All In The Family was NOT a sitcom - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GeeBee · 08-23-2005, 10:15 PM

Although many people consider ALITF to be one of the world's funniest sitcoms, it really wasn't a sitcom at all, at least not according to Caroll O'Connor.

"Well the public knew what we were doing. They knew this was not a sitcom. I don't think (the average guy) was erudite to know that we were doing a satire. But he knew what he was looking at..." Caroll O'Connor talking about All In The Family and Archie Bunker.

Read more:

http://html.local10.com/sh/entertain...17-181405.html

Ireneparalegal · 08-23-2005, 10:22 PM

link doesn't work...

GeeBee · 08-23-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

link doesn't work...

Now, it does.

Ireneparalegal · 08-23-2005, 10:24 PM

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As long as one is consistent and concedes that All In The Family is not a sitcom since Caroll O'Connor said it wasn't. I know this isn't really the place for this subject, so look for more about it on the All In The Family board.

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08-23-2005, 07:12 PM #49
Ireneparalegal
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I will speak on Soloman's behalf (is this okay w/you soloman?)...anyhow, i believe since Carroll made that comment, it doesn't make a difference. IF THE PRODUCERS of the show said it, then it makes a difference...according to Soloman (not me mind you) the producers of GT stated it is NOT A SPIN-OFF. That's the difference between your line of thinking and Soloman's. My opinion is GT is a spin-off due to the character having the same name on Maude / Good Times

I copy/pasted the above cuz I had responded to your last post and decided to also put it here, since you brought the post from Good Times to here also.

Brian Damage · 08-23-2005, 10:24 PM

All in the Family was certainly a sitcom, topical, but a sitcom none the less.

GeeBee · 08-23-2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

All in the Family was certainly a sitcom, topical, but a sitcom none the less.

Not according to Caroll O'Connor. Although he wasn't the producer, he certainly had first hand knowledge to what the producers had in mind, possessed a lot of creative control, and would certainly have more expertise on it than the average viewer.

I actually heard Caroll O'Connor discuss this in more depth during an interview many years ago. He said that the comedy on All In The Family had to do with the characters' personalities and who they were, not simply the situations that they were in. (Hence, not a sitcom which stand for "situation comedy"). He said that a situation comedy was Laverne and Shirley that relied more on predicaments that the characters found themselves in. He made it clear that it was not a put-down on Laverne and Shirley, it was simply a distinction between two forms of comedy.

So, since Caroll O'Connor says it's not a sitcom, I haven't heard any producer of the show dispute it, and there is a logic to his reasoning, we must concede that AITF is NOT a sitcom.

(Unless, of course, we simply accepted that definitions such as "sitcom" and "spin-off" can be subjective and a matter of opinion, rather than a scientific term that's written stone).

Ireneparalegal · 08-23-2005, 10:38 PM

Did you check out the link i posted regarding situation comedy by LABOR LAW TALK? Just asking. check it out

Mikado · 08-24-2005, 03:49 PM

I think it was both a sitcom AND a parody, and why not? So were:
Get Smart, Married with Children and M*A*S*H.... MANY sitcoms have been both, I just gave the best examples

GeeBee · 08-24-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I think it was both a sitcom AND a parody, and why not? So were:
Get Smart, Married with Children and M*A*S*H.... MANY sitcoms have been both, I just gave the best examples

BUT...Caroll O'Connor said AITF was NOT a sitcom. Wouldn't he have known best?

rc.uk · 08-24-2005, 04:12 PM

You can't fully say that it WAS a sitcom or that it WASN'T a sitcom. The comedy came from both the character personalities and the situations they found themselves in (i.e. the plot line of each episode).

The Golden Girls featured comedy derived from both personalities (i.e. Blanche being a sex maniac, Rose being stupid etc) as well as the situations they found themselves in.

I think you'll find that all sitcoms have an element of both types of comedy in them - I think you're going to be hard-pressed to find a show that only has comedy from one or the other.

