Rue McClanahan's first appearance as Vivian Harmon. Ironically, among the writers of "Maude's Dilemma" was Susan Harris, who went on a decade later to create the hit 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls (1985), which co-starred McClanahan and Bea Arthur.
Audiences viewing this show in syndication are often confused by Rue McClanahan's shift in physical appearance during the course of the series' run. During her intermittent appearances in the first season, the 38-year-old McClanahan was aged significantly in order to make her appear more of a contemporary to Maude's character, which included graying her hair. Once McClanahan was invited to become a regular, she insisted on reverting back to her age-appropriate appearance, which the writers explained by having Vivian return from having a facelift.
The first of the series' five multi-part stories.
Maude has a nine-year-old grandson from Carol, the daughter of her second husband. If Maude is indeed 47, then both she and Carol must have started very young.