MAUDE: RUMPUS IN THE RUMPUS ROOM (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy programs, a spin-off of "All in the Family," about the outspoken, liberal Maude Findlay and her family. In this episode, at Arthur and Vivian's second anniversary party, Vivian berates her "twit" of a husband for inviting Walter when she herself invited Maude, knowing that the separated couple will not want to be around one another. She explains Maude is bringing Senator Myers with her, though in an advisory capacity only as she works on her campaign for state senate. When Maude arrives, she happily introduces Myers and brags about his talents, and Vivian is rather taken with him. Maude tells Vivian that he is a (very) dark-horse candidate for President, but Vivian hurriedly tells her about Walter. She denies having any interest in making him jealous, but when Walter arrives with an attractive young woman, Kathy, in tow, she takes a different view. Walter and Maude greet each other politely and introduce their "dates," with Maude assuring Kathy that she and Walter are still "very good friends," though failing to hide her hostility and telling her a rather extreme lie about their reasons for splitting up. Walter tries to ask about the senator, but he and Maude end up in another argument, and Mrs. Naugatuck is pleased that they are getting back to "normal."
As Myers shows off his push-up skills, Walter confesses to an increasingly drunk Arthur that he has no real feels for Kathy and "needs Maude desperately." He attempts to apologize to her, but then accuses her of "driving him out" with her political aspirations, and they realize that they still disagree strongly about her decision to run for office. They abandon their attempts to reconcile, and as Maude watches, distressed, Walter falls off the wagon and takes a drink of alcohol for the first time in months. Both Maude and Arthur try to stop him, but he dismisses them and leaves with Kathy, and Arthur follows to keep an eye on him. Later, the men end up back at Walter's "bachelor pad" without Kathy, though Arthur is wearing her shoes, and they pass out together in Walter's bed. Maude then arrives with the senator, wanting to check on him, but upon seeing him in bed with another figure and finding the shoes, draws the worst conclusion and leaves, upset. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: September 22, 1975 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 100545
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1972-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rod Parker … Executive Producer
- Bob Schiller … Producer
- Bob Weiskopf … Producer
- Rita Dillon … Associate Producer
- Hal Cooper … Director
- Norman Lear … Created by
- Marilyn Suzanne Miller … Writer
- Marilyn Bergman … Theme Music by
- Alan Bergman … Theme Music by
- Dave Grusin … Theme Music by
- Donny Hathaway … Theme Music by
- Beatrice Arthur … Cast, Maude Findlay
- Bill Macy … Cast, Walter Findlay
- Adrienne Barbeau … Cast, Carol Traynor
- Conrad Bain … Cast, Dr. Arthur Harmon
- Rue McClanahan … Cast, Vivian Cavender Harmon
- Hermione Baddeley … Cast, Mrs. Nell Naugatuck
- Bernadette Peters … Cast, Kathy
- James Olson … Cast, Senator Myers
- Stymie Beard … Cast, Stymie
- Pricilla Morrill … Cast, Judi
- Jerry McGee … Cast, Reverend McAlister
- Libby Erwin … Cast, Woman Guest