This originally going to be a new series built around the character Maude who going to move to Washington to become a Congresswoman but Bea Arthur decided not to do the show. Three different pilots was made and they finally decided on the title Hanging In which featured Bill Macy, the character Walter from Maude along with 3 supporting characters. Dennis Burkley who would later play Cal on Sanford, Nedra Volz, who played Adeliade on Different Strokes, and Barbara Rhodes

The show made its debut on Wednesday, August 8, 1979 on CBS at 8:30pm

The show went up against reruns of Eight is Enough on ABC and Real People on NBC

After the first airing the show finished ranked #52 out of 63 shows

After the second airing the show ranked #57 out of 61 shows

After the third airing the show was ranked #61 out of 62 shows

After the last airing the show was ranked #61 out of 62 shows and not added to fall schedule




The Reporter, August 31, 1979

Longview News Journal, August 15, 1979

The Spokesman Review, August 22, 1979

The concept of the unaired Mr. Dugan was reworked into Hanging In.

Barbara Rhoades, Nedra Volz and Dennis Burkley starred in both series. They also appeared in the final three episodes of Maude and in the pilot for Onward and Upward, which featured Good Times star John Amos.

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The Museum of Classic Chicago Television (www.FuzzyMemories.TV) uploaded a short promo for the premiere episode of Mister Dugan.

Mr. Dugan (Unaired 1979 CBS Sitcom)
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=291088

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Dugan

Lost Media Wiki
https://lostmediawiki.com/Mr._Dugan_(lost_unaired_CBS_sitcom_TV_series;_1979)

Unaired sitcoms with multiple episodes produced that never aired on a network
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=421371

Programs Cancelled Before They Premiered, 1963-1988 - TVObscurities
http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/cancelled_before_they_premiered/

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Just read some articles from 1979 and found out Mr. Dugan angered Congressional Black Caucus members when they watched the first episode. One member said he was sickened by the show after watching it which led to the Norman Lear Production Company to not deliver the show to CBS. One congressman from Philadelphia at the time stated that the potryal of the Black Congressman was degrading and demeaning.