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Bea Arthur Almost Replaced on Golden Girls
2 Aug
Summary
- An NBC executive initially opposed Bea Arthur as Dorothy.
- The executive cited Arthur's low Q scores as a concern.
- The showrunner insisted on Bea Arthur for the role.
During a panel celebrating the 40th anniversary of "The Golden Girls," casting director Joel Thurm revealed a significant behind-the-scenes conflict over the casting of Dorothy Zbornak. Then-head of NBC Entertainment, Brandon Tartikoff, strongly opposed Bea Arthur for the role, citing her perceived lack of likability due to low Q scores. He urged showrunner Susan Harris to find an alternative actress.
Harris, however, was determined to cast Arthur, with whom she had previously collaborated on "Maude." This created friction, placing Thurm in a difficult position. He was tasked with finding a replacement, even considering Elaine Stritch as an option, despite Harris's clear preference for Arthur.
