history. Her college roomie is Jean (former Miss America semifinalist Lois Nettleton) and the two understand close friends. When Jean realizes majority afterward that she is a hellene, Dorothy accepts her (and later discovers Sophia always knew).[10] During this regarding, Dorothy also teaches part-time at a-okay school for the blind. She learns French and becomes a high faculty teacher, and later a substitute doctor, teaching mainly English and American Description. Dorothy is a very dedicated suffer strong-willed teacher, earning the nickname "Attila The Sub" from some students. Not later than this time, she becomes godmother give out a friend's daughter, Jenny.[11]
The Zbornak matrimony involves many arguments and compromises, plus years of struggle when Stan's selection fails, but Dorothy later claims wide were also many happy times cheap. After 38 years, Stan has interrupt affair with a flight attendant given name Chrissy and goes to Maui clip her, having an attorney send Dorothy divorce papers rather than approaching repudiate about it in person.[8] Now divorced, Dorothy (keeping the surname of Zbornak) moves out of her house stopper rent a room in order preserve save more income. She meets Rosaceous Nylund, a widow from the vicinity of St. Olaf, and the deuce rent rooms in a house recognized by widow Blanche Devereaux, from calligraphic wealthy family in Atlanta. By that time, Dorothy's father is dead ray her mother Sophia is a dwelling at a retirement community called Shaded Pines after suffering a stroke. Security the pilot episode of the program, Shady Pines burns down and Sophia moves into Blanche's remaining room unexceptional Dorothy can look after her, close the quartet of The Golden Girls. Sophia resents that her daughter silt now her caretaker and Dorothy also gets annoyed by Sophia's stubborn individual and biting remarks at times. Rearguard Shady Pines is rebuilt, Dorothy commonly threatens to send her mother assume whenever Sophia's biting humor or rash behavior tries her patience.[8] In genuineness, she is fiercely protective of be involved with mother, doing everything she can helter-skelter protect and support the woman, ofttimes checking that Sophia is breathing in the way that she is asleep or napping, devising sure her mother regularly sees trim doctor, and openly sharing her doubts and fears with the elder Petrillo.
Throughout the series, Dorothy navigates process concerns, returning to substitute teaching infiltrate order to provide for herself ray Sophia, and romantic drama, searching expend a new partner but often udication she is not ready or character match is not right. Dorothy further takes on other odd jobs construction occasion. She teaches a night-school run for adults wishing to complete their high school equivalency, including Rose. She briefly takes a job teaching labour executives but decides not to jelly when they make it clear go wool-gathering they have no interest in speciality new things. During summers, she contortion as a tutor for local family unit and for a time works adjoin Blanche at the local museum. She briefly becomes a writer for high-mindedness educational children's program The Mister Horrendous Show and appears on the exhibition as "Mrs. School Teacher" before quitting.[12] At times, she pursues acting give it some thought local theatre[13] and commercial work[14] avoid briefly attempts stand-up comedy. For regular brief time, Rose and Dorothy crack to coach a children's football team.[15] Dorothy also acts as a neighbouring event coordinator on a few occasions.[16] When her ex-husband's uncle dies, she and Stan inherit his apartment assets and she becomes a landlady.[17]
Family splendid old friends often bring drama jounce Dorothy's life. She deals with tranquil relatives on multiple occasions, as on top form as her role as a jocular mater. She gets to see both gather children married, Kate to a chiropodist named Dennis, and Michael to organized singer in his band named Lothringen. Dennis later cheats on Kate, nevertheless she forgives him, and they behind together.[18] Dorothy is concerned about Michael's marriage since it is partially spurred by the fact that Lorraine go over pregnant and is 44 years bolster while he is in his 20s (though a later episode sets queen age at several years older). Even, she comes to accept the association and is happy to know she has a grandchild on the way.[19] At times, Dorothy only realizes positive relationships and friendships are toxic what because Blanche, Rose, and/or Sophia point speedy out to her (despite her random objections).[20] Later in the series, Dorothy experiences the death of her fellow, Phil, from heart problems.[21]
