In December 2021, fans were devastated over the loss of the beloved actress Betty White. White entertained the masses for decades and was known for her generosity. Prior to her death and in preparation for what would be her 100th birthday, Hulu released The Golden Palace spinoff in addition to The Golden Girls, which was already in the lineup. Instead of being a celebration of her life, this show's re-release has become a comfort in the wake of her death. But is The Golden Palace worth the watch?
This show picks up where The Golden Girls leaves off. After Dorothy (Bea Arthur) marries Lucas (Leslie Nielsen) and leaves for Atlanta, Blanche (Rue McClanahan) decides that she, Rose (Betty White), and Sophia (Estelle Getty) should run a hotel together. They purchase a failing, but trendy hotel, and with the help of the chef, Chuy (Cheech Marin), and manager, Roland (Don Cheadle), bring it back to life. They live there with each other and the hijinks continue. It even has the same theme song, but with a different singer and an early '90s twist.
Fans may also appreciate all The Golden Girls Easter eggs throughout this spinoff. The Golden Palace kitchen has more similarities to the original kitchen than differences except for those ambiguous copper cake molds. The place is still overrun with wicker. Rose still peppers her stories with vague Scandinavian sounding words. Blanche’s bedroom still has the de rigueur palm prints splashing against the pink in her bedroom, and there is still the omnipresent crisis cheesecake. These beloved characters continue to prove that older ladies can still have fulfilling lives, even if those lives look different from when they were in their twenties or thirties.
Despite these similarities, though, the show proves it can stand alone. It takes the groundwork laid by the original and runs with it into a successful spinoff.
The characters have been reworked a bit, which may be jarring to some fans. Sophia is aged even older, so Getty, age 69 at the time, had to make that work. Spoiled, affluent Blanche is suddenly a business owner who makes a “whoopsie” column in the accounting books. Rose has to become smarter and stronger to compensate for Dorothy’s absence, but she still tells goofy St. Olaf stories and even throws a cow-themed wedding. The Golden Palace cast is also primarily a five-lead cast. Despite the odd number, it works.
We see further character development in this spinoff, especially for Blanche, who was often critiqued as being selfish in The Golden Girls. Here, she grows into a more considerate and responsible character. She is much more open to her son when she thinks he is gay than when she finds out about her brother's sexuality in the original. She is still man-hungry, though, throughout. Some things never change.
The Golden Girls was known for introducing groundbreaking themes of the day such as racism, homosexuality, AIDS, poverty and gender inequality. The Golden Palace takes this a step further, continuing to tackle groundbreaking topics into the '90s. One way they do this is by featuring minority cast members in a respectful light.
Roland is a complex character. He is a foster father of an adolescent boy for a few episodes. He is a capable businessman and is respected as such. In one episode, Roland is upset because Blanche is allowing a Confederate women’s group stay in the hotel and Blanche hangs the Confederate flag at the desk to welcome them. Roland protests that the flag represents racism. Blanche tells him that the flag was not about hate, just heritage; but when one of the women makes a comment about him being a submissive servant for a white woman, Blanche takes Roland’s side and removes the flag.
The Golden Palace also highlights issues of caring for the elderly and mentally disabled. In Season 1, episode 21, titled “Tad”, we find out why Blanche frequents Chattanooga. A young Jack Black plays a cab driver that ushers Sophia to Shady Pines. Joely Fisher plays the foster son’s mother. Bill Engvall plays Blanche’s son who she thinks might be gay. As fans re-watch these shows, that is what both will be known for: using humor to highlight the similarities of the human condition. Neither are ever mean-spirited in their approaches, so as not to alienate viewers they're trying to attract. That has always been the end goal of both shows and what makes them shine.
Despite its more serious themes, The Golden Palace is charming and witty; full of one-liners, comic timing, and pop culture references. When Blanche dresses for a business meeting in a sensible suit, high-necked blouse, broach, and glasses, Sophia calls her “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Slut.” And the dirty jokes are dirtier. In an episode where Dorothy pays the girls a visit, she jokes that she and her husband have been experimenting sexually, which at their age, means that they leave the lights on.
The actors, as well as the writers and producers, never shy away from showcasing their pet causes. White was always an animal lover, and she used both shows to champion her animal activism. White brings awareness to dog rescue in an episode titled “A New Leash on Life” that exposes the dark underbelly of greyhound racing.
In a touching tweet remembering White's kindness and generosity, Don Cheadle said that during the filming of The Golden Palace the lighting was always off in their scenes together because of their skin’s contrasts. One day, without being asked, Betty had darkened her hair and makeup in an attempt to solve the problem. She also recommended a veterinarian that Cheadle still takes his dogs to years later.
It seems impossible to speak about The Golden Palace without comparing it to the original, but the spinoff still holds its own as a thoroughly watchable sitcom with short, pithy, and often heartwarming episodes full of zing and talented comedians. Nothing will ever take the place of The Golden Girls, but if you need a Betty White fix and a good laugh, The Golden Palace is worth a watch!