I was reading articles from the 70's and there was one where a tv critic called Edith a cartoon in an otherwise very real home life. Do you agree that she was cartoonish?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DnPwaEn8aGE/TSLjHCmqV6I/AAAAAAAANV0/XdZUo4f2sKw/s1600/vlcsnap-2011-01-02-14h31m40s186.png

yes

No

Not at all. Yes, she was a woman who almost always deferred to her husband (in the beginning) but I knew a lot of women from that era who were like that. If it's 'cartoonish' to be a supportive, loving homemaker, mother and wife, then I guess she was, but that's a ridiculous definition.

If they are implying that Edith's, uhm, unique outlook on life was 'cartoonish' well, that's rubbish too. She was an optimist who had a strong faith and was grounded on being decent and kind to people. Nothing 'cartoonish' about that, either.

Not at all. Yes, she was a woman who almost always deferred to her husband (in the beginning) but I knew a lot of women from that era who were like that. If it's 'cartoonish' to be a supportive, loving homemaker, mother and wife, then I guess she was, but that's a ridiculous definition.

If they are implying that Edith's, uhm, unique outlook on life was 'cartoonish' well, that's rubbish too. She was an optimist who had a strong faith and was grounded on being decent and kind to people. Nothing 'cartoonish' about that, either.
Very well said.

Edith was one of the most loved sitcom characters of all time...nothing cartoonish about that.

Cartoonish my eye. She was a sweet warm lady - devoted to her husband, her friends and her family. She was also a lot more complex than given credit for - incredibly naive in some respects (remember how she didn't know what "swingers" were until Weezy told her - and then - that famous Edith "ooooooooooohh"). But also- very wise - like when she breaks up that really ugly fight between Mike and Gloria.

Myopic critics have a right to their opinion - as off the mark as I think they may be
(and IF Edith is a cartoon...THEN I want to be a cartoon too....and would be so proudly.)

Cartoonish my eye. She was a sweet warm lady - devoted to her husband, her friends and her family. She was also a lot more complex than given credit for - incredibly naive in some respects (remember how she didn't know what "swingers" were until Weezy told her - and then - that famous Edith "ooooooooooohh"). But also- very wise - like when she breaks up that really ugly fight between Mike and Gloria.

Myopic critics have a right to their opinion - as off the mark as I think they may be
(and IF Edith is a cartoon...THEN I want to be a cartoon too....and would be so proudly.)

:clap

If you notice in the first season, Edith was pretty blah. In the first 13 episodes, her character is pretty one-note. But then the second season....WOW! You could see instantly this was going to be one of the best-remembered characters in TV history. What I like about the Edith character is you see an accomplished character actor like Jean Stapleton take a character and make it her own with outstanding results. I love Edit and Jean Stapleton. :)

If you notice in the first season, Edith was pretty blah. In the first 13 episodes, her character is pretty one-note. But then the second season....WOW! You could see instantly this was going to be one of the best-remembered characters in TV history. What I like about the Edith character is you see an accomplished character actor like Jean Stapleton take a character and make it her own with outstanding results. I love Edit and Jean Stapleton. :)

Amen to that. Jean Stapleton is a marvelous character actor; maybe even better than Carroll but most certainly (at least) his equal.

Edith was not cartoonish. She was a woman who wanted to please her husband and she did. Once she started to realize that she is a person you saw her standing up to Archie more. My favorite one when she stood up to Archie in All's Fair. I love when she told him no and Archie was jarred.

I was reading articles from the 70's and there was one where a tv critic called Edith a cartoon in an otherwise very real home life. Do you agree that she was cartoonish?

In a word, no. To the best of my knowledge, the three Emmys and two Golden Globe awards she won for playing Edith were for best actress, not best cartoon character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyO16QL_ljQ