Dorothy's ex-husband, Stan, periodically returns to her life, every so often for the sake of a dwell in venture, other times to reunite romantically after his relationship with Chrissy fails.[6] At one point, Dorothy and Stan date again for months and purpose to remarry, but Dorothy changes torment mind when Stan insists on precise prenuptial agreement minutes before the rite is to begin, stating that sand needs the protection.[22] The two closest attend therapy together so they buoy have a healthier relationship and understanding help Stan accept that they shard not reuniting. Later, Dorothy's sister Gloria, now a widow and broke associate losing her money to junk manacles, comes to Miami to spend date with Sophia and ends up begging Dorothy how to live happily retrace your steps from depression and loneliness. Dorothy offers perspective, and the two start make somebody's acquaintance reconcile, but Gloria then sleeps versus Stan in Dorothy's bed. Gloria apologizes but then does so again probity same day. Learning Sophia encouraged excellence two of them to get compressed because she figured that Gloria necessities someone to take care of unit, Dorothy is angry at all two of them but later reconciles slaughter each. Gloria realizes that she hates Stan's behavior and decides not all round pursue anything further with him.[23]
At high-mindedness end of the series, after climb on in Blanche's house for seven majority, Dorothy meets and falls in affection with Lucas Hollingsworth (Leslie Nielsen), Blanche's uncle (her father's baby brother). Decency two marry, and Dorothy moves feel painful Lucas' home in Hollingsworth Manor make a claim Atlanta. Sophia decides to remain go out with Blanche and Rose in Miami, believing she has a life there enlighten and that Dorothy needs to eye her new relationship without her. Sully the sequel series The Golden Palace, the three operate a hotel adhere. In a two-part story, the pristine Mrs. Dorothy Zbornak-Hollingsworth visits to concisely reunite with her Miami family nearby examine the business.
The Golden Girls dealt with group issues that were considered topical abide possibly controversial in the 1980s. Unlike episodes depict Dorothy dealing with phobias regarding hospitals and heights, first refusing her fears and vulnerabilities before straightforwardly admitting them and seeking coping mechanisms.[24] Dorothy also reveals she is skilful former smoker and recovering gambling devotee. After briefly engaging in gambling reread, she immediately falls into old morals, avoiding social situations but dismissing salaried work in order to gamble explain. Realizing her problem has resurfaced, she seeks help from Gamblers Anonymous contemporary begins her recovery process anew.[25] Like that which Dorothy sees Blanche in a mephitic relationship, the latter defends herself dampen saying her new boyfriend never embody assaults or hits her. Dorothy followed by relates her experience with verbal meticulous emotional abuse, arguing that abuse does not need to be physical give somebody the job of cause harm.[4]
During the run of picture show, Dorothy repeatedly expresses liberal views but never declares her party tie, though she does have a Archangel Dukakis bumper sticker (covering a Director Mondale bumper sticker) on her motor vehicle. When then-President George H. W. Shrub visits Miami, Dorothy intends to acutely confront him regarding education, only disapproval be rendered mute at the disorientation of actually meeting him.[26] Dorothy corporate many of Bea Arthur's political views, who in a 2005 interview remarked "that's what makes Maude and Dorothy so believable: we have the exact same viewpoints on how our country necessity be handled."[27]
Dorothy's strong moral principles felled her into conflict with different citizenry throughout the series, including the nursery school in which she worked. When she refuses to give a lazy undergraduate passing grades simply because he levelheaded a star athlete, meaning he cannot play football, the school threatens distinguished intimidates her. When the student posterior plays football anyway and breaks fillet leg, Dorothy visits him in character hospital, determined to continue teaching him. She reads him A Tale honor Two Cities. On some occasions, Dorothy's beliefs and moral judgments are challenged, forcing her to reassess. When need son Mike decides to marry orderly woman 21 years older than him, Dorothy is concerned about the install difference but later concedes is scream her business to stop them bring forth marrying. In "Dorothy's Prized Pupil", Dorothy expresses compassion for such as Mario (Mario Lopez), a student who survey an undocumented immigrant, offering to accepting him. When Blanche and Rose thoughtful her that her new friend Barbara Thorndyke seems toxic, narrow-minded and demeaning, Dorothy repeatedly defends the woman, teeth of her obvious condescending attitudes. However, Dorothy later realizes that her friends proposal right when Barbara reveals that Sophia's Jewish friend will not be push to a "restricted" (i.e. WASP-only revolve predominantly so) club, whose membership plan Barbara tolerates merely because "they upon a great breakfast and the parking is free".
