Uncovering the Decisions Behind “All in the Family’s” Rise to Iconic Status

For 8 years, from 1971 to 1979, Americans tuned in every week to watch “”All in the Family,” the iconic comedy created by Norman Lear. The show made viewers laugh with Archie Bunker’s antics and tackled serious social issues, making it a household name. 

Before “All in the Family” became an iconic TV show, it had a rocky start. Initially, the show was set to air on ABC, even after two attempts the executives weren’t impressed with the pilot episodes. 

In 1970, CBS’s new president Robert Wood made a radical move. He wanted to bring more socially relevant programming to the network and attract younger viewers. As a result, he axed several comedies like Petticoat Junction and Green Acres, a move that came to be known as ‘The Rural Purge’. 

Norman Lear’s classic sitcom “All in the Family” was heavily influenced by the BBC’s “Till Death Us Do Part.” The British comedy centered around a prejudiced man who was not afraid to share his views with the family. Sound familiar? This classic show was the inspiration for the beloved “All in the Family,” which went on to become one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. 

When the creators of “All in the Family” first pitched their show, it was rejected twice by ABC. The original pilot was called “Justice For All,” which sounded more like a courtroom drama than a sitcom. Their second attempt was called “Those Were the Days,” which still failed to spark the interest of ABC executives. 

Have you ever wondered why Archie Bunker’s last name is Bunker? It turns out that in the original pilot, the beloved character was actually named “Archie Justice!” His last name was even printed on his doormat, as a play on his bigoted ways. While it may have been clever, it was ultimately deemed too on the nose. 

“All in the Family’s” theme song is an iconic part of the show’s legacy, but few people know the true story of how it came to be. Lyricist Lee Adams and composer Charles Strouse are the masterminds behind this musical masterpiece, two legends with quite some pedigree. 

The iconic theme song of “All in the Family” almost never happened. Producers couldn’t find the money for an orchestral rendition of the song Those Were the Days, and it seemed like the show would have to go without a theme song. As a last resort, Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, who played Archie and Edith respectively, stepped in to sing an off-key duet. 

Carroll O’Connor’s involvement with “All in the Family” extended beyond just acting. He was also the co-writer of the show’s closing theme song Remembering You, and ended up receiving royalties from it. Surprisingly, the lyrics he penned never ended up being used on the show!

When showrunners were casting for “All in the Family,” they knew they needed the right person to play Archie Bunker: the blue-collar, cigar-smoking family man who always knew the wrong thing to say. Surprisingly, they chose Carroll O’Connor, a liberal actor for the role. 

When Norman Lear was casting for “All in the Family,” he originally wanted Mickey Rooney to play Archie Bunker. Rooney, however, was apparently uncomfortable with the role and agreed with critics that Archie was too controversial. As a result, he rejected the part and Norman Lear was forced to look elsewhere.

Casting the liberal characters in “All in the Family” proved to be quite the challenge. Before Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers were ultimately cast as Michael and Gloria, executives tried out two other pairs: Kelly Jean Peter and Tim MacIntire, and Candy Azzara and Chip Oliver. 

Penny Marshall was almost cast as the iconic Gloria in the beloved sitcom “All in the Family.” However, producers felt that Sally Struthers and Carroll O’Connor shared a familial resemblance that made them more suitable for the role. 

Believe it or not, Harrison Ford was once considered for the role of Michael Stivic in the classic sitcom “All in the Family.” The part eventually went to Rob Reiner, but studio executives initially reached out to the future Han Solo star in an attempt to lure him to the project. 

Norman Lear was determined to keep the authenticity of “All in the Family” intact, so he refused to incorporate laugh tracks into the show. Instead, each episode was recorded on tape before a live studio audience, giving viewers a true-to-life experience. 

When CBS was preparing to air the “All in the Family” pilot, the network executives were understandably worried about the potentially offensive material. In anticipation of a viewer backlash, the network set up a huge team of operators to man the phone lines.

As “All in the Family’s” pilot episode was about to air, CBS was understandably worried about the potentially controversial material. In an effort to defuse any potential viewer backlash, the network added in a disclaimer at the beginning of the episode.

CBS was concerned that “All in the Family’s” controversial topics would cause a huge viewer backlash. However, it was the show’s theme song that ended up causing the most trouble. Despite the clear lyrics, many viewers had a difficult time understanding the last lines of the song.

Many of the hilarious and sometimes controversial quips uttered by Archie Bunker in the classic sitcom “All in the Family” were actually inspired by Norman Lear’s parents. Lear drew on his own family experiences to create the show, and two of Archie’s most memorable lines were uttered by his own parents. 

Norman Lear wanted to make “All in the Family” with one goal in mind: to show that Archie Bunker was always wrong. Every episode featured someone correcting or reprimanding him, yet fans of the show grew to love Archie so much that they even called for him to be president.

When the first season of “All in the Family” aired, Rob Reiner had a problem. His receding hairline didn’t make him look like the cool, young guy he was supposed to be playing. In order to maintain his on-screen image, the producers stepped in and gave him a hairpiece. From then on, Reiner’s character, Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic, had a full, thick head of hair. 

