I got nostalgic and watched the pilot for All In The Family.

[JohnnyRingo]

I've had he link sitting around for a while and finally found a spare 26 minutes.
It really brought back a flood of good memories and recalled how stark it was in its humor. I really liked Rob Reiner because I've also been identified as a dumb pollack and he really flipped that around.

The pilot could be named "Meet Archie Bunker" as O'Conner gave America quite an introduction to Archie, in many ways the man in the mirror.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. And this is one show that has stood the test of time

There are still plenty of Archie Bunkers out there - as well as Ediths and "Meatheads." And I thought Rob Reiner was really good as well - and Carroll O'Connor was brilliant!

[Mr.Bill]

2. My dad looked a lot like Archie Bunker.

It hung the nickname on him among his friends and coworkers. He was a good sport about it on the surface, but it made him take a look at himself. he was nothing like the bigot the Archie character was, but he was that age and a blue collar worker like him.

He really didn't need to, but it made him work extra hard at making sure that even though his looks made him like Archie, his actions and words couldn't be mistaken for him. The nickname didn't last for long, and except for his appearance, was not deserved.

[George II]

3. Here's the Youtube link...

[brewens]

4. I should watch all those again. I'm watching the old Lou Grant Show now. I was a journalism kid

in high school when that aired. We loved it. That and All the Presidents Men.

One thing I noticed right away about Newsroom. It was really similar to The Lou Grant Show. The manager that had to talk to the boss lady is Charlie in both shows even.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Oh, Lou Grant was also a favorite of mine!

And Ed Asner is "one of us!"

And I really liked The Newsroom, hated to see it end. I was kinda hoping they'd come out with a sequel, but the death of Charlie Skinner (played by Sam Waterston) made that pretty much impossible.

[brewens]

11. I watched all of The Mary Tyler Moore Show recently. That's what made me want to watch "Lou" again.

That first MTM episode, first scene with Lou, they establish him as the lovable drinking man. They would never have the drinking content they had on that show in a show these days.

Another episode, Lou has to fill in for Ted and hacks up the first segment. Nervous as hell! He goes into the office and has a couple shots, then goes out and is smooth as my baby's bottom! LOL That's never fly today.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Of course I loved MTM, too. And though Lou Grant was suppose to be the same character in both

The shows were markedly different - MTM was billed as a comedy (though they regularly dealt with more serious issues) while "Lou Grant," though it did have its moments of humor, was definitely an "issues" show, it was the "news" in that newsroom that took center stage. Ed Asner really is a versatile actor.

And you're right, these days drinking too much is no longer fodder for humor. Or glorifying it. I think a lot of it is now due to the serious drug problem in this country. And a lot of those who abuse drugs started with alcohol - since it's legal.

[Skittles]

5. I watched the original show in England

it was good too

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060035/

[rsdsharp]

6. There were three pilots, with the different sets of Mike and Gloria

before they finally sold the show to CBS.

[JohnnyRingo]

15. Whaaaaaat?

News to me.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

17. Yep! And here's the 1968 pilot that never aired...

... with the original daughter and son-in-law!

1968, when it didn't officially become a sitcom until 1971! The networks were clearly concerned about ever airing it!

[John1956PA]

7. I saw the series debut on January 12, 1971.

There was no promotion for the series. I can not remember the lead-in show which I had just watched. Unexpectedly, an advisement appeared to alert the viewers that the following show contained material that might be considered offensive. As I watched the debut episode, I was surprised at the provocative references to race and ethnicity.

[rsdsharp]

18. I watched it too. I was a junior in high school.

When it ended I told my mother that I thought it was going to be a big hit. Or cancelled tomorrow.

[BigmanPigman]

9. CNN is showing History of Sitcoms

and they covered this show. Norman Lear had 3 different sets of the daughters and SILs and shopped it to 2 networks. He said he never changed from the original script.

[markpkessinger]

10. And the genius behind it, Norman lear, is still going strong at age 98!

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/what-makes-norman-lear-at-98-still-tick/

[rickyhall]

12. I couldn't get enough of Gloria when I was 16.

[edbermac]

14. It's on GetTV channel where I live.

Just watched the episode where Mike is impotent due to tension with his college exams. Archie meets Henry Jefferson at the bar and asks him for advice for Mike because he’s heard that “youse people are very advanced in that area”

[wnylib]

16. I've been watching All in the Family recently

on You Tube. One thing that stands out to me all these years later is how misogynistic Archie was. His behavior toward Edith was abusive in a way that people just didn't acknowlege at the time. He was considered authoritarian and crude, but his emotional and psychological abusiveness stands out to me so much more today than it did then. Either times have changed a lot or I have. Maybe both.