Your favorite episode where AITF addressed a controversial topic - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

OH Nuts! · 03-01-2008, 11:49 AM

One of the things I loved about AITF was how it dealt with controversial issues in a forthright way. UNHEARD of in the 70s.

My favorite was in the first season when Archie thinks Mike & Gloria's friend is gay because he's well mannered and nicely spoken while its Archie's macho ex-football playing buddy who turns out to be the one whose gay.

And of course there are many others. What are yours?

PlayOn · 03-01-2008, 06:11 PM

What episode wasn't controversial? lol. I would pick 'The Draft Dodger' because you got hear from the liberal side as well as the conservative. The 1st time I saw this episode was around Christmas last year (because the episode is set at Christmas and it was part of the TVLand Merry-thon) and I loved it. Once again, another great performance by Mr. O'Conner.

Ireneparalegal · 03-01-2008, 06:26 PM

Some find this episode very hard to watch and disturbing (rightly so) but for me it is the rape episode. Done quite well.

AB · 03-01-2008, 10:52 PM

Also the episode with Beverly LaSalle, when she/he was mugged, beaten & died.

Brian Damage · 03-01-2008, 10:55 PM

I liked the episode where Archie finds a swastika on his front door.

Mikado · 03-01-2008, 11:37 PM

When Gloria has the miscarriage......it was nice to see Archie show a tender and caring side

TV DVD Fan · 03-02-2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

When Gloria has the miscarriage......it was nice to see Archie show a tender and caring side

There was actually many episodes showing the tender and caring side of Archie throughout the series.

My all-time favorite episode dealing with a controversial issue is probably the third season "Archie is Branded," the swastika episode. The last scene of that episode still gives me the chills just thinking about it. ALL IN THE FAMILY was way more than just a comedy. It had a message, a purpose, and a reason for being on the airwaves: it was TRUE reality television. The brilliance of ALL IN THE FAMILY is that that it can give you a belly laugh one minute, and make you break out in tears the next. It is a true emotional roller-coaster.

Not that it was a controversial episode, my all-time favorite emotional moment in the series is the second-to-last season eight episode where Mike and Archie open up to each other in the basement. Archie and Mike may not always realize it, but they're more like father and son than in-laws (this is explored even more in depth in the final season eight episode).

desilu #1 · 03-09-2008, 05:06 AM

It's not neccesarily my favorite, but one of my favorites and that is the episode where Archie finds out that his visiting niece is dating Lionel! Too funny! OOOHHHH, Taboo!!LMAO!

MavFan92 · 03-09-2008, 03:46 PM

I love the episode where Gloria gives birth to Joey!!

I also love the one where Edith is going through menopause, especially this scene

Archie: "I'M GIVING YOU JUST THREE MINUTES TO CHANGE!! NOW CHANGE!!"

As hard as it is to watch, I like the episode where Edith is almost raped, and I always love the scene where she shoves the burned cake in his face and gets away. I never heard an audience cheer so loud!!

OH Nuts! · 03-16-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV DVD Fan

Th ALL IN THE FAMILY was way more than just a comedy. It had a message, a purpose, and a reason for being on the airwaves: it was TRUE reality television. The brilliance of ALL IN THE FAMILY is that that it can give you a belly laugh one minute, and make you break out in tears the next. It is a true emotional roller-coaster.

It truly was a BRILLIANT show & SO MANY years ahead of its time. Funny, tender, provocative, insightful, utterly original, and so much more! A real peak on TV's landscape.

Scoobiedoo30 · 03-17-2008, 03:01 PM

When Archie Fines The Swastika on The Door

Coffeecup · 03-21-2008, 09:00 PM

I remember seeing the show when it first aired. My parents I think were a little taken back. Never was a show like this on. Where the charactor talks about blacks, chinese in a slanggy way. Oh my. But somehow we saw the show through all the seasons.

BuddyHinton · 08-03-2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich p

It truly was a BRILLIANT show & SO MANY years ahead of its time. Funny, tender, provocative, insightful, utterly original, and so much more! A real peak on TV's landscape.

It's STILL ahead of it's time!! You can't discuss 90% of what they talked about on this show these days....

Schmoopie · 08-03-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

When Gloria has the miscarriage......it was nice to see Archie show a tender and caring side

That was a very sweet moment. I loved that episode!

Nighthawk76 · 08-03-2008, 11:04 PM

"Writing the President".

03-01-2008, 06:11 PM	#2
PlayOn ADHD: what I have not who I am Senior Member Join Date: Jun 17, 2006 Location: I'll never tell. :p Posts: 2,745	What episode wasn't controversial? lol. I would pick 'The Draft Dodger' because you got hear from the liberal side as well as the conservative. The 1st time I saw this episode was around Christmas last year (because the episode is set at Christmas and it was part of the TVLand Merry-thon) and I loved it. Once again, another great performance by Mr. O'Conner.
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03-01-2008, 06:26 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Some find this episode very hard to watch and disturbing (rightly so) but for me it is the rape episode. Done quite well.
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03-01-2008, 10:55 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	I liked the episode where Archie finds a swastika on his front door.
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03-09-2008, 05:06 AM	#8
desilu #1 Lucy/Desi 4-EVER Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2000 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan USA Posts: 724	It's not neccesarily my favorite, but one of my favorites and that is the episode where Archie finds out that his visiting niece is dating Lionel! Too funny! OOOHHHH, Taboo!!LMAO!
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03-17-2008, 03:01 PM	#11
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	When Archie Fines The Swastika on The Door
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03-01-2008, 11:49 AM	#1
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Your favorite episode where AITF addressed a controversial topic One of the things I loved about AITF was how it dealt with controversial issues in a forthright way. UNHEARD of in the 70s. My favorite was in the first season when Archie thinks Mike & Gloria's friend is gay because he's well mannered and nicely spoken while its Archie's macho ex-football playing buddy who turns out to be the one whose gay. And of course there are many others. What are yours?

03-01-2008, 10:52 PM	#4
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Also the episode with Beverly LaSalle, when she/he was mugged, beaten & died.

03-01-2008, 11:37 PM	#6
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	When Gloria has the miscarriage......it was nice to see Archie show a tender and caring side

03-09-2008, 03:46 PM	#9
MavFan92 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 13, 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 249	I love the episode where Gloria gives birth to Joey!! I also love the one where Edith is going through menopause, especially this scene Archie: "I'M GIVING YOU JUST THREE MINUTES TO CHANGE!! NOW CHANGE!!" As hard as it is to watch, I like the episode where Edith is almost raped, and I always love the scene where she shoves the burned cake in his face and gets away. I never heard an audience cheer so loud!!

03-21-2008, 09:00 PM	#12
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	I remember seeing the show when it first aired. My parents I think were a little taken back. Never was a show like this on. Where the charactor talks about blacks, chinese in a slanggy way. Oh my. But somehow we saw the show through all the seasons.

08-03-2008, 11:04 PM	#15
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	"Writing the President".