When Bea Arthur met Norman Lear, she didn’t just gain a friend. Lear was a confidante and a professional advisor to Arthur during times of trouble. “I always call him when I’m in trouble,” Arthur said of Lear during an interview with LNP Lancaster Online. The actor explained that she had previously been introduced to Lear after the director saw her in an off-Broadway performance. “We remained friendly and the next time we got together he wrote Maude for me,” said Arthur. “It was for All in the Family, and I never intended that it would become a series.”

As the star of Maude, Arthur enjoyed a successful show with incredible writing. However, it also left her looking at the television industry with rose-colored glasses. “When I came into television, it was with Norman, and I just assumed that was the way television was,” said Arthur. “Well, it wasn’t the way television was.”

Later, Arthur starred in the short-lived sitcom, Amanda’s. The series only produced thirteen episodes before it was cancelled.

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“I really thought it was going to be fabulous,” said Arthur. “I think everyone goofed on the series, including ABC. It had no point of view. It was a huge disappointment to me, but I can’t really put the blame on ABC. I think it was ill-conceived to begin with.”

Years later, when Arthur enjoyed success while starring in The Golden Girls, she couldn’t help but wonder if history was destined to repeat itself. “What’s scary is that word is out that this is going to be the hot new show,” Arthur said during the sitcom's beginnings. “What if we bomb? It’s crazy. I’ve never been in this situation before. I keep thinking back to Amanda’s and how all the bosses loved it.”