'Archie Bunker' Reaction! Is All in the Family too Hot for Today's Mainstream TV???

[@thisisitreactions]

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[@k33ism]

It would be better if you watched the full shows in it's full context and not just excerpts.

[@Louis-iz8nq]

Put the episode when Archie walked into the hospital wearing blackface. 😅

[@HustusMcGonnigle-gx5oo]

I'm feeling like you don't fully understand that this is a parody and a full on ridicule of racists and homophones.

[@Valkonnen]

I saw this as a kid in the 1970's and watching it now, I laughed out loud at least 5 times. It was the best show ever and showed how dumb judging other people is . Trust me, no Americans were rooting for Archie or agreeing with him, but we were endeared and felt sorry that he was ignorant like that. The best was when he and George Jefferson would Tangle. George felt exactly the same as Archie did about any other race but his own. Great stuff!

[@singluna888]

Carroll O'Connor was awesome. The whole cast was. Brilliant show.

[@LuvTadnDixie]

The funniest, most well-written, well-acted sitcoms of all time, Period!

[@caskur1]

100 % correct.

[@jasonhawkins6698]

MASH is 1b

[@Valkonnen]

Such important issues were looked at for the first time. Edith's attempted rape, Transgenders, Homosexuality, Abortion, Circumcision, religion, race. Probably THE most important show in TV history.

[@kennethmitchell298]

If you want to understand the character of Archie Bunker, watch the two episodes with Sammie Davis Jr., and a episode called "Two's a Crowd". Those three episodes tell you almost everything you need to know about his character. I'm 62 year old black man from Georgia. I laughed when I saw it as a kid and I laugh now. Because I lived in those times. Find those episodes, you'll be glad you did.

[@billbradley4878]

Just left a comment saying the same thing, the Sammie Davis Jr episode sums up Archie Bunker very well.

[@richardmodglin3900]

Yes....this series was much much more than what the newer generation sees in it. It seems that they can't get over the sting of the dialog itself. It's taboo to younger folks and it's hard for them to move on from the offending words at first and see the purposful intent of the comedy series. Archie Bunker covered many serious subjects through its comedy and we all ... episode after episode learned the true strengths and weaknesses of the salty man called Archie Bunker.

[@michaelwilliams-vu2nf]

Me too as black man

[@jasontracey3329]

Spot on. Archie wasn't a true racist really he was ignorant but I think he had a good heart under his offensive exterior. He also didn't hold back on anyone.

[@DarrylWilburn-uc9on]

It was all pushing the envelope. It was meant to. Archie was a great character. Corral O'Conner was a great actor. And they never said the f word. They couldn't. George Jefferson was a racist too. Norman Lear created both of these shows. He was pushing the envelope and its still funny. And I have done stand up and jokes are jokes. You are very woke if you understand that.

[@GodLovesComics]

All in the Family was decades ahead of its time and decades behind its time all at once. But seriously it's truly shocking what they were allowed to say and the issues they were allowed to confront, that can't even be approached on TV now, a half-century later. The show isn't celebrating racism and homophobia, it's exposing the ignorance behind it and Archie does evolve a begrudging acceptance that his world is changing. The fact that this show couldn't exist now exposes a different wave of modern ignorance and intolerance from small factions who think the only way to deal with social issues is through cancel culture.

[@marybistodeau8597]

Exactly. Unfortunately the last couple of generations has spawned an overly sensitive bunch of lemmings blinded by woke lies (multiple genders my petutie), unable to cope with social issues or adversity without prescriptive medication, hard drugs or psych therapy. And our nation is paying the price.

[@rasikasharma7097]

its called humour. Quit being offended all the time.

[@saintsataniko2116]

@@rasikasharma7097 ???? He's NOT offended!

[@shawnstephens1251]

Why is it shocking? Society is actually regressing.

[@GodLovesComics]

@@shawnstephens1251 "Shocking" when compared to what is not allowed today. I made ZERO judgment on the content itself. If you have an issue take it up with the Reactors.

