The Office and 25 TV shows that were never supposed to be hits

MALIBU, CA - APRIL 14: Actors Rainn Wilson (L) and Steve Carell attend "The Office" 100th Episode Celebration at the Calamigos Ranch on April 14, 2009 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
MALIBU, CA - APRIL 14: Actors Rainn Wilson (L) and Steve Carell attend "The Office" 100th Episode Celebration at the Calamigos Ranch on April 14, 2009 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) /
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SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 08: Actresses Rue McClanahan (L) and Bea Arthur pose in the audience during the 6th annual “TV Land Awards” held at Barker Hangar on June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TV Land)
SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 08: Actresses Rue McClanahan (L) and Bea Arthur pose in the audience during the 6th annual “TV Land Awards” held at Barker Hangar on June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TV Land) /

13. Maude (CBS)

Series run: 1972-1978 (6 seasons/141 episodes)

When All In The Family became a rating success, CBS wanted a spin-off that would be a political counterpoint to the conservative, politically incorrect Archie Bunker.

They found it in Maude Findlay, the cousin of Edith Bunker, Archie’s wife.

After she appeared in two episodes of the first two seasons of All In The Family, CBS was convinced that they could revolve a show around her, and they did, titling it simply as Maude. Fans really connected to the domineering, outspoken Archie, and Maude was every bit like him, except, she was a liberal, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind advocating civil, racial, and gender rights.

CBS was convinced that Maude would be a success, and in 1972, the show premiered. At first, some TV critics lambasted the character, with TV Guide describing Maude as a “caricature of the knee-jerk liberal.”

Surprising to some, Maude was even darker than All In The Family, veering into topics such as abortion and alcoholism. The show proved to be a rating success, as it never strayed from the Top-10 in its entire series run — until the sixth season.

With its lead-ins weak, Maude freefell in the ratings, going from #4 the previous season, to #31. The show was tweaked to reverse the freefall, but many didn’t like the new changes, including Bea Arthur, the show’s star, and she left the series.

Without their main character, Maude came to a sudden end.