Or did she leave at the right time?

This series was a revamped continuation of the Bea Arthur series Maude. In the final three episodes of the sixth season of that series, Maude moves to Washington, D.C. and becomes a congresswoman. After sixth season wrapped, Arthur quit the series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078620/

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dHEPjJFvuuk/SxCEFLITRyI/AAAAAAAABfU/MZuo2cOsc-8/s1600/maude.jpg

I don't think she was selfish---she just knew when it was time to leave. She did the same thing with The Golden Girls.

Both shows ended on a good note before they became stale. I thought the last two seasons of GG were the best. While S6 of Maude wasn't my favorite overall (S5 was), some of the funniest episodes appeared in that final year (Aunt Tinkie, The Gay Bar, Baby Sally) and I don't think Maude 'jumped the shark' at all.

I don't think she was selfish---she just knew when it was time to leave. She did the same thing with The Golden Girls.

Both shows ended on a good note before they became stale. I thought the last two seasons of GG were the best. While S6 of Maude wasn't my favorite overall (S5 was), some of the funniest episodes appeared in that final year (Aunt Tinkie, The Gay Bar, Baby Sally) and I don't think Maude 'jumped the shark' at all.

It had to jump the shark somewhat if the show was not in the top ten during the last two seasons

It had to jump the shark somewhat if the show was not in the top ten during the last two seasons


Did it remain in the top 25 though?

Maude fell out of the Top 25 in Seasons 5 and 6. However, just because a show's ratings dip does not mean the script quality has declined or it has Jumped the Shark. You can't always go by ratings. Some of the writing in S6 of Maude was superior to some S2 and S3 episodes IMO.

Designing Women had its highest ratings in S6 and most people on these message boards have stated how they hated that season the most out of all 7.

Did it remain in the top 25 though?


No it was below 30

Did it remain in the top 25 though?


Brian I been in a researching mood-lol The ratings for Maude for the last two season was

1976-77-(#30)

1977-78-(#78)

Maude fell out of the Top 25 in Seasons 5 and 6. However, just because a show's ratings dip does not mean the script quality has declined or it has Jumped the Shark. You can't always go by ratings. Some of the writing in S6 of Maude was superior to some S2 and S3 episodes IMO.

Designing Women had its highest ratings in S6 and most people on these message boards have stated how they hated that season the most out of all 7.


You say the writing was strong in season 6? Well the show finished at #78 so i would like to know what these powerful eps were about-lol

I think she was right. I remember seeing an interview a long time ago (I think on the old Rosie O'Donnell show back in the '90s), that they wanted to do a 7th season in the Wash. DC setting that the last 3 episodes set up. But it would have been all new characters, except for her and Walter, so she felt it was time to end it.

It's better to end in a good place; not too many shows have done that well doing such a major change after than many seasons.

Did it remain in the top 25 though?

No, it wound up one of the bottom-rated shows in 1977-78. CBS gave Bea Arthur some cover by allowing the story to be that she was leaving the show. The reality was CBS was not going to renew Maude. In other words, it was canceled due to low ratings. Check out what was written about the show at the time in this link ("ratings disaster"):

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zJAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1151,3245502&dq=maude+ratings&hl=en

I always thought the storyline with Maude in Washington for season 7, would have been interesting! What could have been!

You say the writing was strong in season 6? Well the show finished at #78 so i would like to know what these powerful eps were about-lol

I'm not sure writing is necessarily the root of good or bad ratings -- even if there is a sudden change. Some of the worst cr*p I've ever seen in my life, consistently finished at the top of the ratings heap...lol. :)

While I do think, overall, there was *some* drop-off in Season 6 with Maude, my own humble guess would be that people simply grew tired of it. Happens to a lot of sitcoms. I also think that Maude tends to be the living definition of the early and mid-70s, topical-styled humor, more so than the directions that TV, and even society, was taking later in the decade.

On the other hand, Season 6 still had a few gems in it. Baby Sally is one of my favorites...ever. In fact, despite some of the historical episodes it contained, I always thought Season 1 was perhaps the weakest of the bunch (or at least in the same overall ballpark as 6): a show still trying to find its groove that started to pick up steam as it went along. Though, I guess one could say the same for more than one show.

I've heard it said Bea was tired of playing Maude and felt she had done all she could with the character. It really was the best time to hang it up.

I also think that Maude tends to be the living definition of the early and mid-70s, topical-styled humor, more so than the directions that TV, and even society, was taking later in the decade.

I agree. When "All in the Family" came on the air at the beginning of the decade, it was something new, and fresh. That's why it and all of the other spin-offs/similar shows (including "Maude") were also hits.

Eventually though, audiences were needing some escape from "real life." That's when more lighthearted, less "serious" shows such as "Happy Days" premiered and became hits.

Or did she leave at the right time?

This series was a revamped continuation of the Bea Arthur series Maude. In the final three episodes of the sixth season of that series, Maude moves to Washington, D.C. and becomes a congresswoman. After sixth season wrapped, Arthur quit the series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078620/

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dHEPjJFvuuk/SxCEFLITRyI/AAAAAAAABfU/MZuo2cOsc-8/s1600/maude.jpg
I guess fans of Maude would have been more satisfied if those last episodes were written to wrap up the series, instead of "a new begining". I don't remember, we're Carol, Arthur and Vivian even in the last episodes??

We we're just left hanging. Did Bea make her decision to leave at the last minute???

