Was Bea Arthur Selfish to Leave 'Maude?' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-13-2011, 12:14 PM

Or did she leave at the right time?

This series was a revamped continuation of the Bea Arthur series Maude. In the final three episodes of the sixth season of that series, Maude moves to Washington, D.C. and becomes a congresswoman. After sixth season wrapped, Arthur quit the series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078620/

Kasey · 02-20-2011, 10:42 AM

I don't think she was selfish---she just knew when it was time to leave. She did the same thing with The Golden Girls.

Both shows ended on a good note before they became stale. I thought the last two seasons of GG were the best. While S6 of Maude wasn't my favorite overall (S5 was), some of the funniest episodes appeared in that final year (Aunt Tinkie, The Gay Bar, Baby Sally) and I don't think Maude 'jumped the shark' at all.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasey

I don't think she was selfish---she just knew when it was time to leave. She did the same thing with The Golden Girls.

Both shows ended on a good note before they became stale. I thought the last two seasons of GG were the best. While S6 of Maude wasn't my favorite overall (S5 was), some of the funniest episodes appeared in that final year (Aunt Tinkie, The Gay Bar, Baby Sally) and I don't think Maude 'jumped the shark' at all.

It had to jump the shark somewhat if the show was not in the top ten during the last two seasons

Brian Damage · 02-20-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It had to jump the shark somewhat if the show was not in the top ten during the last two seasons

Did it remain in the top 25 though?

Kasey · 02-20-2011, 12:16 PM

Maude fell out of the Top 25 in Seasons 5 and 6. However, just because a show's ratings dip does not mean the script quality has declined or it has Jumped the Shark. You can't always go by ratings. Some of the writing in S6 of Maude was superior to some S2 and S3 episodes IMO.

Designing Women had its highest ratings in S6 and most people on these message boards have stated how they hated that season the most out of all 7.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Did it remain in the top 25 though?

No it was below 30

TVFactFan · 02-21-2011, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Did it remain in the top 25 though?

Brian I been in a researching mood-lol The ratings for Maude for the last two season was

1976-77-(#30)

1977-78-(#78)

TVFactFan · 02-21-2011, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasey

Maude fell out of the Top 25 in Seasons 5 and 6. However, just because a show's ratings dip does not mean the script quality has declined or it has Jumped the Shark. You can't always go by ratings. Some of the writing in S6 of Maude was superior to some S2 and S3 episodes IMO.

Designing Women had its highest ratings in S6 and most people on these message boards have stated how they hated that season the most out of all 7.

You say the writing was strong in season 6? Well the show finished at #78 so i would like to know what these powerful eps were about-lol

tmac81s · 03-08-2011, 03:29 AM

I think she was right. I remember seeing an interview a long time ago (I think on the old Rosie O'Donnell show back in the '90s), that they wanted to do a 7th season in the Wash. DC setting that the last 3 episodes set up. But it would have been all new characters, except for her and Walter, so she felt it was time to end it.

It's better to end in a good place; not too many shows have done that well doing such a major change after than many seasons.

LittleRickyII · 03-08-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Did it remain in the top 25 though?

No, it wound up one of the bottom-rated shows in 1977-78. CBS gave Bea Arthur some cover by allowing the story to be that she was leaving the show. The reality was CBS was not going to renew Maude. In other words, it was canceled due to low ratings. Check out what was written about the show at the time in this link ("ratings disaster"):

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...+ratings&hl=en

McGillicuddy · 03-11-2011, 10:57 PM

I always thought the storyline with Maude in Washington for season 7, would have been interesting! What could have been!

Lance Rock · 03-16-2011, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

You say the writing was strong in season 6? Well the show finished at #78 so i would like to know what these powerful eps were about-lol

I'm not sure writing is necessarily the root of good or bad ratings -- even if there is a sudden change. Some of the worst cr*p I've ever seen in my life, consistently finished at the top of the ratings heap...lol.

While I do think, overall, there was *some* drop-off in Season 6 with Maude, my own humble guess would be that people simply grew tired of it. Happens to a lot of sitcoms. I also think that Maude tends to be the living definition of the early and mid-70s, topical-styled humor, more so than the directions that TV, and even society, was taking later in the decade.

On the other hand, Season 6 still had a few gems in it. Baby Sally is one of my favorites...ever. In fact, despite some of the historical episodes it contained, I always thought Season 1 was perhaps the weakest of the bunch (or at least in the same overall ballpark as 6): a show still trying to find its groove that started to pick up steam as it went along. Though, I guess one could say the same for more than one show.

catlover79 · 03-16-2011, 02:58 AM

I've heard it said Bea was tired of playing Maude and felt she had done all she could with the character. It really was the best time to hang it up.

tmac81s · 03-16-2011, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance Rock

I also think that Maude tends to be the living definition of the early and mid-70s, topical-styled humor, more so than the directions that TV, and even society, was taking later in the decade.

I agree. When "All in the Family" came on the air at the beginning of the decade, it was something new, and fresh. That's why it and all of the other spin-offs/similar shows (including "Maude") were also hits.

Eventually though, audiences were needing some escape from "real life." That's when more lighthearted, less "serious" shows such as "Happy Days" premiered and became hits.

McGillicuddy · 03-16-2011, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Or did she leave at the right time?

This series was a revamped continuation of the Bea Arthur series Maude. In the final three episodes of the sixth season of that series, Maude moves to Washington, D.C. and becomes a congresswoman. After sixth season wrapped, Arthur quit the series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078620/

I guess fans of Maude would have been more satisfied if those last episodes were written to wrap up the series, instead of "a new begining". I don't remember, we're Carol, Arthur and Vivian even in the last episodes??

We we're just left hanging. Did Bea make her decision to leave at the last minute???

02-13-2011, 12:14 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was Bea Arthur Selfish to Leave 'Maude?' Or did she leave at the right time? This series was a revamped continuation of the Bea Arthur series Maude. In the final three episodes of the sixth season of that series, Maude moves to Washington, D.C. and becomes a congresswoman. After sixth season wrapped, Arthur quit the series. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078620/
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03-08-2011, 03:29 AM	#9
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	I think she was right. I remember seeing an interview a long time ago (I think on the old Rosie O'Donnell show back in the '90s), that they wanted to do a 7th season in the Wash. DC setting that the last 3 episodes set up. But it would have been all new characters, except for her and Walter, so she felt it was time to end it. It's better to end in a good place; not too many shows have done that well doing such a major change after than many seasons.
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03-16-2011, 02:58 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I've heard it said Bea was tired of playing Maude and felt she had done all she could with the character. It really was the best time to hang it up.
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02-20-2011, 10:42 AM	#2
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	I don't think she was selfish---she just knew when it was time to leave. She did the same thing with The Golden Girls. Both shows ended on a good note before they became stale. I thought the last two seasons of GG were the best. While S6 of Maude wasn't my favorite overall (S5 was), some of the funniest episodes appeared in that final year (Aunt Tinkie, The Gay Bar, Baby Sally) and I don't think Maude 'jumped the shark' at all.

02-20-2011, 12:16 PM	#5
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	Maude fell out of the Top 25 in Seasons 5 and 6. However, just because a show's ratings dip does not mean the script quality has declined or it has Jumped the Shark. You can't always go by ratings. Some of the writing in S6 of Maude was superior to some S2 and S3 episodes IMO. Designing Women had its highest ratings in S6 and most people on these message boards have stated how they hated that season the most out of all 7.

03-11-2011, 10:57 PM	#11
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I always thought the storyline with Maude in Washington for season 7, would have been interesting! What could have been!