There's lots of drinking going on in Tuckahoe, especially at Maude and Walter's house. In fact, Arthur is so drunk that he thinks he's in his house and ends up in bed with Maude, a visual that needs to be seen for everybody's reaction. A conversation about alcoholism leads to them discussing excessive drinking versus social drinking and their decision to quit cold turkey, but Walter is not in on the agreement even though Arthur mentions how Walter changes when drunk. Walter sneaks flasks into restaurants and shows up at home intoxicated which results in a showdown with Maude at home. As Arthur tells Walter, "You're going to end up a huge liver with a mustache and a bald spot."
This isn't exactly what you'd call a subject to get laughs out of, but somehow, Norman Lear and his excellent ensemble do just that. Once again, Carol is the voice of reason, truly concerned over people that she really cares about. There are some really funny lines (Walter referring to Maude as Linda Lovelush, a style of joke stolen later by "Will and Grace"), but there's a point to all that.
Bill Macy and Bea Arthur really get the drunken act down pact (while sober!), and the fact that the silly moments end up turning serious really makes the episode all the more potent. That change in the episode's mood changes the tone of the laughter, and to see Macy break down after erupting and Maude comfort him shows why audiences in the 70's really came to identify with these characters.
This isn't exactly what you'd call a subject to get laughs out of, but somehow, Norman Lear and his excellent ensemble do just that. Once again, Carol is the voice of reason, truly concerned over people that she really cares about. There are some really funny lines (Walter referring to Maude as Linda Lovelush, a style of joke stolen later by "Will and Grace"), but there's a point to all that.
Bill Macy and Bea Arthur really get the drunken act down pact (while sober!), and the fact that the silly moments end up turning serious really makes the episode all the more potent. That change in the episode's mood changes the tone of the laughter, and to see Macy break down after erupting and Maude comfort him shows why audiences in the 70's really came to identify with these characters.
