This is my first time watching the series from the beginning in order. I just started season 6 and have now moved Mike up to number 1 on my list of TV characters I hate. Gloria finds out she's pregnant and then immediately goes from happy to berating her and blaming her for getting pregnant. What a lowlife piece of **** he is. He's arrogant, he mooches off people, he belittles Gloria every chance he gets, and now blames her for getting pregnant. How can anyone like him? Archie and Edith should have punched the hell out of Mike in this episode. He deserved it the most for not taking responsibility of Gloria being pregnant and causing her to think she would need an abortion to keep him as her husband. Neither one of these two should be parents since all they think about is their own happiness.

I don’t HATE him but don’t really respect him. The Games Bunkers Play shows what a baby and weenie he can really be.

Gloria does stand up to him rather often, and I love her for it!

I don’t HATE him but don’t really respect him. The Games Bunkers Play shows what a baby and weenie he can really be.

Gloria does stand up to him rather often, and I love her for it!

That's the episode where my hatred towards him first started :lol: I was so happy Edith stood up to him as he kept bashing Archie left and right. Archie is supporting Mike. If it wasn't for Archie and Gloria working to buy food, pay utilities, and clothes, Mike would be a bum on the streets begging for hand outs. Mike should be grateful to Archie. I doubt he'll do this, but since he's now mooching off George with the low blow rent he's paying, Mike should be paying Archie back for all the years of support. Again, I doubt he will since he thinks he's better than everyone and was probably owed it :rolleyes:

I would have liked Gloria more if she had dumped Mike when he wanted to blame her for getting pregnant. Edith and Louise are the only two women in this show so far who know their children come before any man or person. I don't understand why Gloria keeps putting up with Mike when she's had such strong females around her showing how to act in situations that matter.

In Archie Bunker's Place, it was revealed just how much of a low life loser, dead-beat husband & dad Mike really is. When Gloria returns from California back to New York, she reveals how Mike abandoned his family so he could join some weirdo hippie commune.

That's the episode where my hatred towards him first started :lol: I was so happy Edith stood up to him as he kept bashing Archie left and right. Archie is supporting Mike. If it wasn't for Archie and Gloria working to buy food, pay utilities, and clothes, Mike would be a bum on the streets begging for hand outs. Mike should be grateful to Archie. I doubt he'll do this, but since he's now mooching off George with the low blow rent he's paying, Mike should be paying Archie back for all the years of support. Again, I doubt he will since he thinks he's better than everyone and was probably owed it :rolleyes:

I would have liked Gloria more if she had dumped Mike when he wanted to blame her for getting pregnant. Edith and Louise are the only two women in this show so far who know their children come before any man or person. I don't understand why Gloria keeps putting up with Mike when she's had such strong females around her showing how to act in situations that matter.

I agree his attitude toward Archie should have been better. Mike was an elite pompous weenie with delusions of grandeur. No argument from me.

And yes Edith and Weezie rocked the planet and show!

To me, the whole premise of Meathead being a graduate student getting married and moving in with the Bunkers was strange. First, he had money from somewhere, a grant or scholarship to go to school. He was from Chicago so he lived in New York for some time beforehand and probably had free or reduced rent in the dorms at school and food. In real life he could have worked twenty hours a week found something, and had an Uncle (played by Michael Conrad) who was somewhat of a father who supported him some.

So it made no sense to marry Gloria and live in their parent’s home. I couldn’t do that, to me it would be CREEPY to have sex with my wife with her parents in the next room. I would not like that my older middle aged father in law is working a labor job at a plant and driving a cab (why wasn’t Meathead driving the cab?) while I didn’t make any income.

And I’m sorry but Gloria was an annoying woman. Granted she was cute and had a great body in the early seasons but she wasn’t all that. But even she was like what, 23, also living at home with the folks without an education or job skills. Gloria couldn’t make it on her own and she married Meathead who isn’t ready yet with his goals to be on his own.

So, Meathead’s backstory doesn’t make that mich sense, unless Gloria put him up to this arrangement since she didn’t want to lose him (her being annoying, this was probably her first serious boyfriend.) Consequently, he really was no winner either and probably agrees to this for sex and companionship.

