Norman Lear stated that the idea for those characters came straight out the Newspapers. During the early 70's, it was several articles about men wanting to learn how to cook and also doing needlepoint. There were also articles of women doing carpentry and masonry. So they developed the characters Frank and Irene Lorenzo, Frank who was a gourmet cook and Irene was a Mrs Fixit around the house. Everything Irene did Archie felt was a man's job and that's why Lear wanted to explore other areas of prejudice that could be put in the show.


Tri-City Herald, Sept 14, 1973, pg 12