“Maude” gets a standalone release for its second season. Bea Arthur continues to spout what makes up the backbone of Tumblr. In the 1970s, this was revolutionary…it’s just annoying now. Esther Rolle left the series early to go headline “Good Times”. Maude also decides to get a face-lift and deal with her drunk husband. The times were changing for your grandparents.
Norman Lear is such a hard guy to talk about after the fact. Sure, his work was groundbreaking for the time. It’s just that we live in an era where everything he accomplished has been taken to the Nth degree. Everyone can do anything now and it’ll manage to get broadcast one way or the other. Maude taken an interest in local black youth and her neighbors feels patronizing now. Who needs Bea Arthur to tell them how to live?
You know who doesn’t get enough credit for the show? Adrienne Barbeau stuck around for most of the series to play Maude’s daughter. She’s a mix of a straight man and spokesperson for the Youth. But, you can tell there’s something more under the surface. Bea Arthur was the star, so I guess she got the right to talk about youth culture or something. The DVD comes with no special features.
Release Date: 8/11/15