Why did Gloria Want Mike to Live with the Bunkers & Archie does not

Originally posted by bschmale1113
Why did Gloria Want Mike to Live with the Bunkers & Archie does not


Because Mike didn't have a Job

Because Mike was a Liberal didn't have a Job

Because Mike was a loudmouthed, disrespectful liberal who didn't have a job.

Because Mike was Polish and Archie was a bigot.

Originally posted by GeeBee
Because Mike was Polish and Archie was a bigot.


It had nothing to do with Archie being a bigot, it was because MIKE HAD NO MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
It had nothing to do with Archie being a bigot, it was because MIKE HAD NO MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Shut up, fool.

Also, Archie was jealous of Mike. Even Edith had enough insight to see that.

Originally posted by GeeBee
Shut up, fool.



LMAO!!!!!!!

Archie didn't like Mike's polish hertiage, but I think anyone would be angry about a 22-23 year old grown man living under his roof with no job.

He did'nt contribute anything to the household and hated everything Archie stood for!

Mike was a Nathiest

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Because Mike was a Liberal didn't have a Job


That's what I was going to say. I think Archie was a conservative and didn't like Mike's liberal views. Judging from your post, I think you just answered a question I was about to post.

I thought Mike was a snob who tried to be superior over everyone. I thought he was a jerk to Archie and at times treated Gloria as though she was stupid.

Originally posted by mstewart
I thought Mike was a snob who tried to be superior over everyone. I thought he was a jerk to Archie and at times treated Gloria as though she was stupid.

Well, it didn't take much to be superior over Archie and Gloria was a little on the stupid side at times. Actually, there's nothing wrong with living with someone while one is getting an education for a career. Mike had some annoying ways, but Archie was a hatemonger who would always find something negative in everyone and everything. If Archie really had a problem with supporting Mike to get his education, Archie was pretty stupid to go along with it.

Originally posted by glenny
He did'nt contribute anything to the household and hated everything Archie stood for!


Like bigotry.

Originally posted by Dr. John Becker
Archie didn't like Mike's polish hertiage, but I think anyone would be angry about a 22-23 year old grown man living under his roof with no job.


Interesting point of view. So, how did you finance your education, Doctor?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GeeBee
[B]Interesting point of view. So, how did you finance your education, Doctor?

By working

Originally posted by Dr. John Becker
[QUOTE]Originally posted by GeeBee
[B]Interesting point of view. So, how did you finance your education, Doctor?

By working

Must have been one hell of a job if it paid all of your tuition and allowed you time to go to school.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GeeBee
[B]Must have been one hell of a job if it paid all of your tuition and allowed you time to go to school.



There are such things as student loans. People work all kinds of jobs to pay their way through school. Jobs like gas stations, supermarkets, burger places. Mike could've worked part time to bring in some money.

Originally posted by Dr. John Becker
[QUOTE]Originally posted by GeeBee
[B]Must have been one hell of a job if it paid all of your tuition and allowed you time to go to school.



There are such things as student loans. People work all kinds of jobs to pay their way through school. Jobs like gas stations, supermarkets, burger places. Mike could've worked part time to bring in some money.


Then Archie would have wound up paying back the loans for Mike. Being a student is a full time job and an investment in the future. A lot of times, a part-time job just keeps someone in school longer because they don't do as well with less time to study or they have to reduce their number of hours in class.
I'd have seen it as a problem if Mike was just laying around the house all day, saying that he was going to go back to school someday. That, however, was not the case.

I achieved my bachelor's degree over a period of 9 years working fulltime all the way through, so it is possible to continue your education while working. So Mike could have been working; but not only that, he is almost never seen doing anything else to help-- cooking, cleaning, repair work, shopping. He just goes to school, comes 'home,' gobbles his food, gives his 'sex object', Gloria, some of what they both want, and yells at Archie.

Incidentally, I'm sure it was one of the eps before Mike got his bachelor's degree that he mentions he is 25. I don't remember any other background info as to where he was or what he did after high school till he was 21 or 22, but he probably would have fled the country if he had been drafted. But it appears he should have been at least 21 when he was supposed to have started college in NY. I think there are a couple of eps where he talks to friends in Chicago, indicating that is where he was from. Is it explained why he didn't start college earlier and how he avoided being drafted? I do know it was difficult for an avowed atheist to get 'conscientious objector' status. There seems to be nothing about his character to indicate he joined the Peace Corps, or similar organization, at an early age either; his liberal philosophy seems to be based entirely on booklearning and radical friends.

