I always thought Bea just had enough of playing Maude and maybe knew the ratings were not as high anymore, but Bill Macy has been interviewed on YouTube and says Gene Saks, Bea's husband, met a younger woman and wanted a divorce. Bea was so upset apparently that she didn't want to do the show anymore.

Bill's interview here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmjj454ncEw

....I often wonder what the season when Maude was a congresswoman might have been like [probably its last, no doubt].

:tv:

....I often wonder what the season when Maude was a congresswoman might have been like [probably its last, no doubt].

:tv:


I've watched some of the episodes when Maude was campaigning for senator Bob Myers and during those season 4 episodes, Maude & Walter were talking about getting a divorce. I wonder if that mirrored what was going on in her real life.

the show wasnt coming back anyway due to sagging ratings so it wasnt like the show was a hit and she ended it:lol: