After decades of wholesome families and fantasy settings, sitcoms got real, really real when All in the Family debuted on January 12, 1971,
The sitcom was the brainchild of Norma Lear, who based the show on the UK series, Til Death Do Us Part, but with All in the Family, Lear stripped away all that was familiar about TV shows and added in all that was considered forbidden.
The show would very straightforwardly tackle such sensitive topics such as prejudice, politics, women’s liberation, The Vietnam War and religion, just to name a few. All in the Family did all of this while never losing the humor or drama called for and the brilliant points and messages lying underneath each episode.
The show, set in Queens, New York, centered on Archie Bunker, played brilliantly by Carol O’ Connor, who not only won four Emmys for his portrayal, but also created one of television’s most indelible and enduring characters. Bunker was a narrow-minded, bigoted, outspoken member of the Greatest Generation who was never at a loss for speaking what was on his mind, no matter what slur came along with it.
With him was his wife, Edith, who was as kind and innocent as Archie was harsh. Played perfectly by Jean Stapleton, who won three Emmys for a role that gave new meaning to devotion, optimism and made a high-pitched “New Yawk” voice hysterical to listen to.
Living with the Bunkers was Archie and Edith’s daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Mike (Rob Reiner), who was the complete opposite of Archie and represented the younger, liberal, hippie generation. Archie would go on to, of course, refer to his son-in-law affectionately, as “Meathead.”
The clashes between Mike and Archie were often where the show’s messages came across. Archie’s unfiltered language was controversial and shocking to audiences at the time (both in the studio and at home), but Lear used the character so ingeniously in the show. Archie Bunker was politically incorrect before that was a thing, but he wasn’t used to offend, he and the show were a way to open minds and hearts at another time in our country’s history when there was a need for that.
All in the Family came on TV as a mid-season replacement and didn’t truly catch on with audiences until the summer of 1971. The show then went on to be the number one show in the Nielsen Ratings from 1971-1976 and spawned a number of spin-offs, including Maude (1972) and The Jeffersons (1975).
The show also gave us the immensely memorable theme song, “Those Were the Days,” with Edith’s off-key signing, that’s become one of the most famous of TV’s tunes.
More than a theme song, All in the Family is a milestone in television history. TV Guide ranks it at the number 4 spot on its list of the 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary this month, it’s important to not only acknowledge the show’s impact but how it also paved the way for so much of the important, relevant TV that we enjoy today.
For eight years, All in the Family, held a mirror up to society and showed our reflection in the characters. Through the laughter, we learned more about acceptance, peace and unity, among many other of life’s invaluable priorities.
All in the Family did indeed provide a seismic shift and one that we could benefit from today.