As to why Archie ever agreed to let Mike live in his house, I know a feeble explanation is offered in one of the first (maybe the first) ep, where Archie says he thought by "going to school" it was meant that Mike would spend a few weeks or months in a trade school, not 4 years of college. This is also where we are informed that Mike is just beginning college.

But that is an explanation that doesn't hold much water. I don't think Archie or Mike would have ever agreed to live in the same house. In the flashback to their wedding plans, Mike even says "I'll go nuts living in the same house with this man!" Yet he does it. No way; it wouldn't have worked without driving all 4 of them in the house nuts.

Originally posted by tdr
I achieved my bachelor's degree over a period of 9 years working fulltime all the way through, so it is possible to continue your education while working. So Mike could have been working; but not only that, he is almost never seen doing anything else to help-- cooking, cleaning, repair work, shopping. He just goes to school, comes 'home,' gobbles his food, gives his 'sex object', Gloria, some of what they both want, and yells at Archie.

Incidentally, I'm sure it was one of the eps before Mike got his bachelor's degree that he mentions he is 25. I don't remember any other background info as to where he was or what he did after high school till he was 21 or 22, but he probably would have fled the country if he had been drafted. But it appears he should have been at least 21 when he was supposed to have started college in NY. I think there are a couple of eps where he talks to friends in Chicago, indicating that is where he was from. Is it explained why he didn't start college earlier and how he avoided being drafted? I do know it was difficult for an avowed atheist to get 'conscientious objector' status. There seems to be nothing about his character to indicate he joined the Peace Corps, or similar organization, at an early age either; his liberal philosophy seems to be based entirely on booklearning and radical friends.

As to why Archie ever agreed to let Mike live in his house, I know a feeble explanation is offered in one of the first (maybe the first) ep, where Archie says he thought by "going to school" it was meant that Mike would spend a few weeks or months in a trade school, not 4 years of college. This is also where we are informed that Mike is just beginning college. But that is an explanation that doesn't hold much water. I don't think Archie or Mike would have ever agreed to live in the same house. In the flashback to their wedding plans, Mike even says "I'll go nuts living in the same house with this man!" Yet he does it. No way; it wouldn't have worked without driving all 4 of them in the house nuts.


I'll send you your medal in the morning. It does sound commendable, although it would be interesting to know what you majored in, what kind of grades you made, and what the fulltime job was. Maybe as an atheist, Mike wasn't willing to follow the blatant violation of separation of church and state that the military usually practices and was therefore rejected. That's like asking why Gomer Pyle never fought in combat since the show was during the Vietnam War. These are just TV shows, you know. The first episode had a lot of inconsistencies in it can hardly be used as a reference point. In any case, Archie was free to toss Mike out at any time, but he didn't. It made no sense for Archie to offer assistance to Mike and constantly complain about it. If Mike was taking advantage of him, Archie was the stupid one. Yet, what can you expect from a character who was supposed to have taken more than half of his life to even finish high school?

It's also worth mentioning that Mike got a temporary job to pay Archie half of what he owed him, got another temporary job when Archie was on strike, helped work in Archie's bar, and offered Archie money when Archie was laid off from his job.

Originally posted by GeeBee
It does sound commendable, although it would be interesting to know what you majored in, what kind of grades you made, and what the fulltime job was.

Major was Statistics. Full time jobs were (1)a lead for a packaging company in wooden boxes, bases, etc. such as cabin crates for helicopters and govt. electronic equip., and (2)assembly and processing for a gas & liquefied petroleum valve and regulator manufacturer. GPA overall was 2.9; with those years something had to 'give' and having less than a 3.0 has probably cost me some opportunities. Never mind the medal.

If Mike was taking advantage of him, Archie was the stupid one. Yet, what can you expect from a character who was supposed to have taken more than half of his life to even finish high school?