[@faithnyou1732]

Norman Lear, the creator and producer of numerous popular 1970s sitcoms, including All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and Good Times, etc. Lear was the pioneer of introducing social dialogue in these sitcoms. The honest dialogue was much needed in the 70s. The idea was to expose the stupidity of the bigotry going on at that time. Like you said, it was a different time. Even though it still exists today, there's a broader conversation today than there was back then. These sitcoms were not just meant to be bigoted comedy; they were meant to expose the stupidity of people like Archie Bunker. Also, as a human being in real life, Carroll O'Connor was the opposite of Archie's character. Norman Lear died yesterday at the age of 101. Thanks fpr a great reaction and discussion. ✌💙✌

[@bh9225]

Norman Lear was also a writer for the late '50s sitcom, Sgt. Bilko. Funny too.

[@Victoria-ut8uv]

Absolutely plus it brought people closer together. We laughed at the redundancy of it all.

[@jantupy7098]

Its very important to remember Carol O'Connor was chosen for a reason. He was not anything like Archie in real life. Look at music, movies ect.... today. MUCH more racisim with intentions to create hate. Compaired to All in The Family. Satire.

[@sueg3129]

EXACTLY. I watched it regularly growing up and felt even at that age that it was shining a light on and exposing the stupidity and ignorance of these views - the message was loud and clear

[@DrBoneright]

This was the tip of the iceberg, but Archie was always the bad guy in these arguments. They always made him look foolish. That was often times the whole point of the show. They wanted to make racism look foolish and they were in your face about it.

[@Steve-cm2ys]

Stfuu Archie was right. LOL He was just blunt and had no filter or tact. Kiss my a... Finnadookies call each other... That word that would get this deleted. All DAY. And gays call each other "the F word". Talk about the tip of the iceberg, there's FAR more. You're all more bigoted than the straight wp, who constantly accuse. Please! Get back to your beloved CNN.

[@karmashim3971]

Racism should be considered foolish, and foolish enough to laugh at.

[@kirkdarling4120]

@@pmbbmp Jefferson was presented as the black version of Archie, and, yes, he was also presented as the fool of the series.

[@FallenHellscape]

Bad guy? He was misguided and ignorant. Not evil. He wasn’t written to be hated or destroyed.

[@DrBoneright]

@@FallenHellscape He wasn't THE bad guy. He was just the bad guy in every argument. He had to be, to make the point.

[@ccmakaw]

The comedy in this show wasn't in what Archie would say but in how outrageously over the top he was - and he always got his commupance. Even for the 70s Archie was offensive - that was the point of the show.

[@lindalou6105]

Thank you.

[@geneeverett33]

That’s why these short mini clips don’t do it justice. They’d be better doing one longer clip with full context

[@debbiec3694]

Thank you

[@bobblowhard8823]

Carroll O'Connor, the actor who played Archie Bunker, was the exact opposite. Through his acting, and his antics, he wanted to show to the world that there are people like his character out there. Bigots, racists, white-supremacists, homophobes. And he did a brilliant job of sending his message.

[@AP-gb3eh]

Norman Lear changed America. He forced America to look at its own ignorance, by making Archie and George Jefferson extreme and ridiculous ,people heard how foolish they sounded saying or blindly thinking this way. I think we could use a mirror like this today . Thank you Norman Lear you literally improved our country- for a while ( today we are careful about language but not dealing with problems because we are afraid to say anything for fear of being attacked)

[@Jay-nq2jl]

Not only that he served his country with extraordinary courage and integrity…hero of the highest order

[@YTsupportsZionaziGenocide]

The saddest part about all in the family is that it's 50 years old poking fun of how messed up society is... and it's still messed up in the exact same ways.

[@rnascak]

Well, sort of. Back then, society could both laugh at itself and distinguish between comedy and offense. As a whole, society has become very thin-skinned.

[@velshock]

Yes, but people weren’t offended by everything except violence, and mass shootings were super rare.

