"All in the Family" being restructured as "Archie Bunker's Place" in 1979 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 09-29-2014, 01:40 AM

How was it decided that All in the Family was going to be restructured as Archie Bunker's Place before the Fall of 1979? Was it contractual obligations or something else?

GameShowFan66 · 10-25-2014, 07:50 PM

If memory serves, Jean Stapleton wanted to leave the show. I believe O'Connor wanted out too, but was offered a very big sum of money to keep the Archie character going.

Ms. Stapleton only appeared in 4 or 5 episodes during the first season of "Archie Bunker's Place". Lear & O'Connor reasoned that without Edith in most episodes, it would make sense to have more action take place at the bar. Also, she wanted out, so they decided to have the character of Edith die off screen.

The final season of "Family" was without Rob Reiner & Sally Struthers, and it was by then a rather tired show. It wasn't even performed in front of a live studio audience either by then. A lot of the show lost its crispness and edge once the Stivics moved next door, and then when they moved to California. That was when the show should have went off.

The only thing about "Archie's Place" that I liked were his new business partner Murray (and even he left after 2 years), and the first season they had the Thanksgiving episode with the Stivics coming to the Bunkers.

ILuvCarolBurnett · 11-08-2014, 03:12 AM

I thought Archie Bunker's Place was so blah. I remember watching it on Sunday nights because it was sandwiched in between "the Jeffersons" and "Alice" in the early 1980s, but it was a terribly inferior show compared to All in the Family.

TVFactFan · 11-08-2014, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILuvCarolBurnett

I thought Archie Bunker's Place was so blah. I remember watching it on Sunday nights because it was sandwiched in between "the Jeffersons" and "Alice" in the early 1980s, but it was a terribly inferior show compared to All in the Family.

My only issue with it was Stephanie

Edward216 · 12-30-2014, 12:54 AM

I never really liked it. After they killed off Edith Bunker it just wasn't the same anymore. Jean Stapleton and Carroll O'Connor were very believable as a married couple and had great chemistry together. I think since Jean Stapleton wanted to leave they should've just had Edith die and then cancelled All In The Family and been done with it.

Ed.

TVFactFan · 12-30-2014, 01:49 AM

I would have preferred he divorced her and remarried lol

James28 · 04-14-2016, 10:45 PM

For the people who have the opinion that All in the Family should have ended when Mike and Gloria moved to California at the end of Season 8:

If All in the Family had ended after its eighth season instead of being renewed for a ninth season (which would mean Archie Bunkers Place wouldn't even exist), I think that would have allowed some of the newer and younger sitcoms on CBS, like WKRP in Cincinnati and (possibly) Stockard Channing in Just Friends, which debuted during the 1978-79 season, would have a better shot at succeeding. Perhaps Archie Bunker's Place never existing would have led to a longer run for WKRP in Cincinnati than just four seasons?

JingJing11 · 04-14-2016, 11:09 PM

I have never seen All in the Family

ILuvCarolBurnett · 04-15-2016, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

For the people who have the opinion that All in the Family should have ended when Mike and Gloria moved to California at the end of Season 8:

If All in the Family had ended after its eighth season instead of being renewed for a ninth season (which would mean Archie Bunkers Place wouldn't even exist), I think that would have allowed some of the newer and younger sitcoms on CBS, like WKRP in Cincinnati and (possibly) Stockard Channing in Just Friends, which debuted during the 1978-79 season, would have a better shot at succeeding. Perhaps Archie Bunker's Place never existing would have led to a longer run for WKRP in Cincinnati than just four seasons?

And I could have done without Archie Bunker's Place. The only thing that kept that series afloat for four years was being on Sunday nights on CBS, sandwiched between shows like "The Jeffersons" and "Alice". I tried to watch some reruns a few years ago, and the show was so boring I couldn't finish one episode.

Bonniegirl · 04-15-2016, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILuvCarolBurnett

And I could have done without Archie Bunker's Place. The only thing that kept that series afloat for four years was being on Sunday nights on CBS, sandwiched between shows like "The Jeffersons" and "Alice". I tried to watch some reruns a few years ago, and the show was so boring I couldn't finish one episode.

I too thought it was a little boring, compared to All in the family! My Father liked it and used to watch it, so to me it was like a show for old men ( LOL,my Father being an "old man" in his 50's than ,the age I am now)!!!

ILuvCarolBurnett · 04-15-2016, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I too thought it was a little boring, compared to All in the family! My Father liked it and used to watch it, so to me it was like a show for old men ( LOL,my Father being an "old man" in his 50's than ,the age I am now)!!!

It just felt like O'Connor was basically "phoning it in". ABP was also not taped before a live studio audience, so I think it affected pacing.

