Based on British TV
So All in the Family was actually based off it’s U.K. counterpart, Till Death Do Us Part, however it did tons better than the British version. Which sounds better than pesky free online dating services.
Based On British TV
Mickey Rooney almost starred in the show!
Look, it’s impossible to picture the role of Archie Bunker played by anyone other than Carroll O’Connor but hey, it almost happened. Moreover, the role almost went to none other than, Mickey Rooney! However Rooney actually declined the role because he believed it was much too controversial for television.
Mickey Rooney Almost Starred In The Show
The show saw TWO pilot pitches
Television shows have to pitch the pilot to all the major networks, in the hopes obviously, that they’ll get picked up. And of course, All in the Family did the same but they had three pilot episodes filmed. And two of the pilots were quickly turned down by ABC.
The Show Saw TWO Pilot Pitches
An iconic kissing sequence!
Archie Bunker, probably one of the biggest bigots on television, got kissed by Sammy Davis on the show. In fact, this interracial kissing scene actually pulled in the largest laugh of the show’s history. Mind-blowing!
An Iconic Kissing Sequence
Nope-Nope-Nope
Lucille Ball needs no introduction! During the time that All in the Family was on air, so was her classic show I Love Lucy. However Lucy was not a fan of All in the Family, at all, because it had tons of offensive language and she went as far as to call it “un-American.”
Nope Nope Nope
Head to the museum!
Forget about free online dating services because we’re off to the museum. The Smithsonian Museum has in its possession Archie and Edith’s easy chairs.
Head To The Museum
Harrison Ford almost joined the show!
Could you picture Indiana Jones on this iconic show? Yeah, neither can we but man, that would have been awesome! Turns out that Harrison Ford was offered the role of Michael Stivic but he turned the offer down. Safe to say that it all worked out in the end.
Harrison Ford Almost Joined The Show
The series was based on reality!
Norman Lear, who was the developer of the show, actually based the entire Bunker family “off of his own childhood”. You see, Norm’s father, Lear, provided a lot of basis for the charter of Archie but in a lighter, more funnier light.
The Series Was Based In Reality
CBS tried to regulate the screenwriters.
While the first 13 episodes of the first season were being developed, Norman Lear kept being pestered by CBS on the language they should and shouldn’t use on the show. CBS wanted edgy but just not too edgy. However, Lear totally ignored them and did his own thing, offensive language and all.
CBS Tried To Regulate The Screenwriters
Rob Reiner was the key to production!
All in the Family did really struggle to get the go ahead from CBS. And it wasn’t until Rob Reiner was cast that show finally saw the light of day! Wonder if he would have the same luck on free online dating services? Probably.
Rob Reiner Was The Key To Production
Carroll O’Connor wrote lyrics for the show.
O’Connor, as you know played Archie Bunker, actually wrote the lyrics for the show’s closing song, ‘Remembering You’. Pretty neat!
Carroll O’Connor Wrote Lyrics For The Show
All in the Family initially had another name.
Ahem, looks like the producers wanted the original title to be Those Were the Days. But then a song of the same name became a massive hit and they had to re-title the show. Personally, we think that was the right call in the end!
All In The Family Initially Had Another Name
The show never had their expected backlash.
Now CBS honestly believed that they would get flooded with tons of public backlash due to Archie Bunker’s character and the language used on the show. However they never actually believed that it was instead become highly popular, the audience loved it!
The Show Never Had Their Expected Backlash
The Bunker family initially had a different name.
During the pilot, the Bunker family we all know and love actually had a different last name, Justice. It was during the original pilot that the show was called ‘Justice For All’. Hmm, that just doesn’t flow right for us, almost as much as free online dating services.
All In The Family 1971
Harrison Ford had been turned off by Archie Bunker.
So the reason that Harrison Ford turned the role is quite surprising but understandable. Ford was personally offended by the character of Archie Bunker. Moreover he believed that the audience would despise Archie and the show would fail.
Harrison Ford Had Been Turned Off By Archie Bunker
Sally Struthers ended her run on the show negatively.
We won’t get into details here but Sally Struthers actually had to sue the production company to get out of her All in the Family contract.
Sally Struthers Ended Her Run On The Show Negatively
Archie Bunker almost got killed off.
O’Connor also experienced contract disputes with Tandem Productions! The debate came up when he demanded 12 weeks of vacation and $64K in back-pay. That’s when Norman Lear responded by going on to film three whole episodes without Archie and threatened to kill the character off completely. Yikes.
Archie Bunker Almost Got Killed Off
Edith’s voice was a byproduct of stage theater.
No one can ever forget Edith’s nasally voice, almost as much as they can’t forget their free online dating services. Well the whole identify of that iconic voice was a product of her performance on-stage of Damn Yankees. She just really loved the voice so she kept it around for her character.
Edith’s Voice Was A Byproduct Of Stage Theater
Rob Reiner had to wear a wig.
Unfortunately Rob Reiner actually began to go bald quite early so the production team were forced to bring in wigs for the actor. Rather unfortunate, eh?
Rob Reiner Had To Wear A Wig
Scott Brady was almost a part of the show.
Scott Brady also was another actor who was approached for the role of Archie Bunker, but who ultimately turned it down. However, he did have a guest appearance later on the show as Joe Foley.
Scott Brady Was Almost A Part Of The Show
All in the Family was almost filmed in black and white.
In the mind of Norman Lear, the character of Archie Bunker saw the world in black and white. Therefore he wanted the show to reflect that by only being shot in black and white. However CBS totally hated the idea and instead shot it in color.
All In The Family Was Almost Filmed In Black And White
All in the Family broke through some boundaries.
