Was "Archie Bunker's Place" A Big Mistake? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-22-2010, 11:54 AM

Don't get me wrong, the sitcom was decent. It wasn't anywhere near the quality of All in the Family, but a decent show none the less. Was it a mistake to spinoff Archie into this show? No Mike, no Gloria & they killed off Edith. In your honest opinions, should they have ended AITF and not try to do this show? Did it hurt the legacy of Archie?

Mr. Television · 05-22-2010, 01:08 PM

I don't think it was a mistake. I can understand how some people would have liked for it to end when Mike and Gloria moved to California. I remember my whole family watching that episode. It felt like a finale. But I really enjoyed ABP. I got to like the new characters and Carroll O'Connor was still great as Archie. It was never going to be as great as AITF but it was a fairly good sitcom. I'd take it over most of today's sitcoms. I didn't like that they killed off Edith but I can understand why they did it. What I was mad at was the way ABP was canceled. IMO that was worse than what happened to the Jeffersons because that was out of the blue. The Sitcom was still fairly popular at the time. I remember just being shocked when I read it. AITF premiered before I was in Kindergarten and ABP ended after I finished 11th grade. It was like a member of my family got canceled.

catlover79 · 05-22-2010, 01:57 PM

I don't think it was. They changed the name of the show and changed the focus. Plus, Carroll O'Connor and Danielle Brisbois had such a believeable bond on-screen (and off, from what I hear) that was a pleasure to watch.

Retro4Life · 05-22-2010, 02:06 PM

I have to say "yes", it was.

I didn't hate ABP. How can anyone hate Carroll O'Conner playing Archie? And I agree with Monika about the bond between he and Danielle.

But for me, ABP was a move made totally by greed. The story of the Bunkers essentially ended when Mike and Gloria and Joey moved; no more real conflict for Archie and the entire premise of the story was finished.

Also, the continuation of ABP meant that all the characters of AITF got unhappy endings. Edith died, Mike and Gloria ended up divorced and Archie was alone and aging. These characters that we all loved deserved much better.

catlover79 · 05-22-2010, 04:03 PM

Well, it was Jean Stapleton's decision to leave the show - and the producers were smart enough to know not to recast. They didn't fire her. So the only other alternative was to kill Edith off.

Retro4Life · 05-22-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Well, it was Jean Stapleton's decision to leave the show - and the producers were smart enough to know not to recast. They didn't fire her. So the only other alternative was to kill Edith off.

Or discontinue the show, of course.

catlover79 · 05-22-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Or discontinue the show, of course.

To each his own!!

RWCTV · 05-24-2010, 09:52 PM

I think that All in the Family should have ended with Mike and Gloria moving to California, and Archie Bunker's Place should have begun its first episode with Stephanie. After all, if you watch AITF in syndication, and you get to the last season of AITF, the "Stephanie" episodes, then it feels like an entirely different series altogether. The last season of AITF has the same feel as the entire run of Archie Bunker's Place, and feels completely disconnected from the comedic atmosphere with Mike and Gloria.

Was Archie Bunker's Place a mistake? I don't think so. While All in the Family mainly rested on "shock humor", Archie Bunker's Place was not as funny, but many of its storylines were uniquely interesting. For me watching Archie Bunker's Place is relaxing, whereas All in the Family was more provacative, laugh out loud, and at times took a controversial position that was more likely to polarize members of its audience.

Either way, it rests on what you're in the mood for.

catlover79 · 05-24-2010, 10:01 PM

Stephanie did appear in a couple of episodes with Gloria, Mike and Joey, didn't she?

Retro4Life · 05-24-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Stephanie did appear in a couple of episodes with Gloria, Mike and Joey, didn't she?

Yes, I think they met on two of the holiday episodes, one where the Bunkers went to see the Stivics out west and I THINK the other where the Stivics came home.

catlover79 · 05-24-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Yes, I think they met on two of the holiday episodes, one where the Bunkers went to see the Stivics out west and I THINK the other were the Stivics came home.

OK, I think I remember one of them now - where the Stivics were having marital problems or something. Thanks!

Retro4Life · 05-24-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

OK, I think I remember one of them now - where the Stivics were having marital problems or something. Thanks!

You're welcome. Yeah, that first one was where Gloria had had an affair and the Stivics were in the process of breaking up and were just keeping up appearances for Archie and Edith. It was a good episode; I remember Archie's rage at Gloria for having an affair. He actually told the "Meathead"..."I never thought I'd say this, but...you're too good for HER!"

lucyandethel · 06-05-2010, 12:37 AM

I think my biggest issue with the show was its pacing. It was too slow. And, you really were indifferent to much of the cast.

