I know this is going way back, and sadly it took the passing of Bea Arthur, but I eventually bought the first season of Maude on DVD and some of it is pretty amazing I thought. It possibly hasn't dated so well given how topical it was but the performances and scripts were very high standard. Looking at the Emmy record for Maude though, it didn't get much love there.

Starting obviously with Bea Arthur, she was magnificent in the first season. Having seen quite a lot of post first season on YouTube as well, she continues like this the whole time it seems. To me she's dramatically perfect when needed (Maude's Dilemma the obvious one) and just downright funnier and braver than Mary Tyler Moore. I'm sure quite a lot won't agree but I always thought Mary was out-laughed by her supporting characters. Bea pretty much dominates Maude but is to me just funnier too.

Beyond the 1st season, no one else except Bea even got a nomination. It would have been hard for Rue McLanahan, Adrienne Barbeau, Esther Rolle or Hermoine Baddeley to see off the Mary Tyler Moore winners in the Supporting category over that period, but a nomination for McLanahan and Baddeley especially would have been justified IMO.

Was it just too controversial for it's own good? Or just have it's best years at a time when All in the Family and Mary Tyler Moore were considered better?

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