The BEST episodes of Maude
Every episode of Maude ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Maude!
Maude was one of the most popular shows during the 70s. Not only was it one of the most popular, it was one of the most controversial. The show was real and told it like it is - much like the show that first introduced us to Maude, All in the Family. Maude was outspoken and stong-willed... which lead her to many interesting and controversial situations. Maude wasted no time becoming one of the most controversial shows ever when she, at age 47, became pregnant and decided to get an abortion (the first show to ever have the lead character get an abortion). By the end of the show Maude was heading to Congress, ready to take on a new world. And it seemed we would get to see Congresswoman Maude, but Bea Arthur decided to leave the show. Maude remains as part of TV history and has since become a true classic. Others in the cast include, Maude's fourth husband, Walter, and her divorced daughter, Carol from her first marriage. Arthur was the next door neighbor who later married Maud
#1 - Walter's Problem (1) (a.k.a.) Life of the Party (1)
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/11/1973
After a wild evening of drinking, Maude, Walter and Arthur awake to discover some oddities. First, Maude and Arthur shared a bed, second the guys trashed the living room and third, Walter made an obscene phone call to Maude's mother. Carol suggests that perhaps Walter has a drinking problem but he refuses to face that fact. Maude and Walter later get into a big argument while they are both drunk and Walter slaps her.
#2 - Maude's Dilemma (2)
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/21/1972
After Carol suggests an abortion, Maude begins heavy debating over the pros and cons of having a baby at her age. Walter's "what-ever-you-want" attitude has Maude having a problem deciding wheather or not to keep the baby. Ultimately, Maude takes into consideration everyone's opinion and makes a final decision, she decides not to have the baby.
#3 - Maude Takes a Job
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/23/1973
Maude is sky high now that she has a part-time job as a real estate agent. However, things on the home-front are not so happy as Walter, a self proclaimed old fashioned man, is not used to coming home and not having Maude to cook for him and tell his problems too. Thus, he orders her to quit her job.
#4 - Florida's Affair
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/16/1973
The lazy furnace repairman, Whitnauer, has been showing an interest in Florida and she doesn't quite know what to do about his advances. This situation ultimately causes marital problems between Florida and her husband, Henry, when he catches her dancing with the man. Meanwhile, Maude and Walter are finding it hard to get Whitnauer to hurry it up on the furnace.
#5 - Flashback
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/31/1972
While waiting for the electoral results for Election 1972, Maude and Walter recall Election 1968. Carol had just gotten a divorce and moved in with Maude. Meanwhile, Walter and Maude's relationship had reached a pivotal moment; should they marry or live together.
#6 - The Will
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/27/1973
A major argument erupts on the day that Maude and Walter are to accept a husband and wife of the year award. The reason: Maude discovers that Walter has appointed a trustee in his will and of all people, the trustee is Arthur; Maude promptly refuses to go to the banquet to accept the award.
#8 - Maude's Big Move (3) (a.k.a.) Washington
Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/22/1978
Maude arrives in Washington as a newly elected Congresswoman and has to learn to do things differently.
#9 - Love and Marriage
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/24/1972
Tired of living with her mother and stepfather and wanting a father figure for Phillip, Carol decides to propose marriage to a man she doesn't love. Meanwhile, married life doesn't seem to be all what it's cracked up to be for Maude and Walter who's argument leads to destruction in the kitchen.
#10 - Like Mother, Like Daughter
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/3/1972
Carol is dating Russell Asher, a dashing writer, who just happens to have once dated and later jilted Maude. This leads Maude to do her best to warn Carol of Russell's egotistical ways. However, Carol refuses to heed Maude's warnings and continues to date him, even spending the night with him which turns into a disaster.
#11 - Maude's Dilemma (1)
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/14/1972
Maude and Walter are scheduled to play cards one evening with some friends but Maude is anything but in a card playing mood. Especially since, she just came back from a doctor's appointment with some shocking news. At 47 years old, Maude has become pregnant. Now the hard part, breaking the news to Walter.
