What if Archie's character had died? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

StevieB · 04-15-2005, 09:16 PM

I remember reading on various sitcom websites that if Caroll O'Connor and Norman Lear had never settled their disputes in 1974,the writers of "All in the Family" would have killed off the character of Archie Bunker. They were toying with the idea of possibly having Stretch Cunningham move into 704 Houser Street to help Edith,Mike and Gloria make ends meet. They were also thinking of eventually having Edith get involved with another man possibly a black man or another man who was a bigot like Archie (but having a
different personality than Archie). For the longest time I thought the show would never have gotten by without its star,but I recently saw "Edith's Friend" and was amazed at the wonderful chemistry Jean Stapleton had with the actor who played her cousin Roy (Edith and Roy had a romantic but platonic relationship as kids). Although Edith was truly and deeply in love with Archie,no matter how mean he was to her...I can now see the show lasting for at least a season or two without Archie. I wrote down possible plot twist options the writers could have used...

Edith could have gotten romantically involved with another man who was a bigot like Archie yet possesed a different personality than Archie.

Edith could have gotten romantically involved with a man who was liberal and conservative (politically the exact opposite of Archie) yet equally outspoken and uncouth as Archie.

Edith could have gotten involved in a romantic relationship with a black man.

Edith could have gotten romantically involved with Stretch Cunningham.

Edith could have moved in with cousin Maude.

Irene Lorenzo could have divorced Frank Lorenzo and moved in with Edith,Mike and Gloria to help them make ends meet.

What does everybody consider the most workable plotline if Archie had been killed off? I know there will be some people on this board who may think the show would never have lasted any length of time without Archie. There may also be some people who may think my ideas are silly. I welcome feedback of any kind. Thank you in advance for your input! Sincerely,Steve.

TripperFan · 04-15-2005, 09:20 PM

I think that no matter what they would try to pull off, it would fail without Carrol O'Connor - he's what held that whole show together. You just can't lose the central character (after he had been on that long especially). I hated the episodes he didn't appear in.

IMO, Archie just HAD to be there (as with Edith as far as I was concerned - I stopped watching once she left - actually even a short while before that).

mstewart · 04-17-2005, 02:23 PM

It would had been a different show but I do believe it would had stayed on a little longer if they would had killed off Archie Bunker. In the 74-75 season the three part episode on Archie's Missing was still very funny and tearful as well when Edith realized that Archie was missing. Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers held their own without Carroll O'Connor being there.

Mr. Television · 04-17-2005, 02:27 PM

The show would have suffered a quick death. Their was no All In The Family without Carroll O'Connor.

TVFactFan · 04-17-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieB

I remember reading on various sitcom websites that if Caroll O'Connor and Norman Lear had never settled their disputes in 1974,the writers of "All in the Family" would have killed off the character of Archie Bunker. They were toying with the idea of possibly having Stretch Cunningham move into 704 Houser Street to help Edith,Mike and Gloria make ends meet. They were also thinking of eventually having Edith get involved with another man possibly a black man or another man who was a bigot like Archie (but having a
different personality than Archie). For the longest time I thought the show would never have gotten by without its star,but I recently saw "Edith's Friend" and was amazed at the wonderful chemistry Jean Stapleton had with the actor who played her cousin Roy (Edith and Roy had a romantic but platonic relationship as kids). Although Edith was truly and deeply in love with Archie,no matter how mean he was to her...I can now see the show lasting for at least a season or two without Archie. I wrote down possible plot twist options the writers could have used...

Edith could have gotten romantically involved with another man who was a bigot like Archie yet possesed a different personality than Archie.

Edith could have gotten romantically involved with a man who was liberal and conservative (politically the exact opposite of Archie) yet equally outspoken and uncouth as Archie.

Edith could have gotten involved in a romantic relationship with a black man.

Edith could have gotten romantically involved with Stretch Cunningham.

Edith could have moved in with cousin Maude.

Irene Lorenzo could have divorced Frank Lorenzo and moved in with Edith,Mike and Gloria to help them make ends meet.

What does everybody consider the most workable plotline if Archie had been killed off? I know there will be some people on this board who may think the show would never have lasted any length of time without Archie. There may also be some people who may think my ideas are silly. I welcome feedback of any kind. Thank you in advance for your input! Sincerely,Steve.

Edith Bunker as a lead character?-LOL You really got to be kidding me. There would have nothing to do with the plot. The show would have been over with a capital O if Archie was killed off.

Mikado · 07-22-2005, 02:59 AM

Thats like saying , "lets do Cheers, without the bar"

TVFactFan · 07-22-2005, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

Thats like saying , "lets do Cheers, without the bar"

Or Maude without maude

Chain Gang Member · 07-22-2005, 11:35 AM

Or Three's Company without John Ritter

MikeLutton · 07-23-2005, 03:18 AM

or Jeffersons without George and Wheeziee.

or Married with childern without Al Bundy

Janice · 07-23-2005, 11:55 AM

Archie Bunker was the show, and it never would have survived without him. I don't even enjoy the episodes where he doesn't appear. O'Connor was the engine that drove the show, much like John Ritter on 8 Simple Rules. I also don't think Three's Company would have made it without John Ritter. It was never the same after Suzanne Somers left, but it would have suffered an immediate death without John, in my opinion.

Back on topic...no Archie, no show.

julian bozo · 08-10-2005, 12:59 AM

It would probably have been cancelled quickly.
I would not have watched it if Carroll was gone.

Jeek · 08-11-2005, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieB

I recently saw "Edith's Friend" and was amazed at the wonderful chemistry Jean Stapleton had with the actor who played her cousin Roy (Edith and Roy had a romantic but platonic relationship as kids).