In Archie Bunker's Place, it was revealed just how much of a low life loser, dead-beat husband & dad Mike really is. When Gloria returns from California back to New York, she reveals how Mike abandoned his family so he could join some weirdo hippie commune.

I haven't watched all of that show and I'm leaning more not to. I remember Edith's death episode and that was so hard to watch. You cry so hard at the end when Archie is holding Edith's shoe. I'm glad Gloria ends up getting away from Mike though. He's a loser.


In real life he could have worked twenty hours a week found something,

That's what I did. I worked full time and went to college part time. It takes longer but in the end, only you can support yourself. I grew up learning never to depend on others to help out. That's why seeing Mike mooch off Archie and belittle him in every single episode irritates me because this man is working two jobs to support you. Where's the gratitude? Gloria didn't have any respect for her father since she never put a stop to Mike constantly telling Archie how stupid he is. Archie should have thrown both of them out until they could learn to appreciate what they were receiving.

I remember there were a few episodes where Mike and Gloria decide to move out and live on her income. Even those episodes boggles my mind because Mike is perfectly comfortable mooching off someone else if Archie isn't willing. When this show was first airing, how did Norman not get any complaints about Mike? On Dark Shadows, the cast would receive so many letters they were going to hell for playing in a supernatural show. Where were the fans in this shows run to ask Norman to change Mike's character because it's overkill on how much he mooches off others?

IIRC, there was an episode in which Mike revealed that he had worked in a gas station to (at least partially) pay off Archie but it seemed what he paid Archie was virtual peanuts compared to how Archie had been feeding the elephant.

In the original British show 'Til Death Do Us Part' the son-in-law Mike was happy to live off the dole (British welfare) not only never bothering to look for any kind of employment but also with zero ambition to improve himself via education. So, I think Mr. Lear likely thought Mike Stivic being a student/grad student while living with the Bunkers for five years had a more sympathetic MO than the British incarnation.

BTW, the British Mike was played by Antony Booth who would live to see his daughter Cherie become the British First Lady via her being married to Tony Blair!

Several years ago, I wrote the following about Mike and Archie:

I realize that Mike was supposed to offer the other side of Archie's opinons. However, over the years Mike proved himself to be quite the hypocrite. He took part in peace marches and was quick to violently defend Gloria on the subway. He was always quick to use his education to put Archie down; a very disrespectful act. He shouted his views while being critical of Archie for having opposing views. I think the best episode that brought his shortcomings to light was the episode where he, Gloria, Edith, Lionel, Irene and Frank were playing a board game, and he couldn't handle the fact that others didn't see him as the perfect person he thought he was. It took Edith to show him how things really were.

Mike would've been better off had he given Archie the same consideration and understanding he seem to demand that Archie should give others. Archie was who he was; a product of his environment, era and upbringing, and when the world began to change, he found it difficult to change with it. As the years went on, Archie's character did actually grow from time to time. Mike on the other hand seem to become what he used to enjoy mocking. He became a head of a household with all its responsibilties and as it turned out, couldn't handle it as well as Archie did.

Several years ago, I wrote the following about Mike and Archie:

I realize that Mike was supposed to offer the other side of Archie's opinons. However, over the years Mike proved himself to be quite the hypocrite. He took part in peace marches and was quick to violently defend Gloria on the subway. He was always quick to use his education to put Archie down; a very disrespectful act. He shouted his views while being critical of Archie for having opposing views. I think the best episode that brought his shortcomings to light was the episode where he, Gloria, Edith, Lionel, Irene and Frank were playing a board game, and he couldn't handle the fact that others didn't see him as the perfect person he thought he was. It took Edith to show him how things really were.

Mike would've been better off had he given Archie the same consideration and understanding he seem to demand that Archie should give others. Archie was who he was; a product of his environment, era and upbringing, and when the world began to change, he found it difficult to change with it. As the years went on, Archie's character did actually grow from time to time. Mike on the other hand seem to become what he used to enjoy mocking. He became a head of a household with all its responsibilties and as it turned out, couldn't handle it as well as Archie did.
Well, Archie could at least be glad that Mike was getting an education.
That is more than what his British equivalent did.
Even so, I agree with you that Mike was really disrespectful towards Archie and full of himself.
And the fact that he left Gloria for an 18-year-old girl just shows us what a scum he was.