I agree with the tenet that no one [under normal, unforced conditions] can take advantage of you unless you let them. While debating this can become a farce, since it is all fiction, the situation in this situation comedy had to be set up in some way to create the comedy, so Mike living in Archie's house to get an education was the setup, unlikely as it was. It can be easily overlooked that Gloria is the tie-in, and Archie didn't want to hurt his "little girl", so that would likely be why he agreed to the setup at first. But Mike probably connived at the whole thing-- here is his chance to go to school and not have to work and marry a naive beautiful blonde in the bargain. [Gloria was naive at the beginning; in later years she would have protested the setup to get Mike a college education instead of herself.]

I think both Archie and Mike were stupid. Would you resolve to live and be supported by a man like Archie for 4 years to get an education? And would you pay him back after it was all over? Or would it be stupid to accept such a situation instead of making your own way somehow?

Originally posted by tdr
Major was Statistics. Full time jobs were (1)a lead for a packaging company in wooden boxes, bases, etc. such as cabin crates for helicopters and govt. electronic equip., and (2)assembly and processing for a gas & liquefied petroleum valve and regulator manufacturer. GPA overall was 2.9; with those years something had to 'give' and having less than a 3.0 has probably cost me some opportunities. Never mind the medal.

If Mike was taking advantage of him, Archie was the stupid one. Yet, what can you expect from a character who was supposed to have taken more than half of his life to even finish high school?

I agree with the tenet that no one [under normal, unforced conditions] can take advantage of you unless you let them. While debating this can become a farce, since it is all fiction, the situation in this situation comedy had to be set up in some way to create the comedy, so Mike living in Archie's house to get an education was the setup, unlikely as it was. It can be easily overlooked that Gloria is the tie-in, and Archie didn't want to hurt his "little girl", so that would likely be why he agreed to the setup at first. But Mike probably connived at the whole thing-- here is his chance to go to school and not have to work and marry a naive beautiful blonde in the bargain. [Gloria was naive at the beginning; in later years she would have protested the setup to get Mike a college education instead of herself.]

I think both Archie and Mike were stupid. Would you resolve to live and be supported by a man like Archie for 4 years to get an education? And would you pay him back after it was all over? Or would it be stupid to accept such a situation instead of making your own way somehow?

You hit the nail on the head about the GPA. Working full time and going to school can be rough on grades. Sometimes "making your own way" means not being too proud to accept a "help up" in the process. Yes, there is a big difference between a "help up" and a "hand out". If I was in my early 20's, with no parents, and in need of an education, assistance would be welcomed. As I mentioned before, Mike did pay Archie back some of the money, and Archie refused to take financial assistance from Mike during the lay off.

Originally posted by tdr


But Mike probably connived at the whole thing-- here is his chance to go to school and not have to work and marry a naive beautiful blonde in the bargain. [Gloria was naive at the beginning; in later years she would have protested the setup to get Mike a college education instead of herself.]




Well, according to the flashback episode, Mike was having second thoughts about that arrangement, but Gloria pushed him into it. In later episodes, Gloria did express resentment towards Mike about not getting her education. However, Archie did not seem like the kind of parent who would put a high value on education, especially for a girl, so Gloria's original lack of ambition could be interpreted as a result of her upbringing.

You do realize that these are fictional characters don't you?


Not for nothing but if somebody is generous enough to give me food and board while I finish my education I think I can swallow his displeasure towards my principles. You need to respect people'e homes, or move out!! Mike did not!! Plus the story led us to believe he invited himself to simply live there. so Mike was a suckoff.

Archie was a bigot. But was smart enough to start his own business and succeed. He might of been jealous of Mike in the fact that HE did not have INLAWS like himself and Edith were. Loving their daughter so much they were able to accept a ratty looking, studeng hippie into their home!! As one episode told Archie had to quit school to support his family so it is hardly his fault he could not finish school.

I always thought Mike was antogonistic towards Archie and would goad him many times. In real life these were situations you would just clam up about. (but would that be fun on tv?).

Archie is an example of somebody almost EVERYBODY has in their family. He just didn't know better. Most people in this generation have grandparents who were bigots. Black or White. Raised in times of great diversity. I am glad we live in a world now where people for the most part are NOT being raised that way..

And for an Archie type. If he was such a Hateful person he in NO WAY would have let that guy live in his home. Mike and Arch grew to love each other on the show. I remember an episode where Archie paid for an expensive operation Mike needed and didn't want him to know he paid for it because he was too proud. They hugged when the couple moved to California. They never ever saw eye to eye. But the love grew as time went on.

