'The Golden Girls' was acknowledged as last year's biggest hit, so when producers gathered this spring to discuss major changes, they came to a quick agreement: none.

"The show is working, and we want to stick with it," said producer Kathy Speer.

"There will be minor things, like going to different sets to visit Blanche, for instance, or following them when they go on vacation.

"But in terms of major scope and characters, we like what we have."

Several of the story lines will be livened up, however.

In one early episode, Blanche (Rue McClanahan) thinks she's pregnant. In another segment, Blanche and Dorothy (Bea Arthur) get thrown in jail on suspicion of prostitution. Sounds good.

At this time last year, of course, "The Golden Girls" was just another promising show with good reviews. But by the time the season ended, it was a Top 10 program called by some industry sources as the only "smash hit" of the year.

Not only was it successful, but it has been credited with bringing back viewers to the TV sets on Saturday nights.

It was a natural with older viewers who enjoyed the human treatment of those over 55, and its sharp writing and salty characters proved to be appealing to a younger crowd as well.

"Without patting ourselves on the back," said Terry Grossman, also a producer for the show, "I think we have played a part getting more people watching TV on Saturday nights.

"Saturday used to be a big night with 'Mary Tyler Moore', 'Newhart' and 'M*A*SH*' in the old days, but ratings are down in recent years. Now they seem to be going up again."

Already "Golden Girls" has inspired imitators, such as the new "Designing Women" series.

Yet Grossman denies that a show can make it simply by putting a quartet of women together.

"The reason we have been successful is that the show is about people," he said. "We don't treat senior citizens, but as people. "And the public seems to like that."