In the 1970s, the commercial time for “All in the Family” increased. This meant that each episode of the show lost three additional minutes to ads. This didn’t sit well with Norman Lear, the show’s creator. He decided to make a bold offer to CBS – he would pay them to give up the extra commercial slots. However, his offer was ultimately denied. 

Norman Lear was a revolutionary in the world of television. Not only did he create the beloved sitcom “All in the Family,” but he also introduced a new concept to the industry: the bottle episode. This term was used to describe episodes that took place on one or two sets, trapping the characters in the same setting. 

When it comes to great minds in the entertainment industry, Norman Lear is one of the best. For the “All in the Family” episode Everybody Tells the Truth, Lear drew inspiration from the classic Akira Kurosawa film, “Rashomon.” Both stories feature flashbacks that offer different perspectives of the same incident. 

“All in the Family” was known for its two feuding couples: the Bunkers and the Lorenzos. The Lorenzos were the Bunkers’ more liberal next-door neighbors, and were originally intended to be long-running characters. Betty Garrett portrayed Irene until 1975, but Vincent Gardenia only stayed on as Frank for one season.

As “All in the Family” started to gain popularity, Carroll O’Connor demanded a new contract. He wanted 12 weeks of vacation time for a 24-week work schedule, and he wasn’t afraid to take a stand and go on strike. After some of his demands were met, he finally returned to the show. 

Carroll O’Connor was initially hesitant about accepting the role of Archie Bunker in “All in the Family.” He was living in Italy at the time, and he wanted reassurance that his flight home would be paid for if the show didn’t make it past the pilot stage. Fortunately the producers never had to fulfill their promise.

Only a couple of years after the Stonewall riots brought gay rights into the social consciousness, “All in the Family” made history. It was the first TV sitcom to feature a gay character, though the word “gay” was never mentioned. This episode made Archie Bunker flustered and uncomfortable.

CBS was worried that many elements of “All in the Family” would offend viewers, but they probably didn’t expect the biggest outrage to come from one particular episode. In it, Gloria delivers a baby and the camera briefly captures the newborn’s bare skin. This glimpse of nudity was too much for some viewers and complaints soon started rolling in. 

“All in the Family” was never afraid to tackle taboo topics, and Edith’s Problem was one of the most successful examples. In this episode, Edith accepts that she will go through menopause and expresses her frustration and anxiety to her husband, who gives it back to her in hefty supply.

In 1971, Jean Stapleton was presented with a difficult decision. She had the opportunity to play the role of Mrs. Teavee in the upcoming Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This meant she would have to leave “All in the Family” for several episodes, possibly a whole season!

“All in the Family” was never one to shy away from controversial topics, and the Vietnam War was no exception. In the episode The Draft Dodger, Archie Bunker was put in the middle of the conflict. He hosted a Christmas dinner attended by a draft dodger, much to his chagrin. 

In the early 1990s, Norman Lear tried to capture the success of “All in the Family” with a brand-new series. This time the focus would be on Archie Bunker, now a full-time cab driver and the topical conversations he would have with his passengers. However, Lear wasn’t convinced and decided instead to focus on developing 704 Hauser in 1994. 

Frustrated by the lack of development for her character, Gloria Bunker, Sally Struthers took a bold approach to get what she wanted. In 1974, she sued producers of “All in the Family” to break free from her contract. The tactic worked, and Struthers was given more to do. In the end she appeared in 157 episodes.

Who is the most famous guest star to ever appear on “All in the Family?” None other than the legendary Sammy Davis Jr.! When the Rat Pack star visited the Bunker family, Archie Bunker put his foot in his mouth again and again, giving Sammy plenty of chances to hit back with his trademark wit. 

Take a Seat at the Smithsonian. Have you ever wondered what happened to the artifacts from “All in the Family?” Well, the two chairs Archie and Edith always sat in have been carefully preserved in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.. Believe it or not, those chairs were actually purchased from a thrift shop prior to the pilot episode! 

What was the first “All in the Family” spinoff? The honor goes to Bea Arthur who played Maude. The show featured Maude Findlay, Edith Bunker’s outspoken, liberal cousin. Much like the show it came from, Maude wasn’t afraid to tackle big issues. 

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there was Norman Lear’s own television universe of “All in the Family.” This classic sitcom gave birth to more spin offs than any other show: Maude, The Jeffersons, Archie Bunker’s Place, Good Times, and more. In total, there were seven spin offs that were part of this universe! 

Isabel Sanford wasn’t given a choice when it came to moving over to work on The Jeffersons. Producers told the actress that her character, Louise, was being taken out of “All in the Family,” no matter what she decided to do. That led to Sanford’s decision to take the leap and explore a new adventure. 

Sanford and Hemsley may have played husband and wife on The Jeffersons, but in real life, the pair were two decades apart. Sanford was born in 1917, while Hemsley had entered the world in 1938. But that wasn’t the only notable age gap on the show. Hemsley was just 11 years older than his on-screen son Mike Evans!

As with many on-screen couples, the love wasn’t always there off-screen between the two stars of The Jeffersons. According to reports, Sanford was reportedly disappointed by how unattractive and small her TV husband was, and thought him to be overbearing. In return, Hemsley is said to have found Sanford rather full of herself.