#12 - Florida's Problem
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/13/1973
Florida is backed into a corner by her chauvinistic husband, Henry, who has picked up a second job and orders her to quit her housekeeping job at the Findlays home. Soon it begins to cause problems for Maude and Walter as Walter takes Henry's side and Maude takes Florida's.
#13 - Maude and the Radical
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/10/1972
Maude throws a fund raising party for a black militant leader and invites rich white liberals but doesn't tell them it is a fund raising party. Meanwhile, Maude does her best to get a black couple to attend the party but must settle for a disguised Florida. Arthur doesn't help the situation either after prescribing tranquilers to Maude who during the party mixes them with alcohol.
#14 - The Perfect Marriage
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/13/1973
Maude is convinced that her best friend, Vivian has the "perfect marriage" so she is completely stunned when Vivian announces plans for a divorce. This leads Maude to analyze her supposed "perfect marriage".
#15 - Doctor, Doctor
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/19/1972
Carol and Maude thinks it's cute when they discover a curious Phillip playing doctor with Arthur's equally curious granddaughter. However, the prudish Arthur insists that Phillip be severely punished which leads to a debate between Maude, Cariol and Arthur over morals.
#16 - Carol's Problem (a.k.a.) The Wedding Gift
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/4/1973
As their impending nuptials draw near, Maude decides to give Carol and Chris their wedding gift early. They are both certainly surprised to find out that Maude has put a down payment on a house for them but the even bigger surprise is that the house is located right across the street. Immediately this sparks family tension between mother and daughter and future husband and wife.
#17 - The Wallet
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/15/1974
Maude finds a wallet on the street that belongs to a man, known for his infidelities. After Walter declares a wallet is a place of privacy for all men, she snoops into his wallet. This triggers a series of mistaken identities when she confronts a woman, Norma, whom she thinks is carrying on an affair with Walter.
#18 - Phillip's Problem
Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 2/26/1974
Maude's grandson Phillip has been behaving horribly lately and Carol does not know what to do with him. Walter quickly suggests giving him a good old fashioned spanking, but Maude is vehemently against it. However, she begins to change her mind when Carol and Chris leave for a weekend getaway.
#19 - Maude Meets Florida
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/26/1972
Maude hires a new housekeeper, Florida Evans, and from the moment she walks through the front door, Maude is determind to make her feel like an equal. However, her attempts lead Florida to decide to quit. Meanwhile, Walter is a bit disturbed to find Philip swearing into a tape recorder.
#20 - Maude's Facelift (1)
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/2/1973
At age 47 and recently divorced, Vivian begins her single career (a.k.a. husband search) by getting a face-lift; her new face receives plenty of cheers from Carol and Walter, but only jeers from Maude. This leads Vivian to state the obvious, Maude is jealous and would like a face-lift herself. Maude finally decides to have one and intends to keep it a secret from Walter until she has it done.
#21 - Maude's New Friends
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/29/1976
Will an evening with friends involve mate-swapping? Visitors to Maude's house have more in mind for an evening's entertainment than polite conversation.
#22 - The Double Standard
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/30/1973
Carol and her boyfriend, Chris return from a camping trip and Maude voices her old fashioned morals to Carol when he stays over and the question becomes where should he sleep, in Carol's room or in the guest room. Later, Carol and Chris make an exciting announcement, they're engaged.
#23 - Maude's Reunion
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/28/1972
Maude pulls out all her high school memorabilia as she awaits the arrival of an old school friend, Phyllis Nash, who was nicknamed both "Bunny" because of an overbite and "Mousie" because of her looks. However, Maude is stunned and becomes envious when she discovers Phyllis is now a beauty with a career to match.
#24 - The Kiss
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/16/1974
Maude becomes concerned when Walter begins smoking a pipe and wearing high heeled shoes. She suggests that perhaps he's going through male menopause. However, what really concerns both her and Arthur is when they catch Vivian and Walter sharing a kiss. This obviously leads to yet more marital strife between the Findlays and the Harmons.
#25 - The Grass Story
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/5/1972
As a 19-year-old faces a lengthy prison sentence for marijuana possession, Maude and a group of middle-aged housewives plan a protest at a police station. The plan is to get arrested for possession and Maude is supposed to provide the pot. However, trying to get her hands on some, proves to be problematic.