“I’m not sure the people who found the show offensive realized that.”
Today, All in the Family might be even more divisive than when it first aired. During its original run, the series faced backlash from viewers who deemed its content objectionable, claiming it reinforced hateful stereotypes and included lines that were too offensive for television.
Series creator Norman Lear defended the show against its critics, arguing that the bigotry displayed by characters like Archie Bunker was essential to the narrative. Rather than celebrating hate, the series aimed to critique it.
In an interview with the Belleville News-Democrat, Sally Struthers, who portrayed Bunker’s daughter Gloria Stivic, contended that those who found the show offensive missed its core message.
“We tried to poke fun at Archie,” she explained. “We made a very conscious effort.” Struthers noted that strict guidelines were in place to ensure this intent was clear. “The rule was that Archie couldn’t say anything socially or racially inappropriate unless he was corrected or faced consequences for it.”
“He wasn’t allowed to use any of those epithets without being called out. I’m not sure the people who found the show offensive realized that.”
In another interview with the Chicago Daily News, Struthers revealed that sometimes the script was adjusted to reinforce their message. “If we can’t come up with a funny response, we cut his [Archie’s] line,” she said.
