When did "All in Family" start losing its satirical edge? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

StevieB · 04-01-2005, 06:32 PM

I recently watched "Alone at Last" and was amazed at how awkward and unfunny most of the episode's humor was. I found the scenes in the kitchen involving Archie trying to cook dinner for himself to be silly and out of character. I think some of the biggest reasons why "All in Family" was successful and popular in its day was the show had biting social satire,well written scripts,and wonderful performances. As good as an actor Caroll O'Connor was,he looked uncomfortable in the kitchen scenes,and didn't seem suitable to do "slapstick". I think the quality of the show's humor and social satire already started to slip by 1975. As a matter of fact,I also think the show lost a lot when John Rich stopped directing episodes. What does everybody else think? Sincerely,Steve.

TJL · 04-01-2005, 06:43 PM

I think the show lost the satirical edge when Mike And GLoria moved next door. Archie and Mike were no longer under the same roof, where they would "discuss" the topics of the day.

Brian Damage · 04-03-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

I think the show lost the satirical edge when Mike And GLoria moved next door. Archie and Mike were no longer under the same roof, where they would "discuss" the topics of the day.

That's my answer too.

mstewart · 04-03-2005, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

I think the show lost the satirical edge when Mike And GLoria moved next door. Archie and Mike were no longer under the same roof, where they would "discuss" the topics of the day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

That's my answer too.

I second that motion. The show all together lost its edge. The episodes with the four of them under the same roof carried over well. I know at some point Mike and Gloria needed to move out but the move took something away from the show.

TVFactFan · 04-03-2005, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstewart

I second that motion. The show all together lost its edge. The episodes with the four of them under the same roof carried over well. I know at some point Mike and Gloria needed to move out but the move took something away from the show.

Well the show still finished number one after the 75-76 season which was the first season of Mike and Gloria living in their own home.

snl75 · 04-03-2005, 10:19 PM

about season 7 76/77 thats about the time norman lear brought in some of the old writers from i love lucy and the shows humor seemed to become more silly with the possable exception of the draft doger ep. it was the one ep that season that looked like the old all in the family for the record for some reason i do like the alone at last ep. for some reason i always get a big laugh when archie says ill eat shtake till i busht

tdr · 04-05-2005, 12:40 AM

I think it was by the season starting in fall, '75, though it was already beginning to slip before then. They were definitely stretching things to try to keep as much of what made the show popular as they could, as shown by the end of 73-74, when Mike was so worried about his exams and Gloria was worried about them being really on their own financially for the first time, and then suddenly Mike decided he was going for a Masters, so they were going to be in Archie's house another year. That has no believability, that Mike had no such ambition, then suddenly he does, and there was no discussion with Archie and Edith-- he just decided he was going to live under the roof of the man he couldn't stand for another year. And, of course, stretching the premise still goes on the next year, as Mike, who was so dying to get away from Archie rents the house next door to him.

Dr. John Becker · 04-08-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

I think it was by the season starting in fall, '75, though it was already beginning to slip before then. They were definitely stretching things to try to keep as much of what made the show popular as they could, as shown by the end of 73-74, when Mike was so worried about his exams and Gloria was worried about them being really on their own financially for the first time, and then suddenly Mike decided he was going for a Masters, so they were going to be in Archie's house another year. That has no believability, that Mike had no such ambition, then suddenly he does, and there was no discussion with Archie and Edith-- he just decided he was going to live under the roof of the man he couldn't stand for another year. And, of course, stretching the premise still goes on the next year, as Mike, who was so dying to get away from Archie rents the house next door to him.

I'm surprised Archie didn't just give him the boot after that.

douglasjc · 04-09-2005, 05:18 PM

I think by the 76-77 Season ALL in the Family started to show it's age and by that time the country was changing as well. America wanted to leave the Vietnam, Watergate years behind and writers were probably figuring out what to do next. Although I must admit that I enjoyed many of the later epsiodes including the Draft dodger, Archie's bitter pill, Edith's 50th birthday.

mstewart · 04-10-2005, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglasjc

I think by the 76-77 Season ALL in the Family started to show it's age and by that time the country was changing as well. America wanted to leave the Vietnam, Watergate years behind and writers were probably figuring out what to do next. Although I must admit that I enjoyed many of the later epsiodes including the Draft dodger, Archie's bitter pill, Edith's 50th birthday.

I did not like the 76-77 season. The following season, the final season with Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, was very good and it got back to what made All In the Family a good show. The edge was not like it was the first five years. Those first five years were classic cutting edge comedy. They covered ground that no other sitcom did not dare to cover.

TVFactFan · 04-10-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstewart

I did not like the 76-77 season. The following season, the final season with Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, was very good and it got back to what made All In the Family a good show. The edge was not like it was the first five years. Those first five years were classic cutting edge comedy. They covered ground that no other sitcom did not dare to cover.

What was your thoughts on the 76-77 episode when Archie cheated on Edith? Did you care for that episode?

Brian Damage · 04-10-2005, 02:59 PM

He never really cheated on Edith. The two only kissed.

MOWERDAN · 04-19-2005, 03:51 PM

I definitely saw a decline after Mike and Gloria moved next door which was early in Season 6 ('75/'76). All the seasons after that seemed to have a smaller live audience and a laugh track added. The pace was alot slower and they started making dumb faces all the time. Every other sentence out of Edith's mouth seemed to be "...blah, blah, blah the Sunshine Home..." or "blah, blah, blah, Stephie..." The characters were empty shells of their former selves. The angles of the camera were alot different, the direction was awkward, and there was alot more silly filler dialogue.

