1972 TV Series – Maude

Maude is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972, until April 22, 1978.

Maude stars Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York, with her fourth husband, household appliance store owner Walter Findlay (Bill Macy). Maude embraces the tenets of women’s liberation, always votes for Democratic Party candidates, and advocates for civil rights and racial and gender equality. However, her overbearing and sometimes domineering personality often gets her into trouble when speaking about these issues.

The show was billed as the first spin-off of All in the Family, on which Beatrice Arthur had made two appearances in the character of Maude, Edith Bunker’s cousin. Like All in the Family, Maude was a sitcom with topical storylines created by producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin.

Unusual for a U.S. sitcom, several episodes (such as “Maude’s Night Out” and “The Convention”) featured only the characters of Maude and her husband Walter, in what amounted to half-hour “two-hander” teleplays.

The show’s theme song, “And Then There’s Maude”, was written by Marilyn and Alan Bergman and Dave Grusin, and performed by Donny Hathaway.