Sally Struthers got tired of playing ”fourth banana” to ”Mr. O’Connor” and the rest of the All in the Family cast

“I fear and love God — I respect Mr. O’Connor.”

Viewers may have been surprised when they tuned in to see Gloria Bunker Stivic on her own in 1982. That’s the year when Sally Struthers’ then-new series Gloria premiered on CBS’ fall lineup. The show picked up where All in the Family left off, with Gloria raising her eight-year-old son Joey. However, there was a big difference in where her show was set. Instead of the familiar residence at 704 Hauser Street, Gloria had relocated to suburban Dutchess County, New York, where she worked as a veterinarian’s assistant.

That same year, Sally Struthers discussed the new show and everything that came with it in an interview with The Indianapolis Star. Struthers was thrilled for the opportunity to pave her way with her own TV show, one that would highlight the reality of being a working-class, single mother.
“Gloria will show the evolution of a woman of the 1980s,” she said, describing Gloria as “a woman on her own after always being taken care of.

“When I left All in the Family, I had played every facet of Gloria. Now, three-and-a-half years later, she’s a whole new character.”

That new show would benefit from a format that focused entirely on Gloria. Other characters from All in the Family might be mentioned off-handedly, but none will appear on the show. This was a huge selling point for Struthers, who looked forward to the chance to have her own show without being overshadowed by the likes of Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton.

“It’s so exciting going from fourth banana to your own show,” she said. “It’s like going to Oz.”

When the conversation inevitably touched on her former co-stars, Struthers spoke of the former head of the Bunker household in strangely formal tones. Throughout the interview, she only referred to the actor who played Archie as “Mr. O’Connor.”

Asked if she always spoke of Carroll this way, she said, “Yes, out of respect because he is a most incredible performer. I fear and love God — I respect Mr. O’Connor.”

Gloria ranked 18th in the ratings for the 1982 television series. Despite the promised start, CBS decided not to renew the show for a second season.All in the Family might be one of history’s most analyzed pieces of media. Because of the ways it reflects society, the show has been endlessly written about. The show and its characters provide a roadmap to coexistence with people we disagree with. That, paired with how truly funny and touching the show is, makes it a frequent subject of close examination.

When All in the Family is studied, it’s usually Carroll O’Connor’s Archie Bunker that’s most closely scrutinized. This makes sense. He’s likable and wrongheaded, and Archie reminds us of people we have to live with, despite our differences. Understanding Archie is understanding ourselves and each other. If you believe that people don’t ever really change, then Archie Bunker is the character most telling about human nature. He might learn a lesson here or there, but his outlook is reset by the start of the next episode.

Meanwhile, at the actual heart of the show, there was a genuine character arc, one where a person evolved right in front of our eyes.

Gloria Stivic is the emotional center of All in the Family. It’s her soul that hangs in the balance, as Archie and Edith already know who they are. Will her values fall in line with those of her hippie husband, or will she revert to the conservative views she grew up with? Or, is she bound to be Edith?

In 1977, Sally Struthers, who played Gloria in both All in the Family and her spinoff, Gloria, reflected on the character’s shifting perspective. She spoke with The Toronto Star in-depth about her career and focused specifically on where Gloria started, and where she went.

“As Gloria, I’ve been the only one who has been allowed to grow and change. Gloria’s gone from a naive girl to a worldly woman. And the same thing has happened to me in real life.”

A pessimistic view of life would place humanity in line with Archie’s refusal to change. However, the truth is that people are capable of change. The road toward a better future begins with believing that we’re all more like Gloria than we are like Archie. Change is scary, but so is a future where everyone is stuck in their ways.