The hot social/political issues of pre-'75 America had disappeared in the real world, and AITF started to run out of topics to draw on. In the first 5 seasons ('71 thru-'75) there was so much chaos in this country, and AITF had an endless supply of interesting and controversial material. The Norman Lear era was running out of steam in the late '70s, and this show started to reflect that. In my opinion, you can cut the AITF series right in half around 1975. The two halves were completely different shows. The first half was the best and the second half was a shadow of its heyday.

Don't even get me started on the last season ('78/'79) when Mike & Gloria were completely gone. That last season as well as Archie Bunker's Place was unwatchable even to this day for me.

Pug Lover · 05-02-2005, 09:31 PM

I beleive that part of how AITF began to slip out of it's popularity by the late 70s,was due to the high ratings of shows like Three's Company,Happy Days,Laverne & Shirley,Mork & Mindy and Different Strokes.These shows seemed to take over the top spot in neilson ratings,at the time.The first half of the 77/78 season was more exciting than the previous season.Toward the end of that season however,was when the series began to grow stale.

seventies_sitcoms · 05-04-2005, 01:00 PM

The show finally fell apart when Danielle Brisbois became the replacement for Mike and Gloria. A child replacement always kills television shows.

I also didn't like "Little Stephie" because Archie started mellowing out not too much longer after that.

04-01-2005, 06:32 PM	#1
StevieB Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 97	When did "All in Family" start losing its satirical edge? I recently watched "Alone at Last" and was amazed at how awkward and unfunny most of the episode's humor was. I found the scenes in the kitchen involving Archie trying to cook dinner for himself to be silly and out of character. I think some of the biggest reasons why "All in Family" was successful and popular in its day was the show had biting social satire,well written scripts,and wonderful performances. As good as an actor Caroll O'Connor was,he looked uncomfortable in the kitchen scenes,and didn't seem suitable to do "slapstick". I think the quality of the show's humor and social satire already started to slip by 1975. As a matter of fact,I also think the show lost a lot when John Rich stopped directing episodes. What does everybody else think? Sincerely,Steve.

04-01-2005, 06:43 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I think the show lost the satirical edge when Mike And GLoria moved next door. Archie and Mike were no longer under the same roof, where they would "discuss" the topics of the day.
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04-09-2005, 05:18 PM	#9
douglasjc Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 318	AROUND THE 1976-1977 Season I think by the 76-77 Season ALL in the Family started to show it's age and by that time the country was changing as well. America wanted to leave the Vietnam, Watergate years behind and writers were probably figuring out what to do next. Although I must admit that I enjoyed many of the later epsiodes including the Draft dodger, Archie's bitter pill, Edith's 50th birthday.

04-19-2005, 03:51 PM	#13
MOWERDAN Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 04, 2002 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 64	Downhill after season 5 I definitely saw a decline after Mike and Gloria moved next door which was early in Season 6 ('75/'76). All the seasons after that seemed to have a smaller live audience and a laugh track added. The pace was alot slower and they started making dumb faces all the time. Every other sentence out of Edith's mouth seemed to be "...blah, blah, blah the Sunshine Home..." or "blah, blah, blah, Stephie..." The characters were empty shells of their former selves. The angles of the camera were alot different, the direction was awkward, and there was alot more silly filler dialogue. The hot social/political issues of pre-'75 America had disappeared in the real world, and AITF started to run out of topics to draw on. In the first 5 seasons ('71 thru-'75) there was so much chaos in this country, and AITF had an endless supply of interesting and controversial material. The Norman Lear era was running out of steam in the late '70s, and this show started to reflect that. In my opinion, you can cut the AITF series right in half around 1975. The two halves were completely different shows. The first half was the best and the second half was a shadow of its heyday. Don't even get me started on the last season ('78/'79) when Mike & Gloria were completely gone. That last season as well as Archie Bunker's Place was unwatchable even to this day for me.

05-02-2005, 09:31 PM	#14
Pug Lover Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 05, 2003 Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 467	I beleive that part of how AITF began to slip out of it's popularity by the late 70s,was due to the high ratings of shows like Three's Company,Happy Days,Laverne & Shirley,Mork & Mindy and Different Strokes.These shows seemed to take over the top spot in neilson ratings,at the time.The first half of the 77/78 season was more exciting than the previous season.Toward the end of that season however,was when the series began to grow stale.
	__________________ "Well here,s another nice mess you,ve gotten me into."Laurel & Hardy

04-03-2005, 10:19 PM	#6
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	about season 7 76/77 thats about the time norman lear brought in some of the old writers from i love lucy and the shows humor seemed to become more silly with the possable exception of the draft doger ep. it was the one ep that season that looked like the old all in the family for the record for some reason i do like the alone at last ep. for some reason i always get a big laugh when archie says ill eat shtake till i busht

04-05-2005, 12:40 AM	#7
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I think it was by the season starting in fall, '75, though it was already beginning to slip before then. They were definitely stretching things to try to keep as much of what made the show popular as they could, as shown by the end of 73-74, when Mike was so worried about his exams and Gloria was worried about them being really on their own financially for the first time, and then suddenly Mike decided he was going for a Masters, so they were going to be in Archie's house another year. That has no believability, that Mike had no such ambition, then suddenly he does, and there was no discussion with Archie and Edith-- he just decided he was going to live under the roof of the man he couldn't stand for another year. And, of course, stretching the premise still goes on the next year, as Mike, who was so dying to get away from Archie rents the house next door to him.

04-10-2005, 02:59 PM	#12
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	He never really cheated on Edith. The two only kissed.

05-04-2005, 01:00 PM	#15
seventies_sitcoms * Senior Member Join Date: Jan 09, 2005 Posts: 2,244	The show finally fell apart when Danielle Brisbois became the replacement for Mike and Gloria. A child replacement always kills television shows. I also didn't like "Little Stephie" because Archie started mellowing out not too much longer after that.