One odd thing about part 1 of the 3 part finale

[TVFactFan]

Carol states her and Phillip are moving to Denver in the beginning of part 1 and in the middle of the episode carol and phillip go upstairs and never came back down. And we never see them leave Maude's house with luggage headed to denver. Once they go upstairs we never see them again or is this a DVD edit?

Atleast Vivian and Arthur said their final goodbyes before they left. Thought that was odd.

[Christopher]

I remember Adrienne was dropped from the credits in season 6. Maybe she was done with the show and just wanted a quick exit her last episode? She wasn't a main character in the show for the previous seasons. After season 2, everything became Maude, Walter, Arthur, and Vivian. Even Mrs. Naugatuck had more episodes focused on her than Carol did. The last big story Carol had was when she was engaged to Chris in season 2. We all saw how odd that ended. Season 2 she's engaged. Season 3 he's never seen or mention. Carol is dating so it's like her engagement never happened.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I remember Adrienne was dropped from the credits in season 6. Maybe she was done with the show and just wanted a quick exit her last episode? She wasn't a main character in the show for the previous seasons. After season 2, everything became Maude, Walter, Arthur, and Vivian. Even Mrs. Naugatuck had more episodes focused on her than Carol did. The last big story Carol had was when she was engaged to Chris in season 2. We all saw how odd that ended. Season 2 she's engaged. Season 3 he's never seen or mention. Carol is dating so it's like her engagement never happened.

Yes that was her last episode, part 1. You see her and Phillip go upstairs and never come back down.

[hch]

The sudden "vanishing" of Carol and Phillip in the first part of the series finale, "Maude's Big Move: Part 1," is indeed one of the most abrupt exits for main characters in sitcom history. You aren't imagining the lack of closure; this was not a DVD edit, but rather a result of the show’s chaotic final season retooling.

The Final Appearance: Adrienne Barbeau and Kraig Metzinger (Phillip) make their last series appearance in Part 1. After announcing they are moving to Denver (sometimes cited as Colorado), they effectively disappear into the upstairs of the set and are never seen again in Parts 2 or 3.

The "Retooling" Erasure: Behind the scenes, the series was in the middle of a massive creative overhaul. CBS wanted to move Maude to Washington, D.C. for a seventh season, which meant writing out the entire supporting cast—Carol, Phillip, Arthur, and Vivian—to clear the deck for a new "D.C. staff" ensemble. While Arthur and Vivian got a brief goodbye in Part 2, Carol and Phillip were simply gone.

Adrienne Barbeau’s Departure: By the final season, Barbeau had become a pin-up star and was looking to transition into film (eventually starring in cult classics like The Fog). Her decreased screen time in Season 6 and her absence from the opening credits reflected her phasing out of the show before it was even officially canceled.

The "Vanishing" Husband: You correctly noted the bizarre disappearance of Chris (played by Fred Grandy). After being a major part of Carol's life in Season 2, he was dropped between seasons with virtually no explanation, and Carol went back to being a "swinging single" mother. This was a common habit for the writers, who often prioritized topical "problem" episodes over character continuity.

The show essentially ended as a failed pilot for the Washington, D.C. concept. When Bea Arthur decided to quit, the "Big Move" went from being a season bridge to a permanent, and very messy, finale.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by hch

The sudden "vanishing" of Carol and Phillip in the first part of the series finale, "Maude's Big Move: Part 1," is indeed one of the most abrupt exits for main characters in sitcom history. You aren't imagining the lack of closure; this was not a DVD edit, but rather a result of the show’s chaotic final season retooling.

The Final Appearance: Adrienne Barbeau and Kraig Metzinger (Phillip) make their last series appearance in Part 1. After announcing they are moving to Denver (sometimes cited as Colorado), they effectively disappear into the upstairs of the set and are never seen again in Parts 2 or 3.

The "Retooling" Erasure: Behind the scenes, the series was in the middle of a massive creative overhaul. CBS wanted to move Maude to Washington, D.C. for a seventh season, which meant writing out the entire supporting cast—Carol, Phillip, Arthur, and Vivian—to clear the deck for a new "D.C. staff" ensemble. While Arthur and Vivian got a brief goodbye in Part 2, Carol and Phillip were simply gone.

Adrienne Barbeau’s Departure: By the final season, Barbeau had become a pin-up star and was looking to transition into film (eventually starring in cult classics like The Fog). Her decreased screen time in Season 6 and her absence from the opening credits reflected her phasing out of the show before it was even officially canceled.

The "Vanishing" Husband: You correctly noted the bizarre disappearance of Chris (played by Fred Grandy). After being a major part of Carol's life in Season 2, he was dropped between seasons with virtually no explanation, and Carol went back to being a "swinging single" mother. This was a common habit for the writers, who often prioritized topical "problem" episodes over character continuity.

The show essentially ended as a failed pilot for the Washington, D.C. concept. When Bea Arthur decided to quit, the "Big Move" went from being a season bridge to a permanent, and very messy, finale.

Ok thanks I wasnt sure if she was seen only on CBS during that time