|
Maude Findlay (character)
|
Maude Findlay is a fictional character on the controversial sitcom, Maude, she was portrayed by seven-time Emmy-winning television actress, Beatrice Arthur.
Background
Maude Findlay first appeared on All in the Family in December 1971, and is the relative (cousin) of Edith Bunker. Maude cared for Edith and disliked her racist husband Archie Bunker, because, Maude told Edith she could have done a lot better instead of marrying Archie. Archie and Maude were both known for getting on each other's nerves, but still gave full respect to each other in general.
After crossing on to All in the Family, Maude received her own series when it debuted on CBS on September 12th 1972. On her own show, Maude lives in Tuckahoe, New York and is quite no-nonsense, and is married to Walter Findlay, her overzealous husband and her recently divorced daughter, Carol Traynor. Carol was the product of her second marriage (Maude had been married four times in all, Walter was her fourth husband). She was also a grandmother to Carol's son, Philip.
Maude hired the first Housekeeper, Florida Evans, an African-American housewife who always had the last laugh at Maude's expense. Florida gave Maude a dose of her own medicine implying that Florida and she were both equals, but Florida always knew Maude was mostly had a level-headed and feminist-like attitude. Florida left in 1974 to become a housewife (Esther Rolle got her own show, Good Times which aired on February 8th 1974). So, Maude hired Nell Nagatuck, a British housekeeper who drank too much and lied constantly, and she left in 1977 with her husband to move to Ireland to care for her mother. And in the final season (1977—1978), Maude hired Victoria Butterfield, and she remained with the series until the series ended.
Maude also had neighbors: The Harmons, Vivian Cavender-Harmon (Rue McClanahan) and Dr. Arthur Harmon (Conrad Bain). Maude got along with Vivian having known her since they were in College, and throughout the most part, Vivian was completely scatterbrained. Maude did, however, get along with Arthur, because he had known Walter since the two served in World War II. Arthur, who was conservative, and was Maude's foil, in lieu of Archie Bunker, simply called her, "Maudie". Widower Arthur and Vivian met each other after she divorced her husband, Chuck Cavender, after 21 years, and the two (Arthur and Vivian) were married in the middle of the second season (1973—1974).
In the series', Maude mostly dealt with a lot of things happening in her life, but in the most-watched, controversial two-part episode of the first season entitled, Maude's Dilemma, when during the Rose Vs. War convention, Maude discovered at age 47, she was pregnant. Maude and the entire family and friends are shocked, and daughter, Carol tries to persuade Maude to get an abortion, which is now legal in New York State. The episode was seen across the United States and shocked over 9.94 million viewers. Although, Maude's Ratings were very popular, the show had delt with: menopause, boredom and women's liberation.
In the final episode, Maude runs for office and she and her husband Walter move to Washington, D.C..
|