Why would Edith have a romantic relationship with her cousin Roy when they were kids, or at any other time, for that matter? That's disgusting. When was this ever mentioned? I don't remember it.

Jeek · 08-11-2005, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

or Jeffersons without George and Wheeziee.

or Married with childern without Al Bundy

Don't compare that piece of **** show Married with Children to the great All in the Family.

Vince 887 · 08-14-2005, 11:59 AM

With the Charecter of Archie gone it would have been retitled "Death of a Series".

Pug Lover · 08-15-2005, 02:07 PM

From my understanding,actor John Amos had some kind of contract dispute,which led to his Good Times character James Evans being killed off that show.But that series continued for a couple more seasons after that.

But even though James had been the bread winner of that family,I suppose John Amos's situation was slightly different from Carroll O'Connor's.I don't know.Maybe the difference is,Archie Bunker had been the main focus of All In The Family.Whereas oldest teenage son JJ seemed to steal the show,particularly with his trademark catchphrase"DYNOMITE",on Good Times.

04-15-2005, 09:16 PM	#1
StevieB Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 97	What if Archie's character had died? I remember reading on various sitcom websites that if Caroll O'Connor and Norman Lear had never settled their disputes in 1974,the writers of "All in the Family" would have killed off the character of Archie Bunker. They were toying with the idea of possibly having Stretch Cunningham move into 704 Houser Street to help Edith,Mike and Gloria make ends meet. They were also thinking of eventually having Edith get involved with another man possibly a black man or another man who was a bigot like Archie (but having a different personality than Archie). For the longest time I thought the show would never have gotten by without its star,but I recently saw "Edith's Friend" and was amazed at the wonderful chemistry Jean Stapleton had with the actor who played her cousin Roy (Edith and Roy had a romantic but platonic relationship as kids). Although Edith was truly and deeply in love with Archie,no matter how mean he was to her...I can now see the show lasting for at least a season or two without Archie. I wrote down possible plot twist options the writers could have used... Edith could have gotten romantically involved with another man who was a bigot like Archie yet possesed a different personality than Archie. Edith could have gotten romantically involved with a man who was liberal and conservative (politically the exact opposite of Archie) yet equally outspoken and uncouth as Archie. Edith could have gotten involved in a romantic relationship with a black man. Edith could have gotten romantically involved with Stretch Cunningham. Edith could have moved in with cousin Maude. Irene Lorenzo could have divorced Frank Lorenzo and moved in with Edith,Mike and Gloria to help them make ends meet. What does everybody consider the most workable plotline if Archie had been killed off? I know there will be some people on this board who may think the show would never have lasted any length of time without Archie. There may also be some people who may think my ideas are silly. I welcome feedback of any kind. Thank you in advance for your input! Sincerely,Steve.

04-15-2005, 09:20 PM	#2
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	I think that no matter what they would try to pull off, it would fail without Carrol O'Connor - he's what held that whole show together. You just can't lose the central character (after he had been on that long especially). I hated the episodes he didn't appear in. IMO, Archie just HAD to be there (as with Edith as far as I was concerned - I stopped watching once she left - actually even a short while before that).
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

04-17-2005, 02:27 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	The show would have suffered a quick death. Their was no All In The Family without Carroll O'Connor.
	__________________ Sonny

07-22-2005, 11:35 AM	#8
Chain Gang Member 1st Female Triple Crown Champ Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Watching Three's Company & Wrestling Posts: 8,927	Or Three's Company without John Ritter
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07-23-2005, 03:18 AM	#9
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,888	reply or Jeffersons without George and Wheeziee. or Married with childern without Al Bundy

04-17-2005, 02:23 PM	#3
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	It would had been a different show but I do believe it would had stayed on a little longer if they would had killed off Archie Bunker. In the 74-75 season the three part episode on Archie's Missing was still very funny and tearful as well when Edith realized that Archie was missing. Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers held their own without Carroll O'Connor being there.

07-22-2005, 02:59 AM	#6
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	Thats like saying , "lets do Cheers, without the bar"

07-23-2005, 11:55 AM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Archie Bunker was the show, and it never would have survived without him. I don't even enjoy the episodes where he doesn't appear. O'Connor was the engine that drove the show, much like John Ritter on 8 Simple Rules. I also don't think Three's Company would have made it without John Ritter. It was never the same after Suzanne Somers left, but it would have suffered an immediate death without John, in my opinion. Back on topic...no Archie, no show.
	Last edited by Janice; 07-23-2005 at 12:12 PM.

08-10-2005, 12:59 AM	#11
julian bozo Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Cullman,Al,United States Posts: 1,534	It would probably have been cancelled quickly. I would not have watched it if Carroll was gone.

08-14-2005, 11:59 AM	#14
Vince 887 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2005 Posts: 110	With the Charecter of Archie gone it would have been retitled "Death of a Series".

08-15-2005, 02:07 PM	#15
Pug Lover Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 05, 2003 Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 467	From my understanding,actor John Amos had some kind of contract dispute,which led to his Good Times character James Evans being killed off that show.But that series continued for a couple more seasons after that. But even though James had been the bread winner of that family,I suppose John Amos's situation was slightly different from Carroll O'Connor's.I don't know.Maybe the difference is,Archie Bunker had been the main focus of All In The Family.Whereas oldest teenage son JJ seemed to steal the show,particularly with his trademark catchphrase"DYNOMITE",on Good Times.
	__________________ "Well here,s another nice mess you,ve gotten me into."Laurel & Hardy