Do You Think 'All in the Family' Ripped Off 'I Love Lucy?'

[Brian Damage]

In regards to the birth of both Little Ricky and Joey Stivic? In each episode Ricky Ricardo rushes to the hospital in full face paint as did Archie. Was this suppose to be a homage to I love Lucy or a blatant rip off???

[Vince53]

The laws of chance dictate that two long-running series will have some similar episodes. But overall, there is no similarity between the Bunkers and the Ricardos.

There is a SLIGHT resemblance between Archie and Fred Flintstone: two lovable loudmouths who really are kind-hearted men.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Vince53

The laws of chance dictate that two long-running series will have some similar episodes. But overall, there is no similarity between the Bunkers and the Ricardos.

There is a SLIGHT resemblance between Archie and Fred Flintstone: two lovable loudmouths who really are kind-hearted men.

And Archie and Ralph Kramden.

[treky]

also Fred Flinstone and Ralph Kramden (which was done on purpose-"THE FLINTSTONES" was based on "THE HONEYMOONERS")

[comedyfreak]

No comparison Ricky was dressed as a savage and Archie like Al Jolson. Why do people like to make something out of nothing? Just curious.

[Vince53]

I don't like Ralph Kramden. He frequently threatened Alice (his wife) with his fist, although he never hit her. Watching the show, I sometimes wondered if he was actually going to strike her. Basically a decent man, Ralph would have benefited from counseling with a good psychiatrist.

Fred Flintstone was a loudmouth, but he was a kindhearted husband and father. He would never even threaten Wilma with his fist, much less hit her.

Likewise, Archie verbally abused Edith, who didn't seem to mind. But HIT Edith? Never!

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Vince53

I don't like Ralph Kramden. He frequently threatened Alice (his wife) with his fist, although he never hit her. Watching the show, I sometimes wondered if he was actually going to strike her. Basically a decent man, Ralph would have benefited from counseling with a good psychiatrist.

Fred Flintstone was a loudmouth, but he was a kindhearted husband and father. He would never even threaten Wilma with his fist, much less hit her.

Likewise, Archie verbally abused Edith, who didn't seem to mind. But HIT Edith? Never!

Ralph Kramden was all bark and no bite. Fans of the show know he could never hit Alice, and Alice knew it, too. She wasn't the least bit intimidated by Ralph and would laugh in his face at this threats. And, unlike Edith, she would stand up to him, put him in his place and humiliate him to the point where he'd ultimately back down, apologize, she'd accept his apology, then Ralph would respond with "Alice, you're the greatest," and they'd end in an embrace and a kiss. Jackie Gleason was, and will always be, the Great One.

[Reverend Jim]

[Benno123]

Originally Posted by Reverend Jim

I love this!!!!

[mstewart]

Out of the three Archie was the most abusive of the three when it came to their mates. As the show progressed Edith stood up to Archie more and it was great in the 8th season when Mike found out he got his job in CA Archie was shutting Edith up. It was classic when she told him if she wants to talk she will. I applauded myself.

[treky]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Ralph Kramden was all bark and no bite. Fans of the show know he could never hit Alice, and Alice knew it, too. She wasn't the least bit intimidated by Ralph and would laugh in his face at this threats. And, unlike Edith, she would stand up to him, put him in his place and humiliate him to the point where he'd ultimately back down, apologize, she'd accept his apology, then Ralph would respond with "Alice, you're the greatest," and they'd end in an embrace and a kiss. Jackie Gleason was, and will always be, the Great One.

which Alice? There was 4 of them. (and 3 Trixies)

[Vince53]

On the Jackie Gleason Show, every Sunday night, they ran a new "Honeymooners" series, and I enjoyed it as a kid. But the original one portrayed Ralph as a sick man.

Granted, these are all fictional characters, but a man who constantly threatens to punch his wife is likely to do it eventually.

[Benno123]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Ralph Kramden was all bark and no bite. Fans of the show know he could never hit Alice, and Alice knew it, too. She wasn't the least bit intimidated by Ralph and would laugh in his face at this threats. And, unlike Edith, she would stand up to him, put him in his place and humiliate him to the point where he'd ultimately back down, apologize, she'd accept his apology, then Ralph would respond with "Alice, you're the greatest," and they'd end in an embrace and a kiss. Jackie Gleason was, and will always be, the Great One.

Jackie Gleason's genius creation of Ralph Kramden is one of the top 5 creations in all of television in my opinion. The fact that the man tries these quick rich schemes to make money is not for himself, but to provide for Alice the things that he cannot otherwise give her. When he fails, when the world turns against him, he takes his frustrations out on the person closest to him. The fact that Alice stood her ground, did not tolerate what he did, and would shrink Ralph down to the size of a flea with a biting insult only shows that she - not Ralph - was the strongest of the two in the relationship. Had Ralph ever really had the intentions of hitting is wife, the characters would never have lasted past that first season on DuMont with Pert Kelton. The audience would never have tolerated it.

This argument that Ralph is "a sick man" or a "wife beater," spare me the BS. The show would still not be on 60 years after the characters were created had any of that been true. The fact that Ralph was brave enough to actually try the quick-rich schemes that many people only dream of doing in order to give his wife the best (to which I recall many times Ralph saying he only does it so Alice can have cars, minks - oh oh, another politically incorrect thing - nice house, etc.) is what makes Ralph so appealing. The fact that he constantly fails yet always comes out on top with the love of his wife and best friends is why as an audience we keep returning.

Amen, Little Ricky -- Gleason continues to be The Great One for sure!

And sitting here I realize that really, substitute the name Archie in the above and you have why the audience kept returning week after week to see The Bunkers. Archie may have constantly argued with Mike, but deep down he cared for him, and Archie had a deep love for his family. Had that part of his character never been known or felt by the audience, the show never would have lasted past the initial 13 week run midseason in 1971.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Vince53

I don't like Ralph Kramden. He frequently threatened Alice (his wife) with his fist, although he never hit her. Watching the show, I sometimes wondered if he was actually going to strike her. Basically a decent man, Ralph would have benefited from counseling with a good psychiatrist.

Fred Flintstone was a loudmouth, but he was a kindhearted husband and father. He would never even threaten Wilma with his fist, much less hit her.

Likewise, Archie verbally abused Edith, who didn't seem to mind. But HIT Edith? Never!

Ralph threatening to hit Alice, and Ricky putting Lucy over his knee and spanking her!! : Its really hard to believe these were once instances of acceptable behavior on national television!!

[Vince53]

Folks, we're going to have to call on the experts to settle this.

LADIES ONLY! If you had to marry one of these three men, which one would you choose?

1) Archie Bunker
2) Fred Flintstone
3) Ralph Kramden