Anybody Know Why Martin Balsam (Murray Klein) Left 'Archie Bunker's Place?'

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by sm95fan

Balsam was brought in for a big time salary, $32.5k episode. The rest of the supporting cast made $7500/episode. The idea was for CoC and him to be 1 and 1A.

But it just never worked out. They could never come up with a story for Murray where he was more than 2nd or 3rd banana. Even CoC lamented the Murray character remained underdeveloped. When you throw in Balsam still lived in NY and commuted every week, he only made it two seasons.

Flying back and forth had to be a drag. All those long days on the set and then you spend a large part of your weekend on an airplane. Then again, Alan Alda did the same thing on M*A*S*H for eleven years and it worked out okay for him.

[TVFactFan]

Murray was the highlight of the show

[sm95fan]

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[sm95fan]

Originally Posted by TMC

It seemed like except for Danielle Brisebois, nobody wanted to stay on this show for too long. Besides Martin Balsam bailing out after two years (the same time producer Mort Lachman left to partner with Alan Landsburg for Gimme A Break! and Kate & Allie), Anne Meara left right before the final season, and a bunch of people came and went.

Danielle was definitely committed. In this interview from June 1982 she talks about latching on with Gloria if ABP ever went off the air. Then maybe a spin off series focused on Stephanie.

Of course it was all a pipe dream. Danielle was hardly used the next season and CoC would soon have a falling out over Gloria so I doubt he would have permitted any crossover. And in a year, it wouldn't matter anyway as CBS pulled the plug on everything Archie.


https://books.google.com/books?id=kM...page&q&f=false