And Then There's Maude

Maude Has a Chat with Florida

One of my favorite shows from the 1970's is "Maude". This show is from the golden era of Norman Lear productions; "Maude" was a spin-off of "All in the Family". She was Edith's mouthy, pushy, liberated, 40-something cousin who acted as an excellent foil to the conservative Archie. "Maude" was not included in my top-4 list of TV shows back in April -- she's an acquired taste for so many people. My mother didn't like her. My father had a more volcanic reaction. As soon as he heard the theme music, he would rush over and point to the TV set. He'd say, “THAT is NOT a WOMAN!” Then he would nearly break the knob off our Walnut, console style TV to change the channel. This would consign me to the back bedroom, where I'd watch her on a 13" B&W set.

The show was on from 1972 to 1977, and with such a strident female character, a bit ahead of its time. There are two other 70's shows that would probably also have a better following now than then: "Rhoda" and "Mary Hartman". Strong, opinionated females and the quirky irony of Mary Hartman were too much for TV at that time. Maude lived in a NY suburb with her 4th husband, Walter. Also in the cast were her breezy, liberated daughter Carol, grandson Phillip and neighbors Arthur and Vivian. Even at the time, the show’s writers saw Maude as over-the-top. The fact that she was on husband number 4, had a contentious relationship with her own Mother, and regularly alienated various male characters shows that her character was pushing the envelope, mostly for comedic purposes. My parents didn’t have a handle on such wack humor – most people didn’t. Bea Arthur was already a tall woman, with a deep voice. The wardrobe department furthered the look with mannish-looking tunics, pantsuits and a shag hairstyle. Bea might not be whom you’d ask to the high school prom, but you could appreciate her humor. A couple of examples, that I recall somewhat:

Carol answers Maude’s doorbell for her – it’s a Republican pollster. Maude says, “I’ll handle this”. She walks over placidly, and slams the door in the man’s face.

In another episode, Maude has run off Carol and the maid with her constant harping and judgmental remarks. The two women have run next door to Vivian’s house. Maude comes over to Vivian’s house and remarks, “What is this – a home for wayward girls?”

Vivian was played by Rue McClanahan – in a slightly mischievous, naughty housewife manner that would segue easily to her future role on “Golden Girls”. Speaking of “Golden Girls”, I have the same complaint about both shows. The shows would operate in a silly, almost cartoonish mode, and then suddenly try to be serious. They would go from loud chortles to an earnest plea about breast cancer, the homeless or the elderly. It may even be sincere in its way, but both shows suffered from these bipolar mood adjustments. Be funny or be preachy, but not both. All that being the case, “Maude” was hilarious in its prime, and probably a good thirty years ahead of its time. Some people can’t handle a mouthy broad; you don’t have to marry her – just laugh. And if it bothers you too much, maybe you have “issues” to resolve.