Everyone at the Findlay house is miserable on Xmas Eve for various reasons, but an abandoned baby left on Maude's doorstep miraculously turns things around.
MAUDE's final Xmas episode and the series' last chance for a Classic, but alas it was not to be. The comedy feels forced and there are times when the stellar cast - including Bea -- just seem to be going through the motions here.
Vivian is wearing some kind of weird outfit that looks like she is ready to serve at Oktoberfest. The writers give her some really strange lines that don't land - something about giving the baby a haircut (WHAT??) and buying him a football. Victoria's constant sobbing gets old real fast. Even Maude says, "She's really getting on my nerves". Right on, Maude!
The annual tradition of Maude slamming the door in the face of some cheeky service worker is watered down this time. All she does is yell at some unseen carolers and then slam it. We do hear some offended guy says "Up your chimney, lady" from the other side, though.
The funniest parts are when Philip and Sam are getting ready for their sleigh ride and Maude grabs the blanket from them when they both say how much they want a baby; and later when Viv falls to her knees after three wisemen show up at the front door.
A pre-WKRP Tim Reid plays a cop.
This is my all-time favorite sitcom but none of the four MAUDE Xmas episodes are outstanding in any way, and the most notable aspect of this one is that the cast seems tired of it all. 6/10.
MAUDE's final Xmas episode and the series' last chance for a Classic, but alas it was not to be. The comedy feels forced and there are times when the stellar cast - including Bea -- just seem to be going through the motions here.
Vivian is wearing some kind of weird outfit that looks like she is ready to serve at Oktoberfest. The writers give her some really strange lines that don't land - something about giving the baby a haircut (WHAT??) and buying him a football. Victoria's constant sobbing gets old real fast. Even Maude says, "She's really getting on my nerves". Right on, Maude!
The annual tradition of Maude slamming the door in the face of some cheeky service worker is watered down this time. All she does is yell at some unseen carolers and then slam it. We do hear some offended guy says "Up your chimney, lady" from the other side, though.
The funniest parts are when Philip and Sam are getting ready for their sleigh ride and Maude grabs the blanket from them when they both say how much they want a baby; and later when Viv falls to her knees after three wisemen show up at the front door.
A pre-WKRP Tim Reid plays a cop.
This is my all-time favorite sitcom but none of the four MAUDE Xmas episodes are outstanding in any way, and the most notable aspect of this one is that the cast seems tired of it all. 6/10.
