Dead Television: 704 Hauser

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https://dekkareviews.wordpress.com/2...on-704-hauser/

December 19, 2023
Dave Cameron



In the wake of Norman Lear’s recent passing at the remarkable age of 101, the world mourns the loss of a television pioneer whose influence has left an indelible mark on the landscape of American entertainment. Lear, celebrated for his groundbreaking work on iconic shows such as “All in the Family,” was not only a visionary storyteller but a cultural touchstone whose impact spanned generations. As we reflect on Lear’s legacy and the profound contributions he made to the medium, it’s fitting to delve into one of his lesser-known endeavors: the short-lived series “704 Hauser.”

In this exploration, we pay tribute to Norman Lear’s enduring influence on television and examine the brief but intriguing chapter that was “704 Hauser.” A spin-off and sequel series to the groundbreaking “All in the Family,” this series dared to take on the challenging task of revisiting Lear’s earlier masterpiece, offering a fresh perspective on societal issues through the lens of the Bunker family’s former residence.

The show picks up several years after “Archie Bunker’s Place”, Archie has since sold his home to a new couple, Ernie and Rose Cumberbatch are working class Democrats, while their son Thurgood (Goodie for short) is a conservative activist and his girlfriend, Cherlyn Markowitz, is white and Jewish. This is where most of the show’s conflict comes from, in fact the second episode focused on Ernie and Rose setting up Goodie with a new girlfriend, someone more to their liking.

Ernie is basically a pseudo-clone of Archie Bunker, he’s a racist, but it’s toned down, he disagrees with he’s son on virtually everything, channeling the relationship between Archie and Mike, he even chomps on cigars just like Archie. Rose is a neutral party, she’s fine with Goodie dating Cherlyn, but did help Ernie set Goodie up with another woman, but only changed her mind after she disagreed with her about women’s lib. Goodie is tutor and teaches kids to practice abstinence, basically he’s Mike, but unlike our favorite meathead, this guys a Right-Wing Republican, much to his dad’s annoyance, and even more to his annoyance he’s dating a white woman, and every episode has the two of them clashing on ideals and respective experiences. As mentioned earlier, Cheryln gets along with Goodie, as well as Rose, but she had a long road with Ernie. In the pilot she calls him “Dad”, showing that she’s willing to if her and Goodie were to get married.

The show, like All in the Family, tackles race issues, and handled it with seriousness and humor. The third episode uses the serious angle, and deals with Ernie being harangued by a security guard at a store, while Goodie tries to defend the guard telling his he was “just doing his job”, which upset his father to the point of giving away Goodie’s black history books. Cherlyn (who’s parents are friends with the store owners) gets her hands on the security tape, and they all watch it, and see the guard closely watching Ernie and just Ernie, unaware of a woman sneaking something in a stroller. After Ernie blows up at the guard and storms off, they then see Goodie apologizing to the guard much to Ernie’s disappointment.

The fourth episode, was about Ernie and Rose trying to get to a wedding out of town, leaving Goodie alone with Cheryln (much to Ernie’s annoyance). Goodie also invited Cheryln’s friend from college, but just as they were getting cozy together, Ernie and Rose come back early as they had a hit and run with a woman. As they head to the kitchen, Cheryln’s friend arrives, and it turns out its the woman, Ernie had ran into earlier. After a back and forth between the two, Ernie apologizes (albeit reluctantly).

The fifth and last episode to air has Rose choose between a weekend in Paris with her sister, Jasmine, or to Brooklyn with Ernie. Initially, he tells her to go with Jasmine, upset that he can’t compete with Paris. But he comes around once he realizes Rose needs her after her boyfriend leaves her for a younger woman.

The sixth and final episode of the series has Ernie become a minister because he learned they could be eligible for a tax break. Rose thinks its a bad idea, but Ernie ignores her as he turns his tool shed into a makeshift chapel. He finally realizes the error of his ways after he he does a mock congregation that shocks and horrifies her, but they make up at dinner.

To tie in with All in the Family, a grown-up Joey Stivic appears in the pilot to check out his old house, much to Ernie’s annoyance. While it’s cool seeing Joey, and we do get a throw away reference to Archie, we don’t get any mention of his parents, or his cousin Stephanie, what happened to her? Did she go college? Did she find her dad? Did she run off to form an alt-rock band? Also, we never see him again after this episode.

REVIEW

“704 Hauser,” the brief and somewhat overlooked spin-off from the legendary “All in the Family,” presents a mixed bag of television virtues and shortcomings. Let’s delve into the show, examining its notable aspects and its stumbles along the way.

The cast of “704 Hauser” does a commendable job with the material they were given. John Amos, in particular, stands out with his portrayal of Ernie Cumberbatch, injecting sincerity and depth into the character. The ensemble as a whole manages to bring a level of authenticity to their roles, making the best of what the script provides.

Visually, the rebuilt Bunker house sets are nearly perfect, capturing the nostalgic essence of the iconic residence. Fans of “All in the Family” will appreciate the attention to detail, although eagle-eyed viewers may note the incongruity of the kitchen door’s relocated position.

However, the show stumbles when it comes to its central concept. While the idea of revisiting the Bunker’s house and addressing contemporary issues seemed promising, the execution falls short. The concept feels unoriginal and uninspired, lacking the fresh perspective that made “All in the Family” a groundbreaking success. The attempt to recreate the magic of its predecessor doesn’t quite hit the mark, leaving “704 Hauser” feeling like a missed opportunity.

One notable absence that contributes to the show’s lack of identity is the absence of a theme song. In an ironic twist that seems to foreshadow the trend in modern television, “704 Hauser” lacks a memorable opening tune, missing the opportunity to establish a distinct and recognizable musical identity. This omission underscores a departure from the tradition of iconic TV theme songs that have become a hallmark of the medium.

Despite the show’s shortcomings, it’s worth noting that John Amos, the star of “704 Hauser,” expressed enjoyment in working on the series and collaborating with Norman Lear again. Amos’s positive experience behind the scenes offers a silver lining to the show’s narrative, highlighting the camaraderie and creative energy that surrounded the production.

Overall, “704 Hauser” may not have secured its place as a timeless classic, but it remains an intriguing chapter in the broader legacy of Norman Lear’s television career, with both successes and setbacks to its name.

While the series has never had an official release, the pilot was released as a bonus feature in the All in the Family boxset from Shout Factory. The entire series can be found on YouTube.

RANK: 3 out of 5