It shares a great deal in common with All in the Family for obvious reasons. Maude was spun off of All in the Family (AITF) after Beatrice Arthur made a guest appearance on AITF. The feel is the same, it has the topic of the week and there's lots of shouting and loud audience reactions.
Like Norman Lear's other shows of the 1970s, its very dated. I feel this one is even more dated than AITF. What's really interesting to see is Beatrice Arthur as someone other than Dorothy Zbrornak of The Golden Girls. Let's face it, The Golden Girls has become fully entrenched in our pop culture over the last 20 years. The Golden Girls has become ubiquitous. But in a good way. Maude is not Dorothy, but she sounds just like her. And after Bea Arthur had her face lift in Season Two (in real life and written into the show), she looks a little more like Dorothy than Season One Maude.
But Maude is over the top. She's loud opinionated and completely self-centered. Something Dorothy was not. In Season Three, the comedy started to move away from the controversial topic of the week to get a little more slapstick. More emphasis on Vivian and Arthur and their marriage and the introduction of Mrs. Naugatuck who replaced Esther Rolle as the maid once Florida got her spin off. The comedy is much broader especially where she is concerned. Florida was understated and her sarcasm was subtle. Mrs. Naugatuck is a loud 60-something British maid whose a compulsive liar who clashes with Maude. The stories of her past are outrageous.
What is interesting and I find relevant to today are the episodes dealing with women's rights. Its interesting to see these shows knowing that the conversation is still very much alive today. In one episode, Maude's daughter Carol is passed over for a promotion at her job...because she is a woman. You heard right. Because she's a woman. She is the best person in her department and she's given a raise but they hire a man for the manager job. So he proposes that she come over after hours, and she does much to Maude, the ultra-feminist's dismay. But of course, Carol doesn't do anything. She leaves with her dignity in tact.
In another episode, Walter (Maude's husband) is entertaining a wealthy business man who is going to invest in Walter's appliance store. But he expects a woman in turn. And Walter has a girl in his store who is the office good time girl. When she gets sick, Carol agrees to help Walter out by being attentive to the business man. Maude is outraged that Walter would do such a thing. Carol says she's in control and knows what she's doing and finally Walter sees that he is pimping her out, and tells off the business man.
In yet another, an old high school friend of Maude's who has gone on to become a Gloria Steinem type is visiting for the holidays and she challenges everyone's views on women. And in the season's 3-part opener, Walter leaves Maude when she decides to run for state senate and he refuses to support because he wants a full-time wife.
I feel these stories while somewhat dated in 1970s ideas are still very relevant to today's climate. To this say women are still fighting to be treated equally with men.
Dated? Yes. A great time capsule of 1970s TV? Yes. I think I'll take The Golden Girls over Maude any day.
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