Interesting All In The Family Facts

[CliffClavin]

The US version of Johnny Speight's hit UK TV series, "Till Death Us Do Part" (1965).


Notoriously, the first toilet flush in prime time television was heard on this show.


Archie and Edith's easy-chairs are now on display at the Smithsonian.


With all of its spin-offs included, save "704 Hauser" (1994), _"All in the family" (1971) (qv) ran for fifteen straight years: _"All in the family" (1971)_ , "Maude" (1972) "Good Times" (1974) "Jeffersons, The" (1975), _"Archie Bunker's Place" (1979)_ (qv), "Checking In" (1981) (qv), "Gloria" (1982).


During contract negotiations with Carroll O'Connor one season, the producers planned for Archie Bunker to be murdered at a convention if the negotiations failed.


Sally Struthers sued to get out of her contract in 1974.


Three pilots were shot for 'All in the Family,' the first under the title 'Justice for All,' the second under the title 'Those Were the Days,' and the third as 'All in the Family.' Different actors played the roles of Mike (original an Irish-American), Gloria, and Lionel in the first two. The family name was Justice, not Bunker. Meathead was called Dickie, not Michael, and he was originally Irish, not Polish.


Producer Norman Lear's original choice for Archie was Mickey Rooney.


The New York City home whose exterior (only) was a stand-in for the Bunkers's TV house stands on Cooper Ave. near 89th St. in the Glendale section of the borough of Queens.


In 1979, the series was reformatted as "Archie Bunker's Place" (1979).


During the end credits, the line of "All in the Family was recorded on tape before a live audience" was spoken by: Bud Yorkin (1971), Rob Reiner (1972-1978), and Carroll O'Connor (1979).


The role of Mike Stivic was offered to Harrison Ford who turned down the part because he felt Archie Bunker's bigotry was too offensive.


During development, the title of the show was "Those Were The Days". Before the show was picked up, a song by the same name became a big hit. CBS decided to change the name of the show, yet kept the theme song for a show named "Those Were The Days".


In one episode, Archie Bunker, without knowing it, issued what turned out to be a correct prophecy: During an argument with the "Meathead" in Kelsey's Bar, the latter walks out at the end, with Archie yelling out the door after him: "You're gonna get Ree-gan in 1980, wise guy!"


Scott Brady was offered the part of Archie Bunker and even though he turned it down, he later appeared as a different character.


Mike was originally from Chicago.


For the second season, Norman Lear advised Carrol O'Connor that his name would appear first in the credit scroll before the title of the show. O'Connor insisted and pressed Lear who finally agreed to put Jean Stapleton's name behind O'Connor's and before the title giving both stars top billing.


When the characters of George and Louise Jefferson were first introduced during the first season, only Louise was seen at first and George was only talked about. Sherman Hemsley, who was Norman Lear's first choice to play George, was performing in the Broadway musical "Purlie" and didn't want to break his commitment to that show. However, Lear kept the role waiting for him until he was finished appearing in the musical.


The name of George Jefferson's brother, who was living with George and Louise, was Henry. In fact Henry once posed as George because George, who was as big a bigot as Archie, didn't want to set foot in the Bunker's house.


Vincent Gardenia appeared in a couple of episodes before he assumed the role of Frank Lorenzo.


The characters of Helen, Tom and Jenny Willis as well as Mother Olivia Jefferson were first introduced in the episode "Lionel's Engagement". However, the only actor from the episode to reprise their role from that episode was Zara Cully as Mother Olivia Jefferson. Helen, Tom and Jenny were portrayed in that episode by Kim Hamilton, Charles Aidman and Lynne Moody respectively and were replaced by Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover and Berlinda Tolbert when "Jeffersons, The" (1975) debuted.


Series producer Norman Lear wanted the show to be shot in black and white, but CBS refused to allow this.


Jean Stapleton decided to do the series over starring in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). She would have played Mrs. Teevee.


Rob Reiner was already losing his hair so rapidly when the show debuted that he started wearing a hairpiece halfway through the show's first season.


The original pilot was financed by ABC; after screening the first pilot, they gave the producers more money to shoot a second pilot with new actors in the Gloria and Mike roles. After ABC turned down the second pilot, CBS picked the series up. The second pilot, "Meet The Bunkers", had the final cast and was the series first episode.


This was the first U.S. television series since the 1950s to be shot before a studio audience. Two performances were shot and the broadcast version combined the best "takes" from the two, which is how almost all comedy series are shot today. This was also the first comedy series shot on videotape rather than film.


The character 'Archie Bunker' was ranked #24 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" (20 June 2004 issue).

[tdr]

This was the first U.S. television series since the 1950s to be shot before a studio audience.

Weren't The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show in the 1960's shot before a studio audience?

[barwars]

Originally posted by tdr
Weren't The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show in the 1960's shot before a studio audience?

yes, this guy just pulls random facts and sites them as his own.
and he doesnt even get them right.