Archie was a proud man as he refused to go on welfare. take any kind of handout. The story ended with him MELLOWING from his views earlier on the show. Mourning his beloved Edith and being a successful businessman.

The story ended with Mike divorcing Gloria to live in a nudist colony.

My point is Both were TOO EXTREME!! and that is what made the show funny. Archie was WAAAAAAY to right. and Mike was WAAAAAAY to left. and the show shows how stupid people can be if they follow a platform 100%

Originally posted by JREwingBlackmail
You do realize that these are fictional characters don't you?


Not for nothing but if somebody is generous enough to give me food and board while I finish my education I think I can swallow his displeasure towards my principles. You need to respect people'e homes, or move out!! Mike did not!! Plus the story led us to believe he invited himself to simply live there. so Mike was a suckoff.

Archie was a bigot. But was smart enough to start his own business and succeed. He might of been jealous of Mike in the fact that HE did not have INLAWS like himself and Edith were. Loving their daughter so much they were able to accept a ratty looking, studeng hippie into their home!! As one episode told Archie had to quit school to support his family so it is hardly his fault he could not finish school.

I always thought Mike was antogonistic towards Archie and would goad him many times. In real life these were situations you would just clam up about. (but would that be fun on tv?).

Archie is an example of somebody almost EVERYBODY has in their family. He just didn't know better. Most people in this generation have grandparents who were bigots. Black or White. Raised in times of great diversity. I am glad we live in a world now where people for the most part are NOT being raised that way..

And for an Archie type. If he was such a Hateful person he in NO WAY would have let that guy live in his home. Mike and Arch grew to love each other on the show. I remember an episode where Archie paid for an expensive operation Mike needed and didn't want him to know he paid for it because he was too proud. They hugged when the couple moved to California. They never ever saw eye to eye. But the love grew as time went on.

Archie was a proud man as he refused to go on welfare. take any kind of handout. The story ended with him MELLOWING from his views earlier on the show. Mourning his beloved Edith and being a successful businessman.

The story ended with Mike divorcing Gloria to live in a nudist colony.

My point is Both were TOO EXTREME!! and that is what made the show funny. Archie was WAAAAAAY to right. and Mike was WAAAAAAY to left. and the show shows how stupid people can be if they follow a platform 100%


Actually, the storyline implied that Mike did not want to move in with Archie, but Gloria goaded him into it. Once again, I say that Archie was the one who failed to set limits in his house. If he felt that Mike should have been more respectful or do work, Archie should have had the backbone to INSIST, instead of just whining about it all the time.

I have to disagree about Archie being "smart enough" to start his own business. He needed someone to pick up the pieces every step of the way. He forged his own wife's signature to get it started, he made such a mess of it, he went on drugs, and it took his family and Harry to bail him out. In later episodes, he came close to going to prison for shoddy record keeping and tax work. The business was more of a testament to the pity that others would take on Archie than any ability of his own.

It's funny that Archie was too proud to go on welfare, but he didn't mind trying to cheat the insurance company, the government, or anyone else out of money if he thought he could get away with it. In fact, I've noticed that about many conservatives in real life. They look down on people who use LEGAL assistance like welfare and food stamps, but they see nothing wrong with cheating others out of money.

Yes, both Archie and Mike were too extreme, but there are silly people trying to make Archie out to be some kind of right-wing hero. Is it really that difficult to understand that O'Connor was probably as liberal as Reiner and that the show was basically making fun of right-wing extremism while pointing out that progressive thinking can go a little too far as well? I think many right-wingers and bigots try to find some kind of validation through this show, validation that was never meant to be there.

Yes, both Archie and Mike were too extreme, but there are silly people trying to make Archie out to be some kind of right-wing hero. Is it really that difficult to understand that O'Connor was probably as liberal as Reiner and that the show was basically making fun of right-wing extremism while pointing out that progressive thinking can go a little too far as well? I think many right-wingers and bigots try to find some kind of validation through this show, validation that was never meant to be there.

I am starting to think your whole MO is a political agenda. This is just a TV show. I get it now. You are a liberal. Good for you.

But you are forgetting it is a TV SHOW!! Archie tried to cheat insurance. But the distinction was those are not handouts.