I like Meathead yes :)

I wonder what he is doing nowadays!!

I don’t HATE him but don’t really respect him. The Games Bunkers Play shows what a baby and weenie he can really be.

Gloria does stand up to him rather often, and I love her for it!

I know I'm in a minority, but I felt they all sorta ganged up on Mike a little too rough in that episode. I mean literally everyone was giving him crap. I agree he should have been called out some, BUT when you feel ganged up on and called out by EVERYONE at once, you are gonna feel on the defense

I liked Mike about the sock/shoe story.

A guy with one shoe on hopping around outside is pretty funny.

I know I'm in a minority, but I felt they all sorta ganged up on Mike a little too rough in that episode. I mean literally everyone was giving him crap. I agree he should have been called out some, BUT when you feel ganged up on and called out by EVERYONE at once, you are gonna feel on the defense

They didn't gang up on Mike. They were defending themselves. Mike started the tension with Lionel and then continued it with Gloria for not going to him with her card of what to do. There was no ganging up on Mike. He started everything in that episode. Were they supposed to be quiet and take his temper tantrum?

They didn't gang up on Mike. They were defending themselves. Mike started the tension with Lionel and then continued it with Gloria for not going to him with her card of what to do. There was no ganging up on Mike. He started everything in that episode. Were they supposed to be quiet and take his temper tantrum?

I don't remember ALL the details, it just seemed like, from what I remember, EVERYONE was taking a shot at Mike when it was their turn to read their cards. I mean yeah Mike was getting worked up into a fit of emotion, so they could have been MORE mature than Mike and just eased off if they wanted to diffuse an already intense situation instead of working him up even more. And when they said that he was worse than Archie ~I think someone said that~ I can see how that set him off.... Archie was a BIGOT! He insulted people based immutable traits, such as them being black, women, gay, etc..... and to me that is about as bad as you can be. Mike was far from perfect, and was sexist himself in ways, but he at least tried not to be a bigot, so that puts him as better than Archie, IMO

When Edith talked to him in private in the kitchen was the right way to handle it, but EVERYONE coming at you calling you out at the same time in front of everyone is not gonna lead to anything good. That didn't even happen very much with Archie, like EVERYONE calling him out at the same time as an ignorant, racist, homphobic bigot

And right or wrong, as I said, if someone feels like they are being ganged up on, they are likely gonna be even more on the defense

I don't remember ALL the details, it just seemed like, from what I remember, EVERYONE was taking a shot at Mike when it was their turn to read their cards.

The game didn't start out that way. Lionel drew a card and Mike told him he will have to pass his turn because Archie isn't there for Lionel to use his card on. Mike was telling Lionel what to do so Lionel took that opportunity to tell Mike how he felt especially since a few moments earlier Mike was telling Lionel about what the problems are black people face as if Lionel didn't know. What's worst is that Mike didn't even listen to Lionel and told him he's lying about how he feels when Mike acts like that. When Gloria drew her card about sharing something with someone you're close to in the room, she went to her mom. Mike told her no and to stop talking to Edith and talk to him. He couldn't stand that Gloria wanted to play the game honestly by sharing something with her mom because he wanted to be the person who's most important to her. That's not ganging up on Mike. That's him taking over the game and telling people what to do when they draw their cards. Mike was no way innocent in that episode and was not ganged up on. He was ganging up on them and telling them what to do.

And when they said that he was worse than Archie ~I think someone said that~ I can see how that set him off.... Archie was a BIGOT! He insulted people based immutable traits, such as them being black, women, gay, etc..... and to me that is about as bad as you can be. Mike was far from perfect, and was sexist himself in ways, but he at least tried not to be a bigot, so that puts him as better than Archie, IMO

Here is where I have to completely disagree with you.
Yes, it is true that Archie was supposed to be "the bigot".
What you have to remember though is that he was from an older generation.
And he didn't have the same education as Mike.
But still, it is not like he couldn't learn something new and admit his mistakes.
When exactly did Mike ever admit that he was wrong?
Like you said yourself, it is not like he was perfect and wasn't sexist himself.