ThomasE · 01-23-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucyandethel

I think my biggest issue with the show was its pacing. It was too slow. And, you really were indifferent to much of the cast.

The pace was kind of slow and the show lost some of the intensity that had in it's earlier days.

tmac81s · 03-08-2011, 04:44 AM

Personally I liked how AITF ended, with the episode "Too Goo Edith." With Archie and Edith in bed, like they r gonna live happily ever after. that's how I like to remember them.

For those who enjoyed Archie Bunker's Place, to each his own. IMO it was just dragging it out for too long, but I won't dis it for those who enjoy it!

05-22-2010, 11:54 AM	#1
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	Was "Archie Bunker's Place" A Big Mistake? Don't get me wrong, the sitcom was decent. It wasn't anywhere near the quality of All in the Family, but a decent show none the less. Was it a mistake to spinoff Archie into this show? No Mike, no Gloria & they killed off Edith. In your honest opinions, should they have ended AITF and not try to do this show? Did it hurt the legacy of Archie?
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05-22-2010, 01:08 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	I don't think it was a mistake. I can understand how some people would have liked for it to end when Mike and Gloria moved to California. I remember my whole family watching that episode. It felt like a finale. But I really enjoyed ABP. I got to like the new characters and Carroll O'Connor was still great as Archie. It was never going to be as great as AITF but it was a fairly good sitcom. I'd take it over most of today's sitcoms. I didn't like that they killed off Edith but I can understand why they did it. What I was mad at was the way ABP was canceled. IMO that was worse than what happened to the Jeffersons because that was out of the blue. The Sitcom was still fairly popular at the time. I remember just being shocked when I read it. AITF premiered before I was in Kindergarten and ABP ended after I finished 11th grade. It was like a member of my family got canceled.
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05-22-2010, 01:57 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I don't think it was. They changed the name of the show and changed the focus. Plus, Carroll O'Connor and Danielle Brisbois had such a believeable bond on-screen (and off, from what I hear) that was a pleasure to watch.
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05-22-2010, 02:06 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I have to say "yes", it was. I didn't hate ABP. How can anyone hate Carroll O'Conner playing Archie? And I agree with Monika about the bond between he and Danielle. But for me, ABP was a move made totally by greed. The story of the Bunkers essentially ended when Mike and Gloria and Joey moved; no more real conflict for Archie and the entire premise of the story was finished. Also, the continuation of ABP meant that all the characters of AITF got unhappy endings. Edith died, Mike and Gloria ended up divorced and Archie was alone and aging. These characters that we all loved deserved much better.
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05-24-2010, 09:52 PM	#8
RWCTV Making Sense Senior Member Join Date: Sep 21, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL USA Posts: 1,138	I think that All in the Family should have ended with Mike and Gloria moving to California, and Archie Bunker's Place should have begun its first episode with Stephanie. After all, if you watch AITF in syndication, and you get to the last season of AITF, the "Stephanie" episodes, then it feels like an entirely different series altogether. The last season of AITF has the same feel as the entire run of Archie Bunker's Place, and feels completely disconnected from the comedic atmosphere with Mike and Gloria. Was Archie Bunker's Place a mistake? I don't think so. While All in the Family mainly rested on "shock humor", Archie Bunker's Place was not as funny, but many of its storylines were uniquely interesting. For me watching Archie Bunker's Place is relaxing, whereas All in the Family was more provacative, laugh out loud, and at times took a controversial position that was more likely to polarize members of its audience. Either way, it rests on what you're in the mood for.
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05-22-2010, 04:03 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Well, it was Jean Stapleton's decision to leave the show - and the producers were smart enough to know not to recast. They didn't fire her. So the only other alternative was to kill Edith off.

05-24-2010, 10:01 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Stephanie did appear in a couple of episodes with Gloria, Mike and Joey, didn't she?

06-05-2010, 12:37 AM	#13
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	I think my biggest issue with the show was its pacing. It was too slow. And, you really were indifferent to much of the cast.

03-08-2011, 04:44 AM	#15
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	Personally I liked how AITF ended, with the episode "Too Goo Edith." With Archie and Edith in bed, like they r gonna live happily ever after. that's how I like to remember them. For those who enjoyed Archie Bunker's Place, to each his own. IMO it was just dragging it out for too long, but I won't dis it for those who enjoy it!
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