Now here's a DVD set worth owning. Most people under the age of 30 probably only know Bea Arthur as one of the four "Golden Girls." But before her seven-year run in that classic show, Arthur spent six seasons playing the outspoken, controversial and completely liberal feminist Maude Findlay on the CBS comedy "Maude." To make the 35th anniversary of that show's 1972 debut, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced Monday that it will release the first season of "Maude" on DVD March 20.
\Maude was introduced as Edith Bunker's cousin on a few episodes of "All in the Family" and was such a smash that a show was quickly built around the character by Norman Lear. It it, Maude lived with her fourth husband Walter (William Macy) to whom she would famously say her trademark catchphrase, "God'll get you for that Walter."
I think the show was so ahead of its time and will be really interesting to see now. Provocative social issues were tackled with humor including women's liberation, pornography, political campaigning, race relations, and marijuana laws.  By far, the biggest controversy was raised by the two-part episode “Maude's Dilemma,� which featured the 47-year-old Maude discovering she’s pregnant, and, after much debate, deciding to have an abortion (the first show to ever have the lead character make that decision). 

Adrienne Barbeau plays Maude's knockout daughter, Carol and how's this: Rue McClanahan, who went on to star with Arthur in "Golden Girls," played her sidekick Vivian during the entire run of the show. The early seasons also feature Esther Rolle as Maude's maid, Florida Evans, whose character was spun-off to the show "Good Times."
Arthur was nominated for five Emmy Awards for the part - winning once. she might have had more trophies had she not had to go up against Mary Tyler Moore year after year.