Why Doesn't Maude Do Well In Syndication?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Drinking was very common even on a family-friendly series like Bewitched, and I mean the characters were having drinks really often. Lou Grant kept a booze bottle in his desk on TMTMS. Westerns which had been petering out by the early '70s always had a lot of saloon scenes. Bewitched, Bonanza, Gunsmoke etc. always did very well in reruns. I think we can discount that to some extent as to why Maude didn't become a syndication staple, though I see the point.

This question was asked before the digital TV era when the only option for syndication was TV land. Since then the show has remained in syndication on Antenna and has a complete set on DVD. At the time I think it was only 1 season released and nowhere to be found on cable. So I say all that to say, this thread didnt age too well

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

This question was asked before the digital TV era when the only option for syndication was TV land. Since then the show has remained in syndication on Antenna and has a complete set on DVD. At the time I think it was only 1 season released and nowhere to be found on cable. So I say all that to say, this thread didnt age too well

Actually, considering that the thread is 14 years old and still going, I'd say it has aged far better than 'Maude' itself!

[merlinjones]

As a kid, I watched all the 70s Norman Lear shows when they were new and enjoyed them but I never did like any as well as the escapist 60s shows. Then or now. Often confrontational, unpleasant and dated - the shows remind me of unending family arguments of the era (and sadly, today). Give me Samantha and Darrin (York) - tinka tinka tink.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by PracTz

Actually, considering that the thread is 14 years old and still going, I'd say it has aged far better than 'Maude' itself!

If Antenna TV existed during the 2002-2006 era of SitcomsOnline, this site would have been so damm entertaining,

I would have been so addicted since it would have been so much to talk about

[biffbronson]

I remember when Antenna first came to my area, they were still showing some old daytime movies back then.

Maude is much more relatable to me now too. A lot of the stuff went over my head for that matter back in the '70s. I never even caught the "bra-burner" part of the lyrics correctly. I was still a pre-teen for almost the whole run.

[Sonny Carson]

Originally Posted by TMC

It isn't just the topicality that has given the impression that the show has aged poorly. There's also the impression that Maude is an alcoholic. She is frequently shown with a drink in her hand, making a drink for herself, or asking Walter (her husband) for one. While this may have been funny back then, you would be hard pressed to be easily laughing over that now.

Not only that, but thanks to the modern day opioid crisis, Maude's addiction to pills makes the series a lot darker now than it was ever intended to be back in the 1970s. I mean, The Conners wrote Roseanne Barr's character out by having her overdose on prescription pills to give you some perspective.

To further illustrate how dark of a show Maude actually was, take a look at her to Walter was her fourth and even that one was rocky. Did the series ever really explain why a brassy acting woman like Maude was appealing to him. Maude just came across as a woman with serious emotional issues when you really got down to it.

Also, Arthur seems to be suffering from some sort of mental illness given that he had at least two nervous breakdowns in addition to self-medicating with alcohol. So what we get are episodes that are supposed to be serious, and yet, they still the need to keep things “light”. Didn't this just really undercut what was supposed to be the character suffering and feels exploitative instead of supportive?

I agree with all of this, but there are two words that are the reason I lose interest in Maude, 'Mrs. Naugatuck'!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Sonny Carson

I agree with all of this, but there are two words that are the reason I lose interest in Maude, 'Mrs. Naugatuck'!

Mrs Drukentuck

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by TMC

It isn't just the topicality that has given the impression that the show has aged poorly. There's also the impression that Maude is an alcoholic. She is frequently shown with a drink in her hand, making a drink for herself, or asking Walter (her husband) for one. While this may have been funny back then, you would be hard pressed to be easily laughing over that now.

Not only that, but thanks to the modern day opioid crisis, Maude's addiction to pills makes the series a lot darker now than it was ever intended to be back in the 1970s. I mean, The Conners wrote Roseanne Barr's character out by having her overdose on prescription pills to give you some perspective.

To further illustrate how dark of a show Maude actually was, take a look at her to Walter was her fourth and even that one was rocky. Did the series ever really explain why a brassy acting woman like Maude was appealing to him. Maude just came across as a woman with serious emotional issues when you really got down to it.

Also, Arthur seems to be suffering from some sort of mental illness given that he had at least two nervous breakdowns in addition to self-medicating with alcohol. So what we get are episodes that are supposed to be serious, and yet, they still the need to keep things “light”. Didn't this just really undercut what was supposed to be the character suffering and feels exploitative instead of supportive?

Maude isn't a dark show. There's some episodes that are very heavily emotional, but it's no different than what All in The Family did. All in The Family had the KKK, Edith's attempted rape, a drag queen getting killed, and child abandonment to name a few topics. Maude didn't have as many topics like that show. There's more episodes of Maude where it's just a typical sitcom than a show trying to send a message like All in The Family. I think there are two main reasons Maude doesn't do well in syndication. First, some of the jokes are dated to the decade it was filmed in. The one that always comes to mind is the joke in the gay bar episode where Walter orders orange juice and the guys look angry at him. He responds, "oh yeah, I forgot." They didn't give any explanation to why the guys are giving Walter a dirty look though but there's a laugh track to the line. Second, most TV viewers want to remember Bea as Dorothy from The Golden Girls than her role as Maude. Look at Lucille Ball. She had two other long running shows but only I Love Lucy gets the most attention in syndication and Lucy fans.