And extremism is on both sides. You are obviously blinded yourself because you are on one side of the fence . So you can not see straight at all. Which means your analysis is SILLY in itself. I am a middle of the road person who finds fault in both sides. If you are so jaded by being a left wing zealot then you can't make a distinction on anything and let your party speak for you instead of speaking for yourself. I thought I felt sorry for you before. Now I REALLY feel sorry for you.

Originally posted by JREwingBlackmail
I am starting to think your whole MO is a political agenda. This is just a TV show. I get it now. You are a liberal. Good for you.

But you are forgetting it is a TV SHOW!! Archie tried to cheat insurance. But the distinction was those are not handouts.

And extremism is on both sides. You are obviously blinded yourself because you are on one side of the fence . So you can not see straight at all. Which means your analysis is SILLY in itself. I am a middle of the road person who finds fault in both sides. If you are so jaded by being a left wing zealot then you can't make a distinction on anything and let your party speak for you instead of speaking for yourself. I thought I felt sorry for you before. Now I REALLY feel sorry for you.


Man, I'm doing pretty good for someone who should just be ignored. Actually, we're all "middle of the road"; it's just that some people see the "middle" in different places.

BTW, last I checked, stealing and cheating are worse than accepting handouts. If you don't want to be labeled as a right-winger, you should think about things like that before you say them.

Man, I'm doing pretty good for someone who should just be ignored. Actually, we're all "middle of the road"; it's just that some people see the "middle" in different places.

Ignored by people who are offended by you. Personally I pity you.

Yeah. You are middle of the road I am sure!! LOL!!!


It is fun poking holes in your "buffoon balloon.

Sorry that you are what you claim to hate bigot!!

Originally posted by JREwingBlackmail
Ignored by people who are offended by you. Personally I pity you.

Yeah. You are middle of the road I am sure!! LOL!!!


It is fun poking holes in your "buffoon balloon.

Sorry that you are what you claim to hate bigot!!


Take it easy, you sound like you're about to blow a gasket. BTW, Happy Easter. :)

Take it easy, you sound like you're about to blow a gasket. BTW, Happy Easter.


Same to you. Try not to choke on your ham!!

Originally posted by JREwingBlackmail
Same to you. Try not to choke on your ham!!


I'll try.

Man, I stay away from the boards for only 2 days and already GeeBee is starting a fight with someone else.

Originally posted by Dr. John Becker
Man, I stay away from the boards for only 2 days and already GeeBee is starting a fight with someone else.


See that? You missed all the fun.

Originally posted by Jackhammer
Mike was a Nathiest

:lol: I could only hope that was some sort of really bad typo....To correct you on two points: Mike was an admitted agnostic --someone who doubts the existence of God. An atheist ...note term...is a person who suspends belief in all gods, goddesses and supernatural dieties. Archie liked to exascerbate the "agnostic" term and make Mike into an "atheist." All the reasons people are giving here in this thread are the reasons Archie didn't want Mike to be in his house. The biggest one was the reality that Archie was jealous of Mike....and Mike's potential in life. He also felt no one was good enough for His Little Goyle.

Didn't Gloria work to help Mike. It didn't seem all the time they were getting a free ride.

Yeah,while Mike went to college

One of the things that made me angry about Meathead was this:

Mike: The real problem is you Arche, with your <lists some appliances>

And the boy was ALWAYS eating and using the appliances he listed himself! That is so hypocritical, if he really thought using those appliances was wrong, he would either get Gloria or do it himself to get food another way. Archie had a great reply that made perfect sense (sometimes he did, most times he didn't, lol) though.

On another note, some funny quotes about Mike's eating from
Archie:

"I once seen you dunk a hamburger in a cup o' coffee."
"You could eat the carpet up off the floor and not get sick."
"Why don't we shove some food in front of this pinko and keep his mouth busy?"
"Quit feeding your face and do somethin' around here!"

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Of course, Archie Bunker wasn't a hypocrite. He was just the man who said that he would raise his grandson as a Christian if he had to break every commandment to do it.

I remember an episode where the Meathead came into some money and he wouldn't even give Archie any for room and board, instead he was going to give it to some political group. And when Archie asked him about the money, the Meathead blew up. I couldn't believe it!. He really lived up to his nickname.

If Mike was really that bad, Archie was the real meathead for going along with it.