The ratings for the show got worst each year it was on the air with a huge drop after season 4 to #22. Add that to the fact that out of all the sitcoms on the Sunday Night lineup, ABP had the worst ratings.

Jeffersons-#12
One Day at a Time-#16
Gloria-#18



So why was Gloria cancelled? lol That ranking was pretty good for a 1st season

I think CBS wanted to be rid of both shows and the Bunker era. Plus I'm sure O'Connors salary was pretty hefty in 1983 and with the show no longer pulling in the ratings it was to be expected. Still #18 and 22 are good ratings.

I think CBS wanted to be rid of both shows and the Bunker era. Plus I'm sure O'Connors salary was pretty hefty in 1983 and with the show no longer pulling in the ratings it was to be expected. Still #18 and 22 are good ratings.

#22 is not really good if the show was falling in the ratings the previous 3 seasons. #22 would be good for a new show but not for a show that's been around for a while

That's why I was surprised Gloria was cancelled after finishing #18 after the first season

I think CBS wanted to be rid of both shows and the Bunker era. Plus I'm sure O'Connors salary was pretty hefty in 1983 and with the show no longer pulling in the ratings it was to be expected. Still #18 and 22 are good ratings.


That's the real reason. Carol O'Connor not only was pulling down a huge salary but was part owner of the show and tried to bleed CBS for every penny he could.

Say it wasn't cancelled. How long do you think it would have lasted? Seems to me, the show was long in the tooth as it was so they had to cancel it.

Say it wasn't cancelled. How long do you think it would have lasted? Seems to me, the show was long in the tooth as it was so they had to cancel it.


Yeah it was time, the Archie Bunker character had already been on the air for 13 years.

I agree, I think audiences were getting tired of Archie Bunker and his bigotry, etc. I know I was.

But didn't he mellow over the years?

When Archie bought Kelsey's Bar, he became a lot mellower since he owned his own business.

http://i.imgur.com/myN0RPK.jpg (http://lunapic.com)

By the time ABP was cancelled, it was more the Billie show.
Every second or third episode was about her and/or her lawyer boyfriend.

The bigger question is why Murray left? And then to a lesser extent the Anne Meara character.

After Edith's death and Murray leaving, ABP was putting me too sleep.

By the time ABP was cancelled, it was more the Billie show.
Every second or third episode was about her and/or her lawyer boyfriend.

The bigger question is why Murray left? And then to a lesser extent the Anne Meara character.

After Edith's death and Murray leaving, ABP was putting me too sleep.

True, but the Archie character was an icon and after 13 years, he deserved to go out in a big series finale. He never got to properly say goodbye.

That's true. He wasnt some guy on for 10 mins. Heenan Fan, may I ask, how did you pick your profile name?

http://i.imgur.com/myN0RPK.jpg (http://lunapic.com)


That happened in 1974/75 which is way before ABP

About Archie not getting a proper goodbye, neither did Edith.
A quick death (in a season that started later) and then she was gone.

When Edith died, ABP was in it's prime and more could have/should have been done about that.

That's true. He wasnt some guy on for 10 mins. Heenan Fan, may I ask, how did you pick your profile name?


I was a big fan of pro wrestling on TV in the 1970's (AWA) and 1980's (WWF). Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was my favorite wrestling character to watch. Years later he became an announcer and became a full fledge comedy character, cracking jokes and often making fun of the good guy wrestlers.

Ah, another wrestling fan!! Bobby is the best!!

About Archie not getting a proper goodbye, neither did Edith.
A quick death (in a season that started later) and then she was gone.

When Edith died, ABP was in it's prime and more could have/should have been done about that.

I think they handled the death of Edith very tastefully.

It would have been ghoulish and morbid to have her die on screen, so it happened off camera.

I wouldn't say it was quick, because it weighed on Archie that whole episode and was one of the most poignant episodes of the series. Perhaps the most poignant.

ABP was just boring. The character of Archie Bunker had changed so much it just wasn't interesting or funny anymore. Carroll O'Connor didn't want to work in front of a live audience anymore by the the time ABP premiered, it really changed the show all together.

ABP was just boring. The character of Archie Bunker had changed so much it just wasn't interesting or funny anymore. Carroll O'Connor didn't want to work in front of a live audience anymore by the the time ABP premiered, it really changed the show all together.I agree; I liked the show at first but then I just got tired of him.

I agree; I liked the show at first but then I just got tired of him.

Another thing that hurt the show was Martin Balsam's departure after the second season.

I think he was a good antagonist and someone Carroll O' Connor could play off. After he left, it was Archie and the supporting characters.

I don't think ABP was a bad show. It was a good snow, but not a great one like AITF.

By the time ABP was cancelled, it was more the Billie show.
Every second or third episode was about her and/or her lawyer boyfriend.

The bigger question is why Murray left? And then to a lesser extent the Anne Meara character.

After Edith's death and Murray leaving, ABP was putting me too sleep.

ABP was a good show, but failing to land the plane kept it from reaching its potential.

The first year felt like season 10 of AITF. Then a reset for the 2nd season. The entire show revolved around lovely Danielle Brisebois. Then the 3rd year it evolved into a workplace comedy centered at the Bar. For the 4th and final campaign another reboot into more of a romantic comedy as you said focused on Billie and Gary. The lack of consistency season to season was frustrating.

I will take any ABP season over season 9 of AITF

All of the remaining Norman Lear shows were running on fimes(although, at this time, the Jeffersons was still moderately successful). Times were changing and no one cared what Archie thought anymore.