I know I'm in a minority, but I felt they all sorta ganged up on Mike a little too rough in that episode. I mean literally everyone was giving him crap. I agree he should have been called out some, BUT when you feel ganged up on and called out by EVERYONE at once, you are gonna feel on the defense

I thout it was a nice change because everyone ganged up on Archie in every episode.

Mike had his faults for sure. He didn't always treat Gloria that well but he still wasn't a giant racist like Archie.

Mike had his faults for sure. He didn't always treat Gloria that well but he still wasn't a giant racist like Archie.

Of course Mike was a giant racist. All in the Family professed to want to poke fun at stereotypes, but it really just wanted to replace one set of stereotypes with another.

Of course, what was most important was that when push came to shove, Mike wound up failing Gloria and Joey and left them high and dry to run off with a co-ed (despite all his windy speeches about being fair) while, for all his many faults and not being fair-minded to those of other groups, Archie WAS there for Edith, Gloria, Joey, and eventually Stephanie and Billie and took care of them (the latter two girls he had had no obligation to have done so ).

Mike was the ant-Archie. I think as many people liked him as much as Archie.. They both fed off each other and each was very annoying.

The episode "Mike Comes Into Money" you have people siding with Archie and it was not about politics but what was right. Mike gave $250 (which was alot of money in 1972) to the McGovern campaign while Archie struggled to put food on the table and Mike was living there rent free. For once, most sided with Archie but in the end Mike got a job to pay Archie $200.

In the later years Mike finally had enough on the subway and punched someone who was bothering Gloria. Mike had regrets while Archie was proud of Mike.

When Mike fell in love with Gloria's wig was when it was shown he was creepy.

Mike was the anti-Archie. I think as many people liked him as much as Archie.. They both fed off each other and each was very annoying.

The episode "Mike Comes Into Money" you have people siding with Archie and it was not about politics but what was right. Mike gave $250 (which was alot of money in 1972) to the McGovern campaign while Archie struggled to put food on the table and Mike was living there rent free. For once, most sided with Archie but in the end Mike got a job to pay Archie $200.

In the later years Mike finally had enough on the subway and punched someone who was bothering Gloria. Mike had regrets while Archie was proud of Mike.

When Mike fell in love with Gloria's wig was when it was shown he was creepy.

Of course, what was most important was that when push came to shove, Mike wound up failing Gloria and Joey and left them high and dry to run off with a co-ed (despite all his windy speeches about being fair) while, for all his many faults and not being fair-minded to those of other groups, Archie WAS there for Edith, Gloria, Joey, and eventually Stephanie and Billie and took care of them (the latter two girls he had had no obligation to have done so ).
Again, I would say that most of Archie's "bigotry" was just him being from an older generation.
And in the end, it is true that he was a better father and husband than Meathead.

Mike wouldnt have been anyone I wanted to hang around because he didnt like watching sports

I bet he does in real life....

I would love to meet gloria and him!!

Mike was the ant-Archie. I think as many people liked him as much as Archie.. They both fed off each other and each was very annoying.

The episode "Mike Comes Into Money" you have people siding with Archie and it was not about politics but what was right. Mike gave $250 (which was alot of money in 1972) to the McGovern campaign while Archie struggled to put food on the table and Mike was living there rent free. For once, most sided with Archie but in the end Mike got a job to pay Archie $200.

In the later years Mike finally had enough on the subway and punched someone who was bothering Gloria. Mike had regrets while Archie was proud of Mike.

When Mike fell in love with Gloria's wig was when it was shown he was creepy.


Yes, that episode where Mike inherits that money annoyed me as well. Mike takes some of that inheritance and buys Gloria a new coat. Fine. But, then he completely forgets to buy something nice for Edith, Mike’s beloved “Ma.”

I mean, as many posters have rightfully pointed out in this thread, Mike was a first-class moocher/schnorrer, living at Archie and Edith’s house and stuffing his fat face courtesy of Archie and Gloria’s weekly and hard-earned paychecks. Instead of literally throwing away a couple of hundreds bucks on the snowballs’-chance-in-hell George McGovern presidential campaign in some pathetically quixotic gesture, Mike should have bought Edith something she would have personally liked or could have used around the house, like a new refrigerator or a microwave.