I agree. When "All in the Family" came on the air at the beginning of the decade, it was something new, and fresh. That's why it and all of the other spin-offs/similar shows (including "Maude") were also hits.

Eventually though, audiences were needing some escape from "real life." That's when more lighthearted, less "serious" shows such as "Happy Days" premiered and became hits.


Yup unrealistic shows like

Three's Company
Mork and Mindy
Happy Days

I wouldn't say that was a bad thing, I liked all of those shows. I think, by that time, people were wanting an escape when the watched TV. They wanted to just laugh, without any "serious," "Real world" or "political issues" mixed in with the comedy. I just think "Maude" and "All in the Family" had run their course. Nothing wrong with that, they both had good, successful runs.

I wouldn't say that was a bad thing, I liked all of those shows. I think, by that time, people were wanting an escape when the watched TV. They wanted to just laugh, without any "serious," "Real world" or "political issues" mixed in with the comedy. I just think "Maude" and "All in the Family" had run their course. Nothing wrong with that, they both had
good, successful runs.


AITF lasted until 1983 so it was far from it's course in 1978. And Maude is not a show with FUN TOPICS so I can see why it doesn' grab a lot of new viewers.

AITF lasted until 1983 so it was far from it's course in 1978. And Maude is not a show with FUN TOPICS so I can see why it doesn' grab a lot of new viewers.
But All in the Family became Archie Bunker's Place, in 1979, which I don't remember being a show that
dealt with political issues like AITF and Maude did.

But All in the Family became Archie Bunker's Place, in 1979, which I don't remember being a show that
dealt with political issues like AITF and Maude did.


AITF and Maude still were on two different levels of entertainment. AITF was FUN and Maude was SERIOUS

CBS would have cancelled "Maude" if she didn't quit. "Maude" was dying on Saturday nights and finished the season in 78th place. In fact, Maude finished out of the Top 25 during the last two seasons. It was a top ten hit only for four years. The show was funny, but, doesn't repeat well. Your best bet is to buy season one on DVD. I don't know if other seasons will be released on DVD.

CBS would have cancelled "Maude" if she didn't quit. "Maude" was dying on Saturday nights and finished the season in 78th place. In fact, Maude finished out of the Top 25 during the last two seasons. It was a top ten hit only for four years. The show was funny, but, doesn't repeat well. Your best bet is to buy season one on DVD. I don't know if other seasons will be released on DVD.

She knew the show was dying and that's why she pretended to no longer be interested in doing the show

CBS would have cancelled "Maude" if she didn't quit. "Maude" was dying on Saturday nights and finished the season in 78th place. In fact, Maude finished out of the Top 25 during the last two seasons. It was a top ten hit only for four years. The show was funny, but, doesn't repeat well. Your best bet is to buy season one on DVD. I don't know if other seasons will be released on DVD.
Don't give up on Maude season dvd releases. All in the Family was rescued from abandonment, and finished off by Shout! Factory so why not this show?

^ Also, its currently running on Antenna TV if you get that station.

I don't believe Bea was selfish to leave "Maude". She simply felt it was time to let it go. It was a good run.

I had heard and read about the producers taking what would have been the next season of "Maude" and turning it into an entirely different series based in Washington, DC. It went through close to a year of premise and other "behind the scenes" changes before finally making it on the air. Once it did, it lasted only 6 episodes.

I wish it could right after AITF in the 10pm slot instead of 5pm. That's too damm early. Also I wish they would air both shows during the same TV season so I could see how both shows address the times of that era

I really wish they could have done a 7th season! I love politics and share Maude's beliefs. I love to watch and follow congress. There actually is a liberal congresswoman representing Tukahoe's district now. I actually somtimes think what would Maude do when looking at how congress is voting. Enough of my political ramblings!

No way. Bea was smart. When a sitcom's ratings plunge as quickly as Maude's ratings did, the chance of resurrecting the show is nil.

Maude fell out of the Top 25 in Seasons 5 and 6. However, just because a show's ratings dip does not mean the script quality has declined or it has Jumped the Shark. You can't always go by ratings. Some of the writing in S6 of Maude was superior to some S2 and S3 episodes IMO.

Designing Women had its highest ratings in S6 and most people on these message boards have stated how they hated that season the most out of all 7.

You've hit the nail right on the head, Kasey. Ratings alone cannot simply be a sole factor in measuring a program's success. Besides the Designing Women example you listed, another, more important example involves former NBC Entertainment president Brandon Tartikoff. Now if he had only cared about ratings and not given a crap about other things, like critical acclaim or Emmy winnings, then Cheers, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, and St. Elsewhere would all have gotten canned after their respective first seasons.

No way. Bea was smart. When a sitcom's ratings plunge as quickly as Maude's ratings did, the chance of resurrecting the show is nil.

Bea had no choice in the matter. The show was almost at the very bottom of the ratings, in 78th place, and CBS wanted it off the air:

"Producer Normal Lear wants to relocate 'Maude' to Washington, D.C. next season as the title character takes a seat in Congress. But CBS realizes that 'Maude' now is a rating disaster after five years of nice numbers. It's almost certain that Bea Arthur & Co. will be scrapped." -- Gary Deeb; Knight News Service; February 14, 1978.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zJAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1151,3245502&dq=maude+ratings&hl=en

Exactly, Bea Arthur was going to be told LEAVE anyway-lol

Exactly, Bea Arthur was going to be told LEAVE anyway-lol

Correct. CBS was just trying to give her cover by letting the press run with a story that she had decided to leave the show. In reality, CBS was not renewing it under any circumstance.