"All In The Family" trivia

Hands down the best acted sitcom, hell, one of the best acted series of any kind, ever. I liked it right up to the end, and even some Archie Bunker's Place episodes as well. When you see what passes for acting these days on TV, it's quite comforting to be able to go back and remind yourself it is possible to have a comedic show that can make a point, make you laugh, and also make you cry your eyes out, all in 22 minutes.

 

Perfectly said! Aside from the season 8 finale when Mike and Gloria leave, has there ever been a more emotional (and believable) performance than Edith trying to come to terms about the death of her friend Beverly LaSalle ("Edith's Crisis of Faith")? I've never seen anyone portray shock and grief as credible as Jean Stapleton did in those 2 episodes. It even made Norman Lear cry when watching it during an interview with Katie Couric.

 

Tomorrow (Sunday) Antenna TV will be running a marathon of Norman Lear's favorite episodes of his series', including AITF of course.

 

I forgot about the Mothers-In-Law, that was in front of an audience. Of course, it also was produced by Desi Arnaz so that is probably why!

 

I think the ultimate performance for Carroll O'Connor was on Archie Bunker's Place when Edith died. That moment when he finally breaks down was probably the best acted moment in sitcom history in my opinion.

 

IMO timeless despite its age and topicality, because those topics are challenging us today. And gawd what great writing!

 

I'm still surprised at some of the issues the show brought up and the boundaries they pushed.

 

Just ask Engelbert what's-his-dink!

 

I wish it had been shot on film, rather than video tape.

 

I watched a few today. Including the Maude Visit one. Lmao. So many great one liners in that one and banter between Bea Arthur and Carroll.

Edith: "his whole family was for Roosevelt"
Archie: "that was for two terms but that was it! we didn't know the guy was gonna hold onto the job like a pope!"

Archie: " Just like that other fact--that he sold us outto Joe Stalin at Gibraltar.

Maude: "They met at yalta."

Archie: "He sold us out there too!"

 

I like that it's video tape.
It gives it a feeling of theatre.
Like I'm watching a play rather than just a tv show.

 

I remember that show, and it was really funny!

 

Too bad. That would of been one of the best endings in television history. Right up there with Newhart.

 

Everyone knows it's a sock and a sock and a shoe and a shoe.

 

A rare instance where Archie is right!

 

This is one of my favorite episodes.

 

I never saw that one.

 

The scene used to be on YouTube but the only ones I found were some homemade tribute things that do not show the scene in the way it needs to be seen.

 

Looks like they were hit with takedown notices due to copyright.

 

What are you talking about?

 

OOPS!!
it's only been over 35 years and I incorrectly remembered that Archie was wrong.

 

You mean the whole world doesn't put on a sock and a sock and a shoe and a shoe?

 

They ought to! It's the only sensible thing to do.

 

I got choked up over the one where Archie and Meathead are locked in a fridge or something and they get loaded together. Archie talks about his poor upbringing and his old man. Mike is visibly shaken by his humanity.