Yup, All in the Family was the first ever show to air full frontal male nudity. Gasp! Although, the nudity happened to be because of the three week old infant, Joey Stivic. Gets a pass now, doesn’t it?
All In The Family Broke Through Some Boundaries
There have been seven spin off shows!
Seven whopping spin off shows have been created just because of All in the Family! The shows in question include Maude, The Jeffersons, Gloria, Archie Bunker’s Place, and 704 Hauser.
There Have Been Seven Spin Off Shows
Archie Bunker predicted the 1980 election.
Once upon a time, Archie Bunker and Meathead were in the middle of a heated argument, go figure. And Archie Bunker accurately predicted the result of the 1980 Presidential election, where Ronald Reagan gets elected President. Wacky!
Archie Bunker Predicted The 1980 Election.
The famous sock and shoe debate was a true story.
Rob Reiner and Carroll O’Connor did in fact get into a real debate while in their dressing rooms about none other than the proper way to put on socks and shoes. Reiner then told the story to Norman Lear so he actually added it as an episode in the show! Classic.
The Famous Sock And Shoe Debate Was A True Story
Carroll O’Connor fought for equal billing in the credits.
Norman Lear informed O’Connor that his name would get first billing during the show’s second season, however O’Connor made Lear change it. Why? O’Connor actually wanted Stapleton to get co-lead billing.
Carroll O’Connor Fought For Equal Billing In The Credits
Norman Lear held the role of George Jefferson for Sherman Hemsley.
Back when the Jefferson are first introduced, you don’t actually get to see George, just Louise. This is because Sherman Hemsley was stuck on another production, so instead of re-casting, Lear just held the role for Hemsley when he returned.
Norman Lear Held The Role Of George Jefferson For Sherman Hemsley
The first toilet flush in TV history.
Get this, way back when toilets were a total taboo on television. So All in the Family went on to become the first ever network television show to air the sound…of a toilet flushing.
The First Toilet Flush In TV History
Carroll O’Connor lived in Italy when he was cast.
O’Connor was in fact living in Italy when he landed the role of Archie Bunker. The producers would even pay for his travel expenses to come back to the States for filming.
Carroll O’Connor Lived In Italy When He Was Cast
Jean Stapleton passed on a huge product for All in the Family.
For the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, our girl Jean Stapleton actually snagged a role on the project but turned it down so she could focus on All in the Family instead.
Jean Stapleton Passed On A Huge Product For All In The Family
First TV show to be shot before a studio audience since the 50’s.
Live studio audiences were being phased out, so when All in the Family aired, they did so in front of an audience. Mind you this was the first time this was done since the 50’s and thus paved the way for just about every single comedic sitcom since.
First TV Show To Be Shot Before A Studio Audience Since The ‘50s
First comedy series filmed on videotape.
Yup, All in the Family was in fact the first comedic series filmed on videotape, basically transitioning away from film. Trend setters for sure!
First Comedy Series Filmed On Videotape
Jean Stapleton is actually an incredible singer.
While the character of Edith Bunker couldn’t hold a decent note whatsoever, Jean Stapleton is incredibly talented. Considering she started off her career on Broadway, it makes total sense.
Jean Stapleton Is Actually An Incredible Singer
Three Minutes
In 1975, CBS went ahead and cut old episodes by a whole three minutes to allow for commercials to have more time to show. However Norman Lear tried to haggle with CBS in an attempt to keep those three minutes, heck he even offered them more money for those three minutes but CBS still declined the offer. Tough crowd! Maybe not as tough as free online dating services though.
Three Minutes
Home Sweet Home
In the show, we are repeatedly told that the Bunkers live at 704 Hauser Street in the Astoria area of Queens, a fictional location. Although the exterior of the house, which you see from the opening credits, is very real. So real that you can head on over and see it for yourself: 89-76 Cooper Avenue in the Glendale section of Queens.
Home Sweet Home
The Future Mrs. Reiner Almost Played Mrs. Stivic
Penny Marshall was Rob Reiner’s girlfriend and then wife, and she actually almost played the role of Gloria. Sally Struthers was also a finalist to snag the role. Struthers recalls feeling that Reiner would probably work better with Penny, so when she went into the final audition, she just gave it all. Turns out that while Penny had a better reading than Sally, she resembled Jean Stapleton too much. So the role went to Struthers because as the producer brutally put it, she had “a fat face and blue eyes like Carroll O’Connor.”
The Future Mrs. Reiner Almost Played Mrs. Stivic
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Viewers phoned and wrote the producers repeatedly in the first and second season. And for ONE reason only. Everyone wanted to know, “What is the second to last line of the opening theme song?” No, really, it was far too difficult to understand that the line was in fact, “Gee, our old LaSalle ran great”. This forced O’Connor and Stapleton to re-record, before season three showed, and carefully enunciated those very mysterious lyrics.
Whose Line Is It Anyway
The Rural Purge made room for All in the Family.
For quite a long time, CBS was completely dominated by many old southern television shows. So when all of these programs got canceled, known as the Rural Purge, tons of new programming was ordered up. Therefore, All in the Family entered the world.
The Rural Purge Made Room For All In The Family
Controversial Topics
All in the Family was not afraid to portray deeply controversial topics on the show, which many other shows didn’t dare do. Issues like racism, breast cancer, women’s liberation, homosexuality, religion, the Vietnam War, and menopause were all portrayed on the show in some way.
Struthers O’Connor Stapleton
My Opinion
Carroll O’Connor had read an article about the show Till Death Us Do Part , before he was ever involved on All in the Family. And after he read the article, O’Connor told his wife that there was absolutely no way something like that would ever get done in the United States. Looks like he was so very wrong!
My Opinion
