For starters, the show arguably suffered a great loss with Susan Sullivan's (Lois) departure (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=328421). Lois was really the anchor of the show. She was adept at the mother hen role that she played, serving as a support system and conscious for the other women.

Louise Lasser came in for Season 2 as the new waitress, Maggie and she just never gelled (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=391920). Her character was a very acquired taste to say the least. She was always slow, ditzy, and dry with the jokes that she told.

I loved Maggie and her lines were usually the funniest thing in any Season 2 episode. The problem was the writing was so bland that season. I think the network told the producers to tone down the sexy angle of Season 1. Cassie was almost neutered from what she was in 1980-81.

If they had been able to craft better stories in Season 2, the show would have been better and Louise wouldn't be blamed. I have reviewed all 120 episodes recently on IMDB and explain the problems there.

I loved Maggie and her lines were usually the funniest thing in any Season 2 episode. The problem was the writing was so bland that season. I think the network told the producers to tone down the sexy angle of Season 1. Cassie was almost neutered from what she was in 1980-81.

If they had been able to craft better stories in Season 2, the show would have been better and Louise wouldn't be blamed. I have reviewed all 120 episodes recently on IMDB and explain the problems there.

It's a Living/Making a Living appeared to be Louise Lasser's last real shot at film or TV stardom post her run on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/25889064-mary-hartman-mary-hartman). But as others have duly noted (https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Louise-Lasser-banned-on-Saturday-Night-Live/answer/Jon-Mixon-1), while she may have popular in the New York acting community, her neurotic style of comedy lost most of its appeal. And if you read her IMDb page (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0489837/), you’ll see mostly one-off roles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Lasser#Filmography) since 1984.