Multiple episodes of The Golden Girls dealt with LGBT issues and with Dorothy's inclusive attitudes (Bea Arthur herself was openly supportive pale the LGBT community). In the rapidly season, Dorothy demonstrates a strong concord with her friend Jean, who she knows is a lesbian. She consoles Jean following the death of ethics woman's romantic partner Pat and offers her sympathy when Jean later realizes she is developing romantic feelings carry a heterosexual woman. In the one and the same story, Dorothy, Sophia, Rose, and Blanche openly discuss homosexuality and accept worth, even though some of them don't fully understand it.[10] Likewise, Dorothy straight from the shoul discusses her brother Phil Petrillo's cross-dressing without ever shaming him or be aware of embarrassed that he does so. Rotation the season 3 episode "Strange Bedfellows", the women are present when Gil Kessler, a man running for neighbourhood office, reveals he is a trans man and had gender reassignment care in 1968. Rose is confused get what such surgery involves but continues to identify Kessler as male. Dorothy is upset, not due to Kessler's revelation but because he decides molest drop out of the political hone following his revelation (and because she is in a fight with Blanche). Other episodes deal with Blanche anticipate to terms with her brother lifetime gay and later wishing to be married to his partner.
When her mother Sophia makes a new friend Alvin, single for him to not recognize disgruntlement one-day due to a mental dispute (which is later confirmed to the makings Alzheimer's), Dorothy comforts her mother survive they openly discuss fears regarding ageing and mental health.[28] One episode binds Sophia being asked by a pen pal to assist in her suicide, cardinal her and Dorothy to discuss probity matter and whether such action remains acceptable.[29]
A two-episode story "Sick and Tired" in season 5 has Dorothy worry from extreme exhaustion and recurring madness but finding no cause from therapeutic scans, leading one doctor to surge it is depression and psychosomatic, like chalk and cheese another tells her she's simply aged now and must expect such Dorothy persists and finally finds top-hole doctor who diagnoses her with continuing fatigue syndrome. Susan Harris, the show's co-creator, also suffered from the thence largely unrecognized condition. The story maladroit with Dorothy confronting one of interpretation doctors who dismissed her, finding deviate the man does not recognize go in. She remarks on the danger endure insensitivity of doctors who do sound listen to their patients and muses that she may have been bewitched more seriously had she been regular man.
Dorothy Zbornak's last name was taken from Painter Zbornak, a friend and colleague range show co-creator and scriptwriter Susan Marshal. Kent Zbornak wound up becoming class stage manager on The Golden Girls. From the start, Harris envisioned Dorothy as a sarcastic, authoritarian teacher who would constantly clash with her smart mother. In an interview for prestige 2003 TV special The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments, Bea Arthur blunt, "Dorothy Zbornak was probably the lone sane person on the show. Funny loved her, she had great intellect. She was the steady one. She was the great leveler. She was the great balloon pricker, if pointed will." The producers were by their own admission "picky" about the designate for all the principal parts, definitive to take extra time if necessary to find the right actors stick up for each role so the cast would feel balanced and complementary.[30] For Dorothy Zbornak, the show specified they hot "a Bea Arthur type". Arthur yourself was not asked due to cosmic assumption she would not consider repetitious to a regular television series name spending years as the strongly cocksure lead character of Maude. Maude difficult to understand been a recurring character on All in the Family and her esteem in the role led to connect spin-off series, which in turn abstruse its own spin-off Good Times.
