Can someone explain to me, because I've missed it thus far, how Stephanie came into the picture? Circumstances? Season and episode?

Thanks.

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
Can someone explain to me, because I've missed it thus far, how Stephanie came into the picture? Circumstances? Season and episode?

Thanks.



In the first episode of the last season called-"Little Miss Bunker", Edith's Cousin abandons his 9 year old daughter by leaving her on the Bunkers Doorstep. Four Episodes later, the Bunkers decide to keep Stephanie when her Father doesn't live up to his promise to come get his daughter.


I never saw the point of adding Stephanie. This was an ault comedy for 7 years and then they all of a sudden turn it into a family sitcom by adding a 9 year old kid. The last season was POINTLESS

I thought the addition of Theresa was pretty pointless also. Although the eps with Joey were generally pretty good, the Stivics needn't have had a child. All it did was provide some fodder for new scripts. The addition of a child brings about some new story ideas, but generally speaking it usually marks the point where the show "jumps the shark." I dislike ANY sitcoms that revolve around children anyway. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Viola_Fuss
I thought the addition of Theresa was pretty pointless also. Although the eps with Joey were generally pretty good, the Stivics needn't have had a child. All it did was provide some fodder for new scripts. The addition of a child brings about some new story ideas, but generally speaking it usually marks the point where the show "jumps the shark." I dislike ANY sitcoms that revolve around children anyway. :rolleyes:

I agree. Sitcoms that revolve around Children do not Hold my interest

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
In the first episode of the last season called-"Little Miss Bunker", Edith's Cousin abandons his 9 year old daughter by leaving her on the Bunkers Doorstep. Four Episodes later, the Bunkers decide to keep Stephanie when her Father doesn't live up to his promise to come get his daughter.


I never saw the point of adding Stephanie. This was an ault comedy for 7 years and then they all of a sudden turn it into a family sitcom by adding a 9 year old kid. The last season was POINTLESS

They needed somebody to bounce off of Archie. Mike and Gloria were in California. Maybe the choice of a child was wrong, but what else could they do?

While I don't particularly like the Stephanie character(and don't really like the 9th season at all), but, I also didn't like the idea of it just being a sitcom with Archie and Edith in it. IMO, the series should have ended with the Stivics moving to California.

Originally posted by cheers_rules
They needed somebody to bounce off of Archie. Mike and Gloria were in California. Maybe the choice of a child was wrong, but what else could they do?


They should have ended the series

No, the nineth season isn't as strong as the other seasons of AITF, but I still like the Stephanie episodes. Heck, the nineth season of AITF is way better than the TV shows out today.
-Kristi

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
They should have ended the series

I don't agree. While the series was never as strong w/o Mike & Gloria, it still had many good episodes in the 9th season and in ABP.

The only reason I like the "Stephanie" eps is that we get to see the Bunkers parenting skills. Since Gloria was all grown up, we missed out on seeing how Edith and Archie may have dealt with her (Gloria's) childhood difficulties. They communicated together very well, and seemed to use kindness and compasssion with their child. Archie may have indicated he'd whallop her hiney but I seriously doubt he'd have the moxy when it came down to the actual task. He's a softie, you know! We can assume the same was doted on Gloria.

Although the ninth season isn't as strong as the others, I think it's unfairly criticized. There are quite a few strong episodes in there, such as when Edith tries to get credit, or when Archie, Edith, Barney, and Blanche spend the weekend in the fishing cabin. Yes, Stephanie can be overly cutsie at times, but for the most part, she's used pretty sparingly.

Season 9 wasn't classic "All in the Family" as we know it, but it holds up well in its own right. And there are many season 9 episodes that I prefer to season 1 episodes (which I generally think are too shrill and harsh).

Originally posted by TV Guy
And there are many season 9 episodes that I prefer to season 1 episodes (which I generally think are too shrill and harsh).

I agree with this statement. Sometimes the shouting and noise level got to be a bit over the top. Rob Reiner in particular seemed to feel a need to scream his lines rather than emote in another manner when very angry. The audience laughter sometimes called for the actors to raise their voices in order to be heard, but when it's not necessary, it becomes more of an irritation than anything else. Sometimes you just wanted to tell Archie and Mike and George to take a chill pill. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Viola_Fuss
I agree with this statement. Sometimes the shouting and noise level got to be a bit over the top. Rob Reiner in particular seemed to feel a need to scream his lines rather than emote in another manner when very angry. The audience laughter sometimes called for the actors to raise their voices in order to be heard, but when it's not necessary, it becomes more of an irritation than anything else. Sometimes you just wanted to tell Archie and Mike and George to take a chill pill. :rolleyes:


Archie, Mike and George take a chill pill? Not the 3 funniest characters on the show. They were the characters who made the show. Gloria, Edith, and Louise were boring.

Don't take what I say so literally. :D I am making a tongue in cheek comment about the yelling they were doing. As in "take a chill pill and relax and stop hollering.." It may also be the way the show was set up with the sound and the mics. It seemed to get less "shrill" as the other poster said, in later eps.

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Archie, Mike and George take a chill pill? Not the 3 funniest characters on the show. They were the characters who made the show. Gloria, Edith, and Louise were boring.

Agreed. I do think it would have been nice to have Edith in ABP, though.

Originally posted by cheers_rules
Agreed. I do think it would have been nice to have Edith in ABP, though.


She was on some of the early ones.