Didn't Know it, But CBS Wanted to Ressurect "Archie Bunker" in the 90's

[Brian Damage]

In the nineties, when talk of bringing Archie Bunker back on television in a new setting was circulating, Carroll O'Connor expressed interest but Norman Lear did not. He knows the sad truth: Americans have become too dour to laugh at themselves.

http://www.tvparty.com/family.html

[MikeLutton]

i would of liked to see that again now we never wil dam your normen lear who knows what could of been.

[Hughsgirl]

Originally Posted by MikeL

i would of liked to see that again now we never wil dam your normen lear who knows what could of been.

I think it's safe to say that you can blame the uptight,politically Incorrect, know it all Liberals who are "offended" by any opinion that is not their own and lack any kind of sense of humor. At the same token, I think Norman Lear should have put all that aside and went for it for all the die-hard Archie fans because I think there are so much more of us out there then people think, it's just that so few have the guts to admit to it out of fear of being labeled as being a racist and such. Me, I could care less what people think because I found that show hilarious and still watch it every chance I get today.

[Benno123]

I have a newspaper article tucked away somewhere in my collection from the early- to mid-1990s of an interview with Carroll O'Connor. In it he said that he wanted to bring Archie back in a series of specials showing America what Archie was doing at the time. Perhaps back to driving a cab, and maybe in a serious relationship with a woman. But Norman Lear refused. One of these days I will dig that article out and scan and post it on here, it's interesting to read!

[MikeLutton]

thats a shame thanks to normen lear we may never get that chance that would of been cool wonder if he would of been living in the same house or finally moved in to a newer nicer one.

or if the meathead rob reiner would of showed up Archie could of finally got a chance to yell at him for dumping his lil girl Gloria.

guess it was all about the mony

[OOliver]

I think he would have moved to another house, since his house was sold before April, 1994 when "704 Hauser Street" premiered on CBS (and lasted on episode before being pulled). Audiences chose not to see a black Archie Bunker, in the person of John Amos, living in his old house.


Here's a posting by someone else, from another forum regarding the 90's idea...

"I also remember about O'Connor's proposed new "Archie" series in the 1990s, in which he would have sold his bar, and would now run a limousine service - setting up a situation for Archie to give his opinions to the rich and powerful. Archie would have had a steady girlfriend at that point as well. But Lear wanted to leave it alone."

[Johnny be good!]

Lear missed a great opportunity.

[QTMcWhiskers]

Originally Posted by OOliver

I think he would have moved to another house, since his house was sold before April, 1994 when "704 Hauser Street" premiered on CBS (and lasted on episode before being pulled). Audiences chose not to see a black Archie Bunker, in the person of John Amos, living in his old house.


Here's a posting by someone else, from another forum regarding the 90's idea...

"I also remember about O'Connor's proposed new "Archie" series in the 1990s, in which he would have sold his bar, and would now run a limousine service - setting up a situation for Archie to give his opinions to the rich and powerful. Archie would have had a steady girlfriend at that point as well. But Lear wanted to leave it alone."

Amos nailed the role wonderfully. The whole cast was pretty good, though if they wanted Joey to show up in the premiere, a little more thought to him might have been nice. He seemed more like an afterthought.

I'm one of the seemingly 25 people who loved the show - the format was on par with AitF's first few years only they expanded on talking point materials. Several episodes aired, but I believe the last one - locally - was preempted by a baseball game. The players would go on strike later that year.

Connor's ideas actually sound good. A little weird but the execution is where any idea can be turned great. But Lear may have had it right in letting Archie's past be where it was and not take it into other directions. Dunno.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Hughsgirl

I think it's safe to say that you can blame the uptight,politically Incorrect, know it all Liberals who are "offended" by any opinion that is not their own and lack any kind of sense of humor.

I was just gonna say that.... BY THE 90s stuff had really gone downhill.....


This show wouldnt have made it