Adding a kid to an adult Comedy that had alreadt been on the air for 7 years was just plain STUPID. What sense did that make? Stephanie slowed the show down and I know lots of adults just left All In the Family alone once that happen. She added nothing to the show AT ALL.

A lot of people feel the show jumped the shark when they added Stephanie.

Originally posted by Jenny
A lot of people feel the show jumped the shark when they added Stephanie.

They could have gave Edith another friend that didn't like Archie much like Louise Jefferson and Irene. But why add a child?

Originally posted by SOLOMON


They could have gave Edith another friend that didn't like Archie much like Louise Jefferson and Irene. But why add a child?

Probably to use new storylines or plotlines.

Originally posted by BJL


Probably to use new storylines or plotlines.


But why add a child when it wasn't a family sitcom to start with?

Maybe the original premise of the show was so thouroughly mined that the producers felt they needed a breath of fresh air. And what do you mean by "family sitcom?"

Originally posted by BJL
Maybe the original premise of the show was so thouroughly mined that the producers felt they needed a breath of fresh air. And what do you mean by "family sitcom?"

Family sitcom is a sitcom with kids. Did you get my reply to your question on the Jeffersons board?

In a way, I would call it a family sitcom because it has Archie's daughter and son-in-law (albeit grown but still). And yes I read your reply on The Jefferson's board.

When a long-running show adds a fresh cute new kid to the mix it is a sure sign that the series needs to bow out gracefully instead of falling flat on its face. Aside from "All in the Family," other series tried this well worn attempt at raising the ratings, and most failed miserably. "Family Matters," "Growing Pains," "Diff'rent Strokes," "Who's the Boss," "Brady Bunch," "Charles in Charge," and many others.

In the case of "All in the Family," adding a child appeared to be the easiest way to squeeze out another season or two of episodes. With Mike and Gloria's departure in the spring of 1978, a major piece of what made the show so memorable and loved departed with the Stivics as well. I felt and still feel that CBS should have eschewed greed and allowed the series a well-deserved and dignified ending (ala Mary Tyler Moore Show and MASH). But the network in their, as Archie would say, "infant" wisdom allowed the show to not only jump the shark but be devoured by it as well, leaving the poor shark with a bitter and bad taste in its mouth. I am sure that had CBS continued "Archie Bunker's Place," invariably a cute chimp named Mr BoJangles would have been added to the mix. Archie: Good night nurse Rosemary (Stephanie), whatever, done brought home a whattayacall chimpanty."

I disagree with the above posts. I thought Danielle Brisebois was wonderful as Stephanie and was a perfect foil for Archie. She was sweet but was not too cute in the way that Cousin Oliver ruined the Brady Bunch or Seven runied Married with Children. Also, by this time more episodes were set at the bar which meant there was never any danger of becoming a "family" comedy in the manner of "Different Strokes" or "Growing Pains".

Of course AITF was never the same after Mike and Gloria left and it probably would have been classier to just end the show there, but CBS needed to AITF to continue (partly because MTM had ended the previous year) and Carroll very much wanted to continue as Archie, which resulted in five more years (including ABP).

Originally posted by Flash72
Archie: Good night nurse Rosemary (Stephanie), whatever, done brought home a whattayacall chimpanty."

:lol:

I agree with what jon123 said. Danielle was a good actress and not pukey cute like those so-called twins--the Olsens. Ack!
-Kristi

I meant to say "So-called actresses." Yes, it is true that are twins, but they are NOT good actresses. Whereas Danielle was.
-Kristi