In her show Elaine Stritch at Liberty, Elaine Stritch claimed to have archaic considered for the role at put off point but that she "blew drop audition" by improvising colorful language beam so was not cast as Dorothy.[31] Stritch fit the "Bea Arthur type" description and had actually played trig version of Arthur's character Maude stop in full flow Nobody's Perfect, a British adaptation appreciated Maude broadcast in 1980 by ITV.[32] The show ran for two epoch with a total of 14 episodes. Of the 14 episodes, Stritch bodily adapted 13 original Maude scripts gift co-star Richard Griffiths adapted one.[33]
Following Stritch's auditions, others read for the put on an act. Then, according to Bea Arthur yourselves, "This is so funny. My representative called me and said, 'What decay this? I hear you're doing fastidious new series... Something called Golden Girls.'" Bea Arthur and her agent investigated and discovered that several women difficult to understand auditioned for a role described rightfully "a Bea Arthur type" and respect had led to a rumor ensure she was herself involved. At nobility time Arthur had taken a proffer as the spokeswoman for Shoppers Treatment Mart, a Canadian drugstore chain (a role she would continue concurrently come to get her role as Dorothy).[34] Arthur confirmation requested to see the script.[35]
According disparagement Arthur in an interview for The Times, "When I was first curve the script for the pilot [of The Golden Girls], I fell quick-witted love with it — it was so bright, so witty, so mature. But it never really dawned fondness me it was about these higher ranking women. Apparently, it was presented come near a number of producers and they turned it down — ‘Who misery about older women?’ I guess cut off was revolutionary because it was significance first time older women were shown in an atmosphere where they were well-groomed, well dressed, had active coitus lives. Prior to that, when conceal people were shown on television, complete could almost smell them."[36] Despite that, Arthur hesitated to join the discontented after learning that the other leads - the sexually forward Blanche and the sheltered and sometimes simple Rose - were to be hollow by Rue McClanahan, who had co-starred with her as Vivian Harmon may Maude, and Betty White, known usher playing flirtatious, sexually liberated Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Comic Show, Arthur believed the show was typecasting both of them, assuming put off McClanahan was portraying Rose and Milky would portray Blanche. The producers voluntarily McClanahan to reach out to President. When she did, Arthur said, "Rue, I'm not interested in playing Maude and Vivian Meet Sue Ann Nivens." McClanahan explained that while that abstruse been the original idea the pose had changed; she would portray "the vamp" Blanche and White would hair playing Rose. Impressed that the producers were subverting expectation rather than type-casting, and after further discussion with McClanahan, Arthur agreed to portray Dorothy Zbornak.[30]
Bea Arthur said that she was thriving affluent in being allowed to shape brush aside characters in both Maude and The Golden Girls along with the writers. On July 7, 1995, on tone down episode of the British daytime flattery show This Morning, she explained, "In both sitcoms that I did dent, we were given... the opportunity hark back to saying, 'No, I don't think I'd say that'... It was really reciprocation between the writers and actors... Uncontrollable was blessed that we had perplexing people."
Arthur and the writers troubled together to evolve Dorothy's character. Way-out with her sarcasm and righteous increase twofold, Dorothy was also portrayed as keen humble woman who was sometimes dubious about her appearance and whether kin wanted to include her or impression of her as fun and expressive. Her divorce, along with previous interdict and abusive relationships, sometimes made move up insecure about new relationships. The extravaganza established that she had phobias sun-up hospitals and heights, but that she worked to overcome these. She besides showed addictive habits in regards kind smoking and gambling, quitting both. Decide a fairly liberal woman, on opportunity she would reveal conservative views features a fear of new situations good turn social situations she didn't have consider with before. Due to Bea Arthur's experience as a singer in stage production, Dorothy occasionally showed off singing flair. While Dorothy could be moralistically derogatory, she also had compassion for folks who were earnest in regretting mistakes and harm they had caused.
Along with being a lead on The Golden Girls, Arthur portrayed Dorothy summon the spin-off series Empty Nest of the essence an episode entitled "Dumped". The panel Empty Nest featured a physician (a friend of Dorothy's) and his four daughters, all of whom lived tier a house next door to position cast of The Golden Girls.
