The south Florida setting adds a warmth and lightness to the show, reflected in the tropical furniture and clothing favored by the women. The vivid colors and the light that floods the production visually represents the vibrancy of the lives of the characters.

     On The Golden Girls, the main characters are in their late-middle age or beyond, but they are presented as full of life, working, capable, and energetic. Even Sophia, the elderly mother, is often in plays, taking trips, going on dates, and doing charity work. Blanche, the youngest of the women, is known for her fondness for men. (Blanche's sexual adventures are always a topic of conversation, but they are never actually portrayed on the program.) Rose, the storyteller of the group, boasts about her roots in St. Olaf, Minnesota, and is presented as much more conservative than the passionate Blanche. Much of the comedy in the program stems from the absurdity of Rose's stories of her "simple" hometown. These rambling narratives are of­ ten utterly inane, but eventually-after the no­ nonsense Dorothy shouts in frustration, "The point, Rose, get to the point!"-the story offers warmhearted advice or a perceptive viewpoint on the problem at hand. Sophia often aims her sharp and sarcastic wit at Rose's stories, making fun of her in a critical, but kind, way. Dorothy, the working schoolteacher and the voice of reason, generally plays against the more extreme, often comical perspectives of the other women. Despite individual eccentricities, each woman is wise in her own way, and each values the others' experiences and sage advice. Each plays her part in the maintenance of friendships and family bonds that result from their cohabitation.

     The Golden Girls valued women and put special emphasis on the importance of women's networks, friendships, and experiences. The series was inclusive enough to showcase the concerns and escapades of four distinctive, aging women, yet balanced enough to combine their individual experiences into a positive picture of four senior citizens functioning together to make the most of life.

Despite the success of the program, NBC dropped The Golden Girls from the prime-time lineup at the end of the 1992 season, when Bea Arthur decided to leave the show. CBS picked up the program and renamed it The Golden Palace, setting it in a hotel run by Blanche, Rose, and Sophia. It was a failure, and after its swift cancellation, the character Sophia returned to NBC to do occasional walk-ons on Empty Nest, a Golden Girls spin-off.