I like Maude and still watch it to this day. I even got one of my coworkers who's in their early 20's to give the show a shot. She likes it. There's a lot of aspects to Maude that young adults would enjoy. I think Maude gets better as it goes on each season. I'm glad I bought the complete series set.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Maude isn't a dark show. There's some episodes that are very heavily emotional, but it's no different than what All in The Family did. All in The Family had the KKK, Edith's attempted rape, a drag queen getting killed, and child abandonment to name a few topics. Maude didn't have as many topics like that show. There's more episodes of Maude where it's just a typical sitcom than a show trying to send a message like All in The Family. I think there are two main reasons Maude doesn't do well in syndication. First, some of the jokes are dated to the decade it was filmed in. The one that always comes to mind is the joke in the gay bar episode where Walter orders orange juice and the guys look angry at him. He responds, "oh yeah, I forgot." They didn't give any explanation to why the guys are giving Walter a dirty look though but there's a laugh track to the line. Second, most TV viewers want to remember Bea as Dorothy from The Golden Girls than her role as Maude. Look at Lucille Ball. She had two other long running shows but only I Love Lucy gets the most attention in syndication and Lucy fans.

I like Maude and still watch it to this day. I even got one of my coworkers who's in their early 20's to give the show a shot. She likes it. There's a lot of aspects to Maude that young adults would enjoy. I think Maude gets better as it goes on each season. I'm glad I bought the complete series set.

Definitely not a dark show and enjoying the DVD. I love the way walter yells MAUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BestTVever]

I love Maude but its a show that played up all of the early 70's struggles of women. People in the 90s and 2000's dont appreciate or understand the context of many of the shows. Many early 70s shows dont hold up. Maude holds up better than most. Maude was the anti-archy and even Bea Arthur said she could not stand the character either. Also the last season was pretty dumb with Maude in Congress. IMHO, when Florida left, it was never the same again. Florida was to Maude as Florence was to George Jefferson and Mike was to Archie. Once she left, the table only had 3 legs.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Maude isn't a dark show. There's some episodes that are very heavily emotional, but it's no different than what All in The Family did. All in The Family had the KKK, Edith's attempted rape, a drag queen getting killed, and child abandonment to name a few topics. Maude didn't have as many topics like that show. There's more episodes of Maude where it's just a typical sitcom than a show trying to send a message like All in The Family. I think there are two main reasons Maude doesn't do well in syndication. First, some of the jokes are dated to the decade it was filmed in. The one that always comes to mind is the joke in the gay bar episode where Walter orders orange juice and the guys look angry at him. He responds, "oh yeah, I forgot." They didn't give any explanation to why the guys are giving Walter a dirty look though but there's a laugh track to the line. Second, most TV viewers want to remember Bea as Dorothy from The Golden Girls than her role as Maude. Look at Lucille Ball. She had two other long running shows but only I Love Lucy gets the most attention in syndication and Lucy fans.

I like Maude and still watch it to this day. I even got one of my coworkers who's in their early 20's to give the show a shot. She likes it. There's a lot of aspects to Maude that young adults would enjoy. I think Maude gets better as it goes on each season. I'm glad I bought the complete series set.

Likewise, Conrad Bain is by far, more recognized these days for being Mr. Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes than as Arthur. So Maude is one of those cases, where the cast enjoyed their greatest successes after the show ended.

As for the orange juice joke, it's naturally one of those things where if you don't understand the context behind it (and if you weren't old enough to be around back then) then you would be completely lost. I'm assuming that the orange juice joke was in reference to Anita Bryant, who was infamous back in the 1970s for her outspoken homophobia. She was for many years, a spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

I love Maude but its a show that played up all of the early 70's struggles of women. People in the 90s and 2000's dont appreciate or understand the context of many of the shows. Many early 70s shows dont hold up. Maude holds up better than most. Maude was the anti-archy and even Bea Arthur said she could not stand the character either. Also the last season was pretty dumb with Maude in Congress. IMHO, when Florida left, it was never the same again. Florida was to Maude as Florence was to George Jefferson and Mike was to Archie. Once she left, the table only had 3 legs.

And replaced her with Ms. Drunken Tuck

[hifijohn]

Some shows have timeless quality them they can last for decades in reruns other just fade away, I don't why Maude cant make it, antennatv tried and dropped it very quickly, My guess it just a style, and that just doesn't work anymore.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by hifijohn

Some shows have timeless quality them they can last for decades in reruns other just fade away, I don't why Maude cant make it, antennatv tried and dropped it very quickly, My guess it just a style, and that just doesn't work anymore.

It was only made to be watched once. Not a true sitcom more of a dramedy

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It was only made to be watched once. Not a true sitcom more of a dramedy

Even dramedy's can be watched more than once though. I rewatch Desperate Housewives all the time because the writing was good. I think it comes down to preference and how much you enjoy the show. I enjoy Maude. There's something's that are dated, but the cast and writing make the show fun to watch. I don't watch syndication because episodes are always edited badly to make room for commercials. That maybe another factor to why Maude doesn't do well. You take a 25 minute sitcom and cut out over 6 minutes for commercials, how much of that episode is making sense to the viewers? It didn't work for Alice on ION.