Bill Cosby explained in 1985 why he wasn't a fan of Archie Bunker - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 01-21-2013, 03:41 PM

Bill Cosby basically stated he didn't like the Archie character because he never apologized for the things he said and was the hero of the show. And since he was the hero of the show, it made it easier for people to walk around proud saying what was always in their mind.

He also said Archie Bunker never seem to improve and came back each week with the same attitude.

Too Bad, I still like Archie Bunker better than Cliff Huxtable

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...e+bunker&hl=en

*ROGER* · 01-21-2013, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Too Bad, I still like Archie Bunker better than Cliff Huxtable

So do I ..................

BTW, Archie wasn't really the hero of the show. Edith was the hero IMO.

TVFactFan · 01-21-2013, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *ROGER*

So do I ..................

BTW, Archie wasn't really the hero of the show. Edith was the hero IMO.

He was probably bitter because his show was cancelled around the same time AITF took off LOL

DJM77 · 01-21-2013, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

He also said Archie Bunker never seem to improve and came back each week with the same attitude.

It seemed to me like Archie mellowed out quite a bit during the Archie Bunker's Place years. He didn't seem nearly as prejudice.

TVFactFan · 01-21-2013, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

It seemed to me like Archie mellowed out quite a bit during the Archie Bunker's Place years. He didn't seem nearly as prejudice.

I think he mellowed out way before ABP. I;m going to say season 7 of AITF

PrettyinPink55 · 01-22-2013, 01:34 AM

I would have to agree that Archie did change and mellow out over time. You could tell that there was some character growth by the time Stephanie came to live with The Bunkers.

I also agree that Edith was the hero!!!

TVFactFan · 01-22-2013, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

I would have to agree that Archie did change and mellow out over time. You could tell that there was some character growth by the time Stephanie came to live with The Bunkers.

I also agree that Edith was the hero!!!

I think he grew about 3 seasons before stephanie arrived

PrettyinPink55 · 01-22-2013, 02:23 AM

Wasn't the whole point of Archie Bunker's character to poke fun at the ignorance of some people at the time anyway? If not only to poke fun, but then also to make people realize or become aware of their own prejudices? If you look at it from that perspective, I don't think it was offensive. It was more tongue and cheek.

TVFactFan · 01-22-2013, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

Wasn't the whole point of Archie Bunker's character to poke fun at the ignorance of some people at the time anyway? If not only to poke fun, but then also to make people realize or become aware of their own prejudices? If you look at it from that perspective, I don't think it was offensive. It was more tongue and cheek.

The NAACP said they never received complaints because the Archie Bunker character ever used the N-word and he was motivated by fear instead of hate

PrettyinPink55 · 01-22-2013, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The NAACP said they never received complaints because the Archie Bunker character ever used the N-word and he was motivated by fear instead of hate

To me it seemed like they presented the show and Archie Bunker's character so that people could laugh at Archie, not with him.

Hughsgirl · 01-24-2013, 12:11 PM

Well, I'm sure that Bill Cosby isn't the first to find fault with good ol' Archie - he is after all a person of the race the character belittled in the show often. As much as I respect Bill Cosby on alot of his views with the country and youth (of even his race), I have to disagree also that Archie had clearly changed. Maybe not fully, but you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks. Hell, why should a person change their opinion simply because someone says they are wrong? And that is what is wrong with the world today. You can't freely tell it like it is! I ask, why the hell not?? Okay, I'm getting off subject, sorry. But in closing I will say Bill Cosby IMO, is very gifted in his own way, but I also prefer Archie Bunker to Cliff Huxtable any day.

TVFactFan · 01-24-2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hughsgirl

Well, I'm sure that Bill Cosby isn't the first to find fault with good ol' Archie - he is after all a person of the race the character belittled in the show often. As much as I respect Bill Cosby on alot of his views with the country and youth (of even his race), I have to disagree also that Archie had clearly changed. Maybe not fully, but you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks. Hell, why should a person change their opinion simply because someone says they are wrong? And that is what is wrong with the world today. You can't freely tell it like it is! I ask, why the hell not?? Okay, I'm getting off subject, sorry. But in closing I will say Bill Cosby IMO, is very gifted in his own way, but I also prefer Archie Bunker to Cliff Huxtable any day.

I agree because it was nothing funny about Cliff huxtable

retrofan05 · 01-25-2013, 12:37 AM

The funny thing about Carroll O'Connor, is that he and Archie were polar opposites. I once saw an interview with Rob Reiner in which he talked about how Carroll was even more liberal in real life than his (Rob's) character. I certainly never viewed Archie as the hero. IMO, Archie generally always came off as a colossal joke because he said the most ridiculous things. I am sure that was Norman Lear's intent, as all of his shows were designed to show just show ridiculous bigotry and social injustice was/is. I too agree, that Edith was definitely the hero of the show.

Laugh30 · 02-07-2013, 07:38 PM

I thought the show did a good job of representing Black-Americans with Louise and Lionel, and to some degree maybe with George.

TVFactFan · 02-07-2013, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laugh30

I thought the show did a good job of representing Black-Americans with Louise and Lionel, and to some degree maybe with George.

I agree with that, it Louise and Lionel were solid characters

01-21-2013, 03:41 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,055	Bill Cosby explained in 1985 why he wasn't a fan of Archie Bunker Bill Cosby basically stated he didn't like the Archie character because he never apologized for the things he said and was the hero of the show. And since he was the hero of the show, it made it easier for people to walk around proud saying what was always in their mind. He also said Archie Bunker never seem to improve and came back each week with the same attitude. Too Bad, I still like Archie Bunker better than Cliff Huxtable http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...e+bunker&hl=en

01-22-2013, 01:34 AM	#6
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	I would have to agree that Archie did change and mellow out over time. You could tell that there was some character growth by the time Stephanie came to live with The Bunkers. I also agree that Edith was the hero!!!
	__________________ ♥♥♥

01-22-2013, 02:23 AM	#8
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Wasn't the whole point of Archie Bunker's character to poke fun at the ignorance of some people at the time anyway? If not only to poke fun, but then also to make people realize or become aware of their own prejudices? If you look at it from that perspective, I don't think it was offensive. It was more tongue and cheek.

01-24-2013, 12:11 PM	#11
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	Well, I'm sure that Bill Cosby isn't the first to find fault with good ol' Archie - he is after all a person of the race the character belittled in the show often. As much as I respect Bill Cosby on alot of his views with the country and youth (of even his race), I have to disagree also that Archie had clearly changed. Maybe not fully, but you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks. Hell, why should a person change their opinion simply because someone says they are wrong? And that is what is wrong with the world today. You can't freely tell it like it is! I ask, why the hell not?? Okay, I'm getting off subject, sorry. But in closing I will say Bill Cosby IMO, is very gifted in his own way, but I also prefer Archie Bunker to Cliff Huxtable any day.

01-25-2013, 12:37 AM	#13
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	The funny thing about Carroll O'Connor, is that he and Archie were polar opposites. I once saw an interview with Rob Reiner in which he talked about how Carroll was even more liberal in real life than his (Rob's) character. I certainly never viewed Archie as the hero. IMO, Archie generally always came off as a colossal joke because he said the most ridiculous things. I am sure that was Norman Lear's intent, as all of his shows were designed to show just show ridiculous bigotry and social injustice was/is. I too agree, that Edith was definitely the hero of the show.

02-07-2013, 07:38 PM	#14
Laugh30 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 688	I thought the show did a good job of representing Black-Americans with Louise and Lionel, and to some degree maybe with George.