Your favorite All in the Family episode...

[bliss_eternal]

It's the 35th Anniversary of All in the Family and TVLand is showing a marathon of episodes--I'm kind of pissed because the one I'm watching is Edith's Fiftieth Birthday and they cut totally edited it! But despite that unfortunate aspect, I'm so moved by the incredible work of Jean Stapleton. She's an amazing actress--so many layers to her work. :loveya:

Anyway, just thought I'd ask what's your favorite episode and why?

:hi:

[AllieB]

1. I've been watching "All in the Family" all weekend!

There are so many good ones...I'm sure when I hit the hay in a few minutes, I'll remember them. :-)

[bliss_eternal]

16. It's been fun watching them--

nice to know I wasn't the only one tuned in to TV Land! :hi:

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. I always enjoyed the episode where Edith went through "the change"

something about Edith telling Archie to stifle gets me laughing every time. But I agree Jean Stapleton is a great actress. I don't think there will ever be another show like it again it's just one of those shows that can incorporate side splitting humor with hard hitting social issues.

[bliss_eternal]

5. The genius of Norman Lear--

I agree, it will probably never be replicated. Many seem to have tried, but they always falls short don't they?

[Reverend_Smitty]

10. there is a fine line you walk

between satire and just plain offensive. Lear was a master of the former, and as a result his show remains as edgy and relevant as it was 35 years ago

[bliss_eternal]

13. So true!

And to watch it today, it's still so relevant. Mike and Gloria were concerned about the environment, the water, social issues a war we shouldn't be in--a corrupt govt., a president lying...

While watching yesterday I was struck by just how much everything they were dealing with, we still are.

[Deja Q]

20. A shame that (most of it) is still relevant.

It shows how little we've changed.

[bliss_eternal]

23. Yes--

very sad. I didn't think things could get worse than they were then, but they are... or maybe it just seems that way.

People having to get gas on odd and even days, lined up for miles, the electricity crisis, Nixon...

[Deja Q]

18. Norman took the idea from a UK show, "Till Death Us Do Part".

"Meet the Bunkers" (the pilot) is almost a word-for-word translation from the comparable UK script...

[peekaloo]

9. "groinocologist"

:rofl:

[peekaloo]

3. Swastika painted on the door.

The ending was a shocker and faded out in dead silence.

[bliss_eternal]

6. Powerful episode

wasn't it?

[peekaloo]

7. Yes. Played it for laughs at first, then pulled the rug out from under the

viewers.

As funny as this show was it's this episode that sticks with me.

Well that and the station wagon filled with nuns episode. :-)

[Deja Q]

19. "Archie is Branded" - best episode ever.

Thought-provoking, to say the very least.

[MidwestMomma]

4. I like when Edith is going thru the 'change'

And Archie is like "ok, now change" or something like that.

And I agree, Jean Stapleton is amazing.

[bliss_eternal]

8. Jean Stapleton's work

on All in the Family has yet to be surpassed in a televsion series of any sort. There have been some good ones on tv, but nothing like what she did with Edith. We were watching one of the earlier episodes yesterday and she hadn't really 'realized' the character yet--she was a little different, not quite as joyous and light as Edith eventually was known. It's so interesting to watch early episodes of series and see that kind of thing.

Who knew that the character would become the most loveable in tv history back then...?

[graywarrior]

11. When Archie was in the hospital and he had a black, woman doctor

[bliss_eternal]

14. LOL!

Priceless moment! :rofl:

[bliss_eternal]

12. Two of mine--

Draft Dodger and Edith's Fiftieth Birthday (featuring the rape of Edith).

I thought it was such a profound statement that the father of they boy that lost his son in Vietnam wanted the draft dodger kid to stay at dinner.

Edith's rape was so accurate on so many levels--the fear of leaving the house, the fear they'll come back, the trying to stay busy (or do something else) to distract from the pain... Amazing episode.

[Deja Q]

21. Both of which were latter-season stories; by then

anything powerful was left for sweeps weeks and the remaining episodes were as close to "typical sitcom fluff" that AitF ever got to. (Season 4 started the trend and it only went downhill from there... even when downhill it's better than most things of the time, so it's no wonder it was always highly rated.)

But the show couldn't keep being so edgy every week; they had to tone it down and leave the juicy stuff for the sweeps; to ensure viewers would tune in.

[0007]

15. Never seen a bad one. They're all hilarious and always will be

[Deja Q]

17. "Archie is Branded", "Gloria & the Riddle", "The Bunkers & the Swingers",

"Judging Books by Covers", "Everybody Tells the Truth", "Gloria the Victim", "The Threat", "Lionel Steps Out", "Edith Writes a Song", "Cousin Maude's Visit", "Sammy's Visit", "Maude".

There are a few others too... :)

[bliss_eternal]

22. OMG the Maude episodes!

LOL! LOL! LOVE those!

The Swingers is on right now--LOVE that one, too. Edith just didn't get it.

[Richard Steele]

24. "canned peaches in heavy syrup" still makes me ROFL.

And I haven't actually seen it in 20 years.