WalterTheDrinker · 04-15-2016, 02:56 PM

All In the Family was self-important garbage its last few seasons. Melodramatic. Extreme close-ups. Excruciatingly slow pace.

It was like a completely different show from the extraordinary first few seasons.

Archie Bunker's Place flat-out sucked.

mets82 · 04-15-2016, 03:41 PM

From what I have watched and read about ABP, I don't think I would like it. Just because I would compare it to AITF. I would watch it out of curiosity, though.

JJM · 05-06-2016, 11:56 AM

I watched it once through Netflix, it wasn't bad not it wasn't All in the Family. I think people expected too much of it.

Mr. Television · 05-06-2016, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILuvCarolBurnett

And I could have done without Archie Bunker's Place. The only thing that kept that series afloat for four years was being on Sunday nights on CBS, sandwiched between shows like "The Jeffersons" and "Alice". I tried to watch some reruns a few years ago, and the show was so boring I couldn't finish one episode.

It wasn't sandwiched between them It led off the night . ABC even moved Mork & Mindy opposite it to try to start off their night and they moved it back to Thursday rather quickly.

09-29-2014, 01:40 AM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,978	"All in the Family" being restructured as "Archie Bunker's Place" in 1979 How was it decided that All in the Family was going to be restructured as Archie Bunker's Place before the Fall of 1979? Was it contractual obligations or something else?
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

04-15-2016, 03:41 PM	#13
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	From what I have watched and read about ABP, I don't think I would like it. Just because I would compare it to AITF. I would watch it out of curiosity, though.
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

10-25-2014, 07:50 PM	#2
GameShowFan66 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 20, 2013 Location: Suburban Philadelphia, PA Posts: 78	If memory serves, Jean Stapleton wanted to leave the show. I believe O'Connor wanted out too, but was offered a very big sum of money to keep the Archie character going. Ms. Stapleton only appeared in 4 or 5 episodes during the first season of "Archie Bunker's Place". Lear & O'Connor reasoned that without Edith in most episodes, it would make sense to have more action take place at the bar. Also, she wanted out, so they decided to have the character of Edith die off screen. The final season of "Family" was without Rob Reiner & Sally Struthers, and it was by then a rather tired show. It wasn't even performed in front of a live studio audience either by then. A lot of the show lost its crispness and edge once the Stivics moved next door, and then when they moved to California. That was when the show should have went off. The only thing about "Archie's Place" that I liked were his new business partner Murray (and even he left after 2 years), and the first season they had the Thanksgiving episode with the Stivics coming to the Bunkers.

11-08-2014, 03:12 AM	#3
ILuvCarolBurnett Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2014 Location: Beverly Hills CA Posts: 312	I thought Archie Bunker's Place was so blah. I remember watching it on Sunday nights because it was sandwiched in between "the Jeffersons" and "Alice" in the early 1980s, but it was a terribly inferior show compared to All in the Family.

12-30-2014, 12:54 AM	#5
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,640	I never really liked it. After they killed off Edith Bunker it just wasn't the same anymore. Jean Stapleton and Carroll O'Connor were very believable as a married couple and had great chemistry together. I think since Jean Stapleton wanted to leave they should've just had Edith die and then cancelled All In The Family and been done with it. Ed.

12-30-2014, 01:49 AM	#6
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,055	I would have preferred he divorced her and remarried lol

04-14-2016, 10:45 PM	#7
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,978	For the people who have the opinion that All in the Family should have ended when Mike and Gloria moved to California at the end of Season 8: If All in the Family had ended after its eighth season instead of being renewed for a ninth season (which would mean Archie Bunkers Place wouldn't even exist), I think that would have allowed some of the newer and younger sitcoms on CBS, like WKRP in Cincinnati and (possibly) Stockard Channing in Just Friends, which debuted during the 1978-79 season, would have a better shot at succeeding. Perhaps Archie Bunker's Place never existing would have led to a longer run for WKRP in Cincinnati than just four seasons?

04-14-2016, 11:09 PM	#8
JingJing11 A convict Ninja Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2016 Location: Agota Posts: 9	I have never seen All in the Family

04-15-2016, 02:56 PM	#12
WalterTheDrinker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 19, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 168	All In the Family was self-important garbage its last few seasons. Melodramatic. Extreme close-ups. Excruciatingly slow pace. It was like a completely different show from the extraordinary first few seasons. Archie Bunker's Place flat-out sucked.

05-06-2016, 11:56 AM	#14
JJM Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 05, 2016 Location: The 70s Posts: 100	I watched it once through Netflix, it wasn't bad not it wasn't All in the Family. I think people expected too much of it.