Actress Marcia Rodd played Maude's daughter in the pilot but then was switched to Adrienne Barbeau. Anyone know why?

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I can only guess that Marcia was the mini-me of Maude. They were so much alike. Adrienne was much softer and a contrast to Maude which worked better. But I am curious if anyone knows why the change was made. The pilot worked really well IMHO.

I don't see anything that's documented. A few internet posters say she didn't want to leave New York, which she'd have to do to be a show regular.

I don't see anything that's documented. A few internet posters say she didn't want to leave New York, which she'd have to do to be a show regular.
I couldn't find anything either. I was hoping someone read the book on Maude and something was mentioned. She was on an episode of All In The Family before Maude and then made another appearance in one of the last seasons of Maude as another character. She was a busy actress especially with Norman Lear who must of liked her.
However things get changed all the time in pilot episodes. For example the gay housekeeper was axed on Golden Girls. I wonder if some executive thought there should be a warmer and more laid back, clever kind of daughter. But that is only a hunch.

In this episode, Carol is portrayed by actress Marcia Rodd. When Maude (1972) became its own series, the role of Carol went to actress Adrienne Barbeau (reportedly Marcia - primarily a theater actress - decided not to join the spinoff). Bea Arthur was quoted as saying she would rather have had Marcia Rodd carry on playing Carol throughout the spin-off, regarding Barbeau's portrayal as too soft, while Rodd played her as hard-edged. Rodd did guest star as a different character in "Walter's Temptation" during the final season of "Maude".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0509890/trivia/

In this episode, Carol is portrayed by actress Marcia Rodd. When Maude (1972) became its own series, the role of Carol went to actress Adrienne Barbeau (reportedly Marcia - primarily a theater actress - decided not to join the spinoff). Bea Arthur was quoted as saying she would rather have had Marcia Rodd carry on playing Carol throughout the spin-off, regarding Barbeau's portrayal as too soft, while Rodd played her as hard-edged. Rodd did guest star as a different character in "Walter's Temptation" during the final season of "Maude".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0509890/trivia/
Thank you for sharing. Interesting. Its incredible someone would turn down a Norman Lear spin off.

You're welcome.

Jan Brady finally got her way removing a Marcia. :D

Jan Brady finally got her way removing a Marcia. :D

:lol::D:lol::D

Wasn't Marcia Rodd also the one who played the Mother of the little boy who claimed Mike was his Father on an All in the family episode?

I don't believe for a minute that it was Marcia Rodd's decision not to continue in the role of Carol. Barbeau gave the character a lighter touch, and let's face it she's a lot more pleasing on the eyes.

Wasn't Marcia Rodd also the one who played the Mother of the little boy who claimed Mike was his Father on an All in the family episode?
Yes she was on All In The Family with Mike's mystery child episode. The actor who played Frank Lorenzo played a judge on Maude too.

Marcia Rodd was also in the original pilot of One Day At A Time (then called Three To Get Ready) as a character who did not carry over when they redid it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9740412/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_t_66

Marcia Rodd was also in the original pilot of One Day At A Time (then called Three To Get Ready) as a character who did not carry over when they redid it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9740412/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_t_66

Julie, Ann, and Gail, umm, getting ready I guess

https://artworks.thetvdb.com/banners/episodes/71316/7056645.jpg

Seems like proof she never wanted to be on a TV series. I know its hard for some of us to believe someone would turn down a TV series but there are many actors that did. They did not want to live tied to a sitcom.
The pilot of Maude was very successful with high ratings so you would imagine they would not want to change a thing. I can understand Bea's concern about switching up her daughter. But I think Marcia was too much a mini-mi of Maude. The softer daughter character worked better. Florida was the antagonist along with the conservative neighbor and her husband. Having a more fluid and neutral daughter worked better IMHO.
Not the first pilot to change things up. Alice changed who her son would be. Roseanne changed up DJ. The Golden Girls axed their house keeper.
There is a book about Maude, no? I am surprised this is not discussed.

Seems like proof she never wanted to be on a TV series. I know its hard for some of us to believe someone would turn down a TV series but there are many actors that did. They did not want to live tied to a sitcom.
The pilot of Maude was very successful with high ratings so you would imagine they would not want to change a thing. I can understand Bea's concern about switching up her daughter. But I think Marcia was too much a mini-mi of Maude. The softer daughter character worked better. Florida was the antagonist along with the conservative neighbor and her husband. Having a more fluid and neutral daughter worked better IMHO.
Not the first pilot to change things up. Alice changed who her son would be. Roseanne changed up DJ. The Golden Girls axed their house keeper.
There is a book about Maude, no? I am surprised this is not discussed.

She was a castmember of a TV series, 13 Queens Boulevard, she appeared in all 9 episodes. Doris Roberts who did not appear in the backdoor pilot was originally cast in the role of Vivian but Lear was impressed by Rue McClanahan performance in an All in the Family episode and made the change. Producers have to consider a lot of things when putting a show together, there may have been feedback from the network suits, or audience feedback from the pilot filming or Lear himself may have decided her performance was too similar to Bea's.

It was reported that the actress was determined to stay in New York and did not wanna move to California

Personally I liked Adrienne Barbeau better.She ruled as Carol.