It's fun going back in time and looking at reviews of classic TV shows. Here are a few that came out in the days after All in the Family made its debut. In the first review, the critic complains the show is "not funny," and doesn't have anything good to say about any of the cast members, except moderate praise for Jean Stapleton who is "just fine." Carroll O'Connor he considered weak casting, and wrote that O'Connor played the part with too much bluster and implied he was trying to copy Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden. "There is only one Ralph Kramden," he declares. It's amusing reading this now. Clearly, Carroll O'Connor's Archie Bunker is one of the most indelible, most unforgettable, most outstanding portrayals in the entire history of television. Seriously, can anyone even imagine anyone other than Carroll O'Connor in that role? And, of course, the series itself is considered an all-time classic. And all four of those allegedly weak cast members went on to earn Emmys for their work on this series.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_I4zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=979,4771824&dq=all-in-the-family&hl=en

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lA40AAAAIBAJ&sjid=veAIAAAAIBAJ&pg=383,3856273&dq=all-in-the-family&hl=en

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4hMfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CI0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6643,2504140&dq=all-in-the-family&hl=en

I can't even imagine anyone else as Archie. I know Mr. O'Connor was also up for the roles of Dr. Smith (Lost in Space) and The Skipper (Gilligan's Island) but I can't imagine him in either role. Ironically, I can't even imagine Mickey Rooney (who was the first choice for the role of Archie) on AITF.

I can't even imagine anyone else as Archie. I know Mr. O'Connor was also up for the roles of Dr. Smith (Lost in Space) and The Skipper (Gilligan's Island) but I can't imagine him in either role. Ironically, I can't even imagine Mickey Rooney (who was the first choice for the role of Archie) on AITF.

I'm glad things happened just the way they did. I would not want to see anyone else but Carroll O'Connor as Archie, and nobody but Jean Stapleton as Edith. As much as I like Mickey Rooney, and I can imagine him as some sort of Archie Bunker, but not the real Archie Bunker. Only Carroll O'Connor could do that! I wonder how much that critic was paid to write that stuff?

I could see Mickey Rooney as a buddy of Archie's, maybe a regular at the bar like Mr. Van Ranseleer, Barney Hefner, etc. Or maybe he could've been Archie's brother or cousin. Imagine the possibilities!! :cool:

i agree Carroll is only one to play Archie i dont like the title of this carrol o connor no good as archie he is great as Archie bunker

I could see Mickey Rooney as a buddy of Archie's, maybe a regular at the bar like Mr. Van Ranseleer, Barney Hefner, etc. Or maybe he could've been Archie's brother or cousin. Imagine the possibilities!! :cool:
I would have loved to have seen Mickey Rooney as Archie's brother. That would have been brilliant!

I couldn't imagine anyone but Carroll O'connor for the role of Archie, he did such a great job.

i agree Carroll is only one to play Archie i dont like the title of this carrol o connor no good as archie he is great as Archie bunker

Well, the guy said Carrol O'Connor was "weak casting." So if I titled the thread "Carroll O'Connor Miscast as Archie Bunker," would that sound any better?

oh ok sorry about that i didnt know what u meant at first guy who said mr o connor was midcast as Archie must not know talent the title is fine

O'Connor was one of the most consistently brilliant actors ever to grace the small screen.

And while a lot of shows from the 70s are not as "funny" now as they were back then, the best episodes of AITF stand up with the best episodes of any other sitcom in history. The show was brilliant. I don't think a whole lot of Sally Struthers as an actress, but she was teamed with so many great actors that it would be tough for anyone to be up to that level. Still, the show didn't suffer from her playing Gloria... and of course, I thought she was a beauty.

If someone didn't think AITF was funny, it might have been because they had no idea what was going on in the world at that time.

I thought the show went on too long, and the premise was ruined when Mike and Gloria moved out, but when they were all living under the same roof, the humor was incredible.

And Archie's character was supposed to be a parody of a bigoted "conservative". You couldn't play such a part better than O'Connor did.

I wasn't a regular watcher of the "In the Heat of the Night" TV show, but even though O'Connor was great in that role, I still couldn't picture him as anyone but Archie Bunker. And it's certainly not possible to picture anyone else playing the role on AITF. Archie has to be a top 5 (or at least a top 10) TV character of all time. And there is only one.

Carroll was magnificent as Archie; I can't imagine anyone else as Archie but of course there are other good actors who could have done the part...hard to believe with all the mangled words and English grammer spouting from Archie that Carroll in real life had once been an English teacher!

All I can say is that I agree there would be no other suitable actor for the Archie role then Carroll O'Connor and the guy who wrote that article was obviously a MEATHEAD!

All I can say is that I agree there would be no other suitable actor for the Archie role then Carroll O'Connor and the guy who wrote that article was obviously a MEATHEAD!
I think Archie could call this writer a DINGBAT!! :rofl:

I think Archie could call this writer a DINGBAT!! :rofl:

:lol: How about a dingbatted meathead?!:brent

:lol: How about a dingbatted meathead?!:brent
Sounds good to me!! :rofl:

Nearly forty years later, the entire world knows the name of Carroll O'Conner and what a wonderful job he did with this unforgettable character. He and the show made a impact on everyone that watched it as they saw their own families and the discussions and conflicts they faced at this time in history reflected through the Bunkers.

NO ONE knows or remembers the name of this critic.

'Nuff said. :rolleyes:

Nearly forty years later, the entire world knows the name of Carroll O'Conner and what a wonderful job he did with this unforgettable character. He and the show made a impact on everyone that watched it as they saw their own families and the discussions and conflicts they faced at this time in history reflected through the Bunkers.

NO ONE knows or remembers the name of this critic.

'Nuff said. :rolleyes:

Indeed. You hit it on the head! Carroll was magnificent in the role and the show still remains fresh and vibrant - close to 40 yrs later. One of the most magnificent shows ever.

Nearly forty years later, the entire world knows the name of Carroll O'Conner and what a wonderful job he did with this unforgettable character. He and the show made a impact on everyone that watched it as they saw their own families and the discussions and conflicts they faced at this time in history reflected through the Bunkers.

NO ONE knows or remembers the name of this critic.

'Nuff said. :rolleyes:
BINGO!!!!! :nod: :clap

Could you picture Carroll as the Skipper?

AWW JEESH GILLIGAN, you DINGBAT! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!

Or Carroll as Dr. Zachary Smith....

WOULD YOU STIFLE YOURSELF YOU BUBBLE-HEADED BOOBY OVER THERE?? HAH???? I JUST WANNA GET BACK TO OITH (Earth in New York Accent) AND SIT DOWN WITH A CAN OF BEER AND AWAY FROM THESE GREEN EYED, TWO-HEADED SPACE FREAKS!!