How did this series end in the spring of 1978 and was the show still in the top ten when it was in it's last season?

The last time "Maude" ranked in the top ten was the 19775-76 season, at number 4.
As for the end of the series here is how things wrapped up:

Changes were planned for what was to have been the 1978-79 season in which the Harmons and Carol(Adrienne Barbeau had only appeared sporadically in the final season) moved out of Tuckahoe. Walter was to retire from the appliance business and Maude would begin a career in politics. The new format would have found Maude taking the seat of a deceased Congressman that she had been friends with. The final episode saw all this come to fruition; however, Bea Arthur, after taping one episode in the new setting, decided that she had had enough. She announced that she was leaving the series, and the producers knew that no one else could play the role but Bea, so, they pulled the plug on the entire series.

The new format was not dropped entirely however. A retooled version with John Amos playing a former football star that is suddenly in politics was made into the pilot "Onward and Upward." However, Amos had differences with the producers and was dropped. Another pilot titled at first "Mr Dooley" and then "Mr Dugan" starred Cleavon Little. Once again trouble erupted. This time the series, before its scheduled debut of March 1979 was pulled after several black politicians felt the show's comic portrayal of a black politician was demeaning to all blacks. Finally the show premiered in August of 1979 now called "Hanging In." This time the setting was changed to a college and "Maude" star Bill Macy snagged the starring role. Ironically, after all the troubles this series faced, it only lasted four weeks before being cancelled.

Typo Alert- I meant of course 1975-76 season not 19775 season. I mean the show was long running but not "that" long running.

Originally posted by Flash72
Typo Alert- I meant of course 1975-76 season not 19775 season. I mean the show was long running but not "that" long running.


I wonder what changes were made after the 75-76 season because the last two seasons of Maude, the show was not even in the top 25.

It might have been the competition from the other two networks. "All in the Family" aired before "Maude" on CBS in 1975, but was moved to Wednesdays in 1976. "Phyllis" and the "Betty White Show" aired before "Maude" in 1976 and 1977 respectively. On NBC, in 1976 and 1977 "Maude" went up against the "NBC Monday Night Movie" and "ABC Monday Night Football" on ABC. This, along with the inevitable wearing out its welcome from a long-running series could be to blame for the erosion in ratings.

It was also up against Little House On The Prairie in the last season,and then when Maude moved to Saturdays early in 1978,it competed against The Love Boat. So that is possibly why it did so poorly in the ratings the last two seasons it was on the air.

Bea was right in getting out of the show at just the right time.

Originally posted by BravesFan2004
It was also up against Little House On The Prairie in the last season,and then when Maude moved to Saturdays early in 1978,it competed against The Love Boat. So that is possibly why it did so poorly in the ratings the last two seasons it was on the air.

Bea was right in getting out of the show at just the right time.


Yeah Bea did the right thing. Especially since the show did not finish in the top 30.