Mikado · 08-24-2005, 04:16 PM

true enough

TV DVD Fan · 08-24-2005, 04:22 PM

Carroll was being modest, its a sitcom, and its hilarious. A show that makes you laugh on purpose is a sitcom, and thats exactly what Carroll and company did every blessed week on the set of All In The Family.

pat

GeeBee · 08-24-2005, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc.uk

You can't fully say that it WAS a sitcom or that it WASN'T a sitcom. The comedy came from both the character personalities and the situations they found themselves in (i.e. the plot line of each episode).

The Golden Girls featured comedy derived from both personalities (i.e. Blanche being a sex maniac, Rose being stupid etc) as well as the situations they found themselves in.

I think you'll find that all sitcoms have an element of both types of comedy in them - I think you're going to be hard-pressed to find a show that only has comedy from one or the other.

You mean, terms like "sitcom" and "spin-off" aren't absolute definitions written in stone?? Wow!

GeeBee · 08-24-2005, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV DVD Fan

Carroll was being modest, its a sitcom, and its hilarious. A show that makes you laugh on purpose is a sitcom, and thats exactly what Carroll and company did every blessed week on the set of All In The Family.

pat

On the contrary, Caroll O'Connor seemed to be saying that All In The Family was a different type of comedy that did not rely on humorous situations, but rather humorous personalities, interactions and issues. He never denied that the show was a comedy; he just said that it wasn't a situation comedy or sitcom for short.

Brian Damage · 08-24-2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeBee

You mean, terms like "sitcom" and "spin-off" aren't absolute definitions written in stone?? Wow!

Touche!

08-23-2005, 10:15 PM	#1
GeeBee Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2003 Posts: 1,578	All In The Family was NOT a sitcom Although many people consider ALITF to be one of the world's funniest sitcoms, it really wasn't a sitcom at all, at least not according to Caroll O'Connor. "Well the public knew what we were doing. They knew this was not a sitcom. I don't think (the average guy) was erudite to know that we were doing a satire. But he knew what he was looking at..." Caroll O'Connor talking about All In The Family and Archie Bunker. Read more: http://html.local10.com/sh/entertain...17-181405.html
	__________________ To be a conservative, you must believe that consensual sex in the White House is impeachable, but rape in a prison camp is acceptable.

08-23-2005, 10:22 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	link doesn't work...
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08-23-2005, 10:24 PM	#5
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	All in the Family was certainly a sitcom, topical, but a sitcom none the less.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-24-2005, 04:22 PM	#12
TV DVD Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 2,602	Carroll was being modest, its a sitcom, and its hilarious. A show that makes you laugh on purpose is a sitcom, and thats exactly what Carroll and company did every blessed week on the set of All In The Family. pat
	__________________ Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Sarah Connor: Maybe if you spend your life hiding who you are, you might finally end up fooling yourself. - From the episode "Gnothi Seauton."

08-23-2005, 10:38 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Did you check out the link i posted regarding situation comedy by LABOR LAW TALK? Just asking. check it out

08-24-2005, 03:49 PM	#8
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	I think it was both a sitcom AND a parody, and why not? So were: Get Smart, Married with Children and MAS*H.... MANY sitcoms have been both, I just gave the best examples

08-24-2005, 04:12 PM	#10
rc.uk Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 14, 2004 Location: UK Posts: 90	You can't fully say that it WAS a sitcom or that it WASN'T a sitcom. The comedy came from both the character personalities and the situations they found themselves in (i.e. the plot line of each episode). The Golden Girls featured comedy derived from both personalities (i.e. Blanche being a sex maniac, Rose being stupid etc) as well as the situations they found themselves in. I think you'll find that all sitcoms have an element of both types of comedy in them - I think you're going to be hard-pressed to find a show that only has comedy from one or the other.

08-24-2005, 04:16 PM	#11
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	true enough