For the eight years “All in the Family” aired from 1971, the American sitcom tackled topics widely considered as taboo, and for that reason, it was considered groundbreaking at the time.
The sitcom received an astonishing 73 award nominations and 42 wins during its run, but behind the scenes, all sorts of interesting things happened. Let’s have a look.
1. BRITISH ORIGINS
For ten years from the beginning of 1965, “Till Death Do Us Part” aired on BBC series, and it followed the lives of Alf Garnett and his working-class family living in London’s East End.
Alf always had much to say about everything and everyone “different” than him, and Norman Lear bought the rights to the show in the late 1960s after reading about it.
2. ARCHIE ORIGINALLY HAD ANOTHER SURNAME
Norman Lear named his original pilot script “Justice for All,” and cast Carroll O’Connor as Archie Justice and Jean Stapleton as his wife, Edith.
ABC passed on the show because they felt that Archie and Edith lacked chemistry with the younger actors. Even when Norman went about recasting the lead role and renaming the show “Those Were the Days,” the network still turned it down.
3. NORMAN LEAR BASED ARCHIE BUNKER CHARACTER ON HIS FATHER
The Lear family always seemed to speak at top volume while Norman’s father, Herman frequently called him “lazy” or “Meathead.”
Name-calling extended to his wife, who he referred to as “Dingbat,” while Herman also had a particular living room chair only for his use.
4. MICKEY ROONEY ALMOST BECAME ARCHIE BUNKER
Mickey turned down the role of Archie Bunker the minute Norman Lear offered it to him because of the show’s controversial content and said, “Norm, they’re going to kill you.”
5. THE FIRST EPISODE CAME WITH A WARNING
Norman finally got his third pilot on the air on January 12, 1971, and it included a disclaimer that read:
“The show you are about to see is All In The Family. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show – in a mature fashion – just how absurd they are.” In the first two versions, the show’s opening title was accompanied by “Suggested for the mature audience.”
6. THE COMMONALITY BETWEEN ‘ANNIE’ AND ‘ALL IN THE FAMILY’
The show’s theme song, Those Were The Days and the music for “Annie” both came from the composer Charles Strouse. He worked with Lee Adams on the lyrics for the series’ theme song, and with lyricist Martin Charnin on the music for “Annie.”
Charles Strouse and Lee Adams became well-known for writing music for “Bye Bye Birdie” in 1960, and again in 1970 for “Applause.”
7. LYRICS FOR THE CLOSING THEM WRITTEN BY CARROLL O’CONNOR
The catchy piano theme, Remembering You, by the composer Roger Kellaway closes every episode of the sitcom. However, the tune also had lyrics, which Carroll O’Connor wrote.
In 1972, Carroll and Roger performed the song on “The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour,” and from the comedy’s third season, Carroll received credit as co-writer.
8. THE FINAL SEASONS SAW MANY CHANGES
Archie bought the local hangout, Kelsey’s Bar at the beginning of the show’s eighth season, while Mike and Gloria left for California with their baby, Joey closed at the end of the season.
Edith and Archie took in their 9-year-old grand-niece, Stephanie (Danielle Brisebois) to fill their empty nest, while Archie’s friend, Barney Hefner (Allan Melvin) saw an increase in screen time.
9. THE SERIES HAD MORE SPIN-OFFS THAN ANY OTHER SITCOM
“Maude” with Bea Arthur as Edith’s cousin became the first of five direct “All In The Family” spin-offs in 1972. “The Jeffersons,” with Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley as neighbors to the Bunkers came next, followed by the short -lived “Gloria” in 1982, wherein Struthers raised Joey after divorcing Mike.
The forth spin-off came with “Archie Bunker’s Place,” and lastly came “704 Hauser” in 1994, with a new family living in the Bunker house.
10. EDITH AND ARCHIE REUNITED ONE LAST TIME
Jean Stapleton and Carroll O’Connor came together for old times sake on Marie and Donny Osmond’s talk show on April 24, 2000.
The pair delightfully held hands kissed and hugged it out while they reminisced about their time on the comedy series.
11. EDITH DIDN’T LIVE ON IN ‘ARCHIE BUNKER’S PLACE”
Jean Stapleton left the show after its ninth season. When the sitcom continued without her, Norman Lear changed the show’s name and “All In The Family” aired its final episode on April 8, 1979.
“Archie Bunker’s Place” made its debut on September 23 of that year, and Jean starred in a few episodes until her character, Edith had an offscreen death after suffering a stroke.
12. VIEWER BACKLASH EXPECTED BY CBS NEVER MATERIALIZED
CBS braced for an outpour of disgust from viewers the night “All in the Family” premiered despite the disclaimer that accompanying the first episode.
