All in the Family Turns 50

[howilu]

Today, January 12 marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the show that broke barriers for subjects that weren't covered on early sitcoms All in the Family.

It was the first sitcom to bring subjects such as racism and bigotry out in the open as well as rape, as depicted in the classic episode Edith's 50th Birthday.

Though All in the Family got off to a slow start, It started to take off when CBS moved the show to Saturday night and led off a classic sitcom lineup that included the first two shows from MTM, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. It was also the first big success for producer Norman Lear.

Happy 50th anniversary All in the Family. Those were the days.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by howilu

Today, January 12 marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the show that broke barriers for subjects that weren't covered on early sitcoms All in the Family.

It was the first sitcom to bring subjects such as racism and bigotry out in the open as well as rape, as depicted in the classic episode Edith's 50th Birthday.

Though All in the Family got off to a slow start, It started to take off when CBS moved the show to Saturday night and led off a classic sitcom lineup that included the first two shows from MTM, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. It was also the first big success for producer Norman Lear.

Happy 50th anniversary All in the Family. Those were the days.

Big irony is that the opening theme song had Archie and Edith waxing nostalgic for earlier and seemingly simpler times yet I can't imagine that even Mike would have predicted that 50 years later, many of us would be waxing nostalgic for their era!

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by howilu

Today, January 12 marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the show that broke barriers for subjects that weren't covered on early sitcoms All in the Family.

It was the first sitcom to bring subjects such as racism and bigotry out in the open as well as rape, as depicted in the classic episode Edith's 50th Birthday.

Though All in the Family got off to a slow start, It started to take off when CBS moved the show to Saturday night and led off a classic sitcom lineup that included the first two shows from MTM, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. It was also the first big success for producer Norman Lear.

Happy 50th anniversary All in the Family. Those were the days.

The rating on All In The Family the first season were meaningless, the thing CBS did not know was whether or not the show could stay on the air. The network had no idea if public pressure might result in a large number of affiliates refusing to carry the show. The network also didn't know what the FCC might do, remember CBS had 5 O&O's which were goldmines and no one wanted to jeopardize the licenses of those stations. CBS started maneuvering in December cancelling The Governor and JJ replacing it by relocating To Rome With Love. That move opened the Tuesday at 9:30 slot for All In The Family. This was the safest half hour on the network schedule, it would be the lead show for the perpetual caboose on the schedule, The CBS News Hour (CBS Reports/60 Minutes). The programs immediately in front of it were two rural comedies (Green Acres and the Beverly Hillbillies) and Hee-Haw not exactly the audience All In The Family was aimed at and shows that were about to become part of the rural purge. The first season was a trial balloon, as it turned out the show was more than able to withstand the initial fallout and that was really all the first season was about.

[TMC]

All in the Family turns 50: Why the Norman Lear sitcom was so radical for 1971

Norman Lear, who with Bud Yorkin pitched the working-class comedy based on British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part to CBS, wrote in his autobiography that before his groundbreaking sitcom's debut on Jan. 12, 1971, "TV comedy was telling us there was no hunger in America, we had no racial discrimination, there was no unemployment or inflation, no war, no drugs, and the citizenry was happy with whomever happened to be in the White House.” In fact, there was a profound gap between real life and what was depicted on TV, says Tim Gray. "The set of the Bunkers living room, designed by Don Roberts, had one small but important detail: There was a TV set," says Gray. "Most Americans arranged their furniture around the television, but very few sitcom families had that all-important piece of furniture. In addition, AITF viewers heard the sound of a toilet flushing, which was groundbreaking for a series. These may not seem significant, but they served notice to viewers at home: This family may be fictional, but they live in the same world as you do. They’re closer to reality than the families you’re used to seeing. That was the reason for CBS’s fears, and that was the reason why audiences embraced the show."

ALSO:

• All in the Family's premiere episode tackled a range of issues right away: "It discussed atheism, with Michael and Gloria explaining they have found no evidence of god," says Tony Sokol. "The family dissects affirmative action, with Archie asserting everyone has an equal chance to advance if they 'hustle for it like I done.' He says he didn’t have millions of people marching for him to get his job, like Black Americans. 'His uncle got it for him,' Edith explains, with an off-the-cuff delivery exemplifying why Stapleton is one of the all-time great comic character actors. The family argues socialism, anti-Semitism, sausage links and sausage patties. The generation gap widens as Archie wonders why men’s hair is now down to there, while Gloria’s skirt got so high 'all the mystery disappears' when she sits down. All in the Family would continue to deal with taboo topics like the gay rights movement, divorce, breast cancer, and rape. Future episodes would question why presidential campaign funds are unequal, how tax breaks for corporations kill the middle class, and weigh the personal price of serving in an unpopular war as opposed to dodging the draft."
• From Maude to The Jeffersons, All in the Family spawned the most spinoffs of any sitcom

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by howilu

Today, January 12 marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the show that broke barriers for subjects that weren't covered on early sitcoms All in the Family.

It was the first sitcom to bring subjects such as racism and bigotry out in the open as well as rape, as depicted in the classic episode Edith's 50th Birthday.

Though All in the Family got off to a slow start, It started to take off when CBS moved the show to Saturday night and led off a classic sitcom lineup that included the first two shows from MTM, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. It was also the first big success for producer Norman Lear.

Happy 50th anniversary All in the Family. Those were the days.

Yup today is definitely the first airing. Didnt even realize it