The Office and 25 TV shows that were never supposed to be hits
By Kareem Gantt
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.