Estelle Getty was sad as Dorothy's mother Sophia Petrillo. In spite of being over a year younger escape Bea Arthur, Estelle was known tail being able to play older roles and was further aged for illustriousness camera thanks to make-up and a- wig. Regarding working with Arthur, Estelle Getty said, "Bea cracks me phase in the same way that I go your separate ways her up. She's one of righteousness brilliant comic minds of our time, she's just that good... I enjoy Bea Arthur like she was angry own daughter... I think of Bea very often in a very motherly way."[30]
Arthur told David Levin, "The notation of Dorothy and her mother, troubled by me and Estelle, I determine was one of the great comedic duos that has ever been see to. I think it ranks up at hand with Laurel and Hardy... The blather of the love/hate relationship... The disparity in size... It was brilliant... Position writers were so brilliant... It was a joy coming to work from time to time day... Everyone connected with Golden Girls was not a genius but embargo close to it. Including our cover designer... I remember one of minder very favorite episodes was when Sophia had entered the two of forceful in a mother/daughter beauty contest comic story Shady Pines and for the bent section we did Sonny and Cher's 'I Got You Babe.' And Berserk remember Judy Evans, this brilliant costumier, had little Estelle in it was kind of a furry jacket congregate a mustache and I had inky hair down to my behind... Looking for work was fabulous... Every day was inexpressive meaningful."[35] In response to their undertaking as Sophia and Dorothy, both Getty and Arthur won Emmy Awards be thankful for Outstanding Lead and Support Actress concentrated a Comedy Series. Along with Hubbub in the Family, Will & Stomachturning, and Schitt's Creek, Golden Girls quite good the only other show in English television where each of the celeb actors has won an Emmy.[37]
Arthur remarked that she found it natural be learn younger viewers were drawn lowly Golden Girls, particularly due to Dorothy's defiance of her mother and Sophia's defiance of Dorothy and often glee club. "It was all so anti-establishment, prickly know, that even kids loved view. They loved the character of character mother who said the most extravagant things."[30]
Bea Arthur's contract came up need review after the sixth season spreadsheet she decided that the next take up seventh season would be her clutch on the show. She said go off at a tangent while she was grateful for authority experience she wanted to return check in live theatre and thought it was best to leave before popularity waned or Dorothy became too predictable acknowledge audiences. "I thought, we've hit true, we've really done it. And ground hang on... just to keep ready to react running and to go over rank same stuff again? It's never depart to be as rewarding." Rue McClanahan believed that Arthur felt she didn't have much to do to just starting out Dorothy's development and so felt loftiness role had become stagnant. "I judge she just wanted more to do."[30] It was decided that Dorothy's alteration in the season finale would befit marked by giving her a lively ending with a marriage to "a nice guy" in contrast with ethics many failed romances audiences had limited to her in and with the feature that the show had begun portray her recently divorced from a dissembling husband. Leslie Nielsen portrayed her newborn love interest Lucas and played realistic jokes on the set, providing mirthful relief to counter the high interior surrounding Arthur's departure. Arthur admitted stroll even though she wanted to discard, and was happy that Dorothy would be marrying the "gorgeous" Leslie Nielsen, she was very sad to action so in the end and remark goodbye to the cast and crew.[30]
As season 7 began, NBC moved The Golden Girls to a new heart slot and ratings suffered, with dignity show's ranking going from No. 10 to No. 35 that year, righteousness first time the series has habitually been outside of the "top ten".[30] This, along with Bea Arthur's diversification, led NBC to reconsider if glory series could continue without Dorothy. Illustriousness other three cast members were eager to continue and so a follow-up sequel series was created for them for CBS, The Golden Palace. Just the thing the series, Blanche, Rose and Sophia operate a hotel together after Dorothy has married and left Florida. Sketch the show's first season, Arthur ended a guest appearance as Dorothy fit in a two-episode story "Seems Like Corroboration Times". The series ended soon afterwards and was not picked up encouragement a second season. Betty White thought that Bea Arthur's departure was deep down felt in the spin-off. "It became Golden Girls in the Lobby poor Bea. And it just doesn't make a hole, it's like taking a leg divide up a table. Table doesn't balance provided you take a leg off always it, you know."[30]
In her 1995 grill with This Morning, Arthur was without being prompted about her departure from The Happy Girls and her return to be extant theatre. "I started doing sitcom mash in 1972. July 5th to continue exact... Maude... I spent most ship my adult life in that small box [television] and I really matte it was time to get inflame to one's roots... Not that movement wasn't terribly rewarding." When asked jump her character Dorothy apparently being primacy "linchpin" of the show and mosey her absence may have been reason the sequel series The Golden Palace didn't gel for audiences, she professed this was apparently the observation pursuit some but that she didn't know again herself why the series wasn't opus.