Archie was 100% right to blow a gasket when “Meathead-the-Moocher” just tossed away that financial contribution to the doomed McGovern campaign. The Bunkers were blue-class, working people, who lived from paycheck to paycheck. Mike should have taken his swollen head out of his keester and realized that charity begins at home. Besides, Mike wouldn’t have had to take that part-time job, pumping gas to give Archie that other money if he had originally just given his inheritance windfall to Archie and Mike’s so-called “beloved Ma.”

Oh, yeah, that other episode, when two criminals were robbing the Bunkers in their own home, liberal, sycophantic Mike starts to “bond” with the thieves as they’re collecting household items to steal from the family. Instead of “bonding” and pleasantly schmoozing with these two robbers, Mike should have been reaching for a baseball bat to drive these two criminals out of the Bunkers’ home.

In short, Mike “The Meathead” Stivic was an insufferable parasite, who was in grave danger of suffocating in his own embrace.

I know I'm in a minority, but I felt they all sorta ganged up on Mike a little too rough in that episode. I mean literally everyone was giving him crap. I agree he should have been called out some, BUT when you feel ganged up on and called out by EVERYONE at once, you are gonna feel on the defense

I haven't seen that one in a long time, but you're right, even Edith was getting in her licks, IIRC.

You had to feel a little empathy for him, an otherwise unlikable character.

Folks can donate to whatever legitimate legally viable politician they believe in. I'm NOT debating that.

However, I agree that Mike should have used the inheritance to try to make life easier for Archie and, yes, Edith, who both had gone out of their ways to provide a home for him (Archie by paying for his food/share of utilities;Edith by cooking, cleaning and doing laundry for him).

If Mike felt strongly about Senator McGovern (or any other candidate), truly, he should have taken the gas station job and used THAT money for the donation THEN used the found money inheritance to provide niceties for his in-laws (as well as his wife).

Folks can donate to whatever legitimate legally viable politician they believe in. I'm NOT debating that.

However, I agree that Mike should have used the inheritance to try to make life easier for Archie and, yes, Edith, who both had gone out of their ways to provide a home for him (Archie by paying for his food/share of utilities;Edith by cooking, cleaning and doing laundry for him).

If Mike felt strongly about Senator McGovern (or any other candidate), truly, he should have taken the gas station job and used THAT money for the donation THEN used the found money inheritance to provide niceties for his in-laws (as well as his wife).

Well said, indeed.

Of course Mike was a giant racist. All in the Family professed to want to poke fun at stereotypes, but it really just wanted to replace one set of stereotypes with another.

Yes, Mike was the self-hating white liberal who was "educated" but had little common sense or self-sufficiency beyond what was given to him by someone else. And we can see what that monster has turned into today.

I gave up watching this show because of Mike. It was bad enough he ruined the game night in that one episode demanding Gloria's answer be to him instead of her own mother and harassing everyone, but his response to Gloria's pregnancy finally turned me off the show. I can't stand men who find out their girlfriend / wife is expecting and blame them for it happening. This happens a lot. When Gloria was considering abortion to keep Mike, I kept wishing Edith and Archie would have beat the crap out of Mike. He deserved to be beaten for screwing with Gloria's head on what should have been a glorious occasion. And any woman who considers abortion because their man might leave them should never be a parent. Imagine how future kids will feel when they learn mommy was going to kill them to keep a man in her bed. I'm surprise this show was such a hit with the lousy writing for Mike.

I liked him as much as I liked Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Mike Tyson. All 4
Mikes were equally phoney.

I think he is awesome..... Is he like that in real life??

I think he is awesome..... Is he like that in real life??

Well, he directed Steven King's classic "Stand By Me" in 1986 and his dad was cool. I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day. Plus I heard he poked Sally Struthers while married to Penny Marshall. The Meathead must of thought he died and gone to Heaven. If he even believes in Heaven?

Mike was an intellectual snob.

Well, he directed Steven King's classic "Stand By Me" in 1986Wow thats awesome knowing...... I love that movie!!!!!