Susan Harris Looks Back on "Maude"

[JamesG]

Harris transitioned from "All in the Family" to its spin-off "Maude", starring future Golden Girl Bea Arthur. Harris wrote four episodes in total, including the now legendary two-part abortion story, “Maude’s Dilemma.”



Norman wanted an abortion episode for Maude’s neighbor Vivian [played by Rue McClanahan]. I thought it was a wonderful idea. I thought it was something that absolutely should be addressed, and I liked tackling issues as well as entertaining. I gave it to him, and he said, “This is too good for Vivian. We have to give it to Maude.”

They lost, I think, all their sponsors. I wasn’t surprised he asked me [to write it] because he had seen my work on "All in the Family" and he had confidence in me. I knew it would be an intense reaction from viewers. I knew people felt very strongly about it one way or the other — but something like that would never deter me.

https://ew.com/tv/2018/10/15/susan-h...-oral-history/