[@YTsupportsZionaziGenocide]

@velshock I think both you and the previous commenter missed the point... the problems highlighted in the show are still the problems we have today. People being more offended by things now. You might want to look at what the point of the Archie character was. He was the archetype of a thin-skinned person who was offended by everything, even black neighbour's... the whole point of virtually every episode is Archie is the foil of bigotry and ignorance... basically, the whole point of the meathead character was to correct him so he could/would grow as a person.

[@LuvTadnDixie]

When "All In the Family" first aired back in 1971, the did have a "Warning" It said "The program you are about to see is ‘All in the Family.’ It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show - in a mature fashion - just how absurd they are.”

[@rodciferri9626]

I'm proud to have enjoyed shows like All In The Family, Sanford & Son and Barney Miller - our generation got to see racism, sexism, etc., exposed raw and up close on TV in order to see it confronted and defeated in every episode. Now - the most important issues to humanity can barely be approached, much less worked out, due to arbitrary rules restricting the very languages humanity speaks. Our humanity was affirmed by TV then - now, the equivalent media disrespects humanity.

[@JeffPhillips-dn2fg]

Gents, I’m 100% on Ollie’s point of view side. I think it’s so important to laugh multiple times a day to help take stress off shoulders. It’s healthy! I miss when people could dish it as well as take it without being so sensitive. It was meant to be funny and in this case Archie was portrayed as family hard working man with stupid ignorant views of culture that was meant to be laughed at period.. no more

[@hawkuser604]

Amazing how you used to be able to laugh at each other no matter how bad the jokes were back in the 70's and laugh at each other without being offended. And not now... we have turned way too sensitive and are more divided now than then, This show actually taught people a lot about how to get along, and now we have done a 180 degree turn.They rarely show the episode where Archie punches a grocery store owner that insulted his female Black housekeeper that was helping him out...

[@SusieOrSueOrSusan]

You said it, I agree completely. What a boring and hateful world we are living in today. We had been making so much progress and now the powers that be have destroyed it with the pc culture that most people are so used to.

[@Spooklilly-Latina4Freedom]

FACTS! Being able to laugh at ourselves & each other actually EASED tensions. Nowadays w cancel culture just made things worse

[@SusieOrSueOrSusan]

@@Joel-l7y1c United we stand, divided we fall. That's what this is all about.

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

Archies type of racism was mainly do to ignorance. As the show goes on you see him learn more about other people ..other races and religions. From these experiences he becomes less of a a racist or bigot... whatever you wanna call him and becomes more understanding. Archie & George Jefferson were so much alike....it was hilarious to see those two interact!

[@Valkonnen]

ALL racism is due to ignorance. Race, gender and sexual orientation are literally the least important thing about who a person is .

[@donaldduck2139]

I'm not white and from that era.. was never offended and always thought it was funny, plus he was the only one in their household that felt that way, you got to remember the rest of his family were trying to pass on the right message to him...the show was actually the US's version of the British sitcom ‘Till Death Us Do Part’

[@Lensmaster1]

At the time this show premiered, there were many people who said these things seriously and openly. There was a lot of violence against blacks, and gays, and Jews and women. Shows like this were put up there to confront those attitudes, shine light on them.

[@robertcartier5088]

I grew up watching this... In the very first episode, before even meeting Archie, someone asks the wife where he's at, and before she can answer, you hear a toilet flushing in the background! First time on TV that they acknowledged that people used toilets! It set the tone for the whole series, really: Irreverence. The important thing to remember is that, although they used the language of the day for shock value, the show was never, ever, laughing _with_ the bigots. It was laughing _at_ them for being stupid. Archie wasn't the role model in the show, he was the embarrassing clown-show of a dad -- the kids were clearly the role models who would try their best to educate him... And presumably, educate the viewers, too. ;-]

[@A_real_Ha_So]

I was born in '70 so i was a little kid during it's heyday so I didn't really understand what they'd argue about but Archie's mannerisms still made me laugh. What I've taken from this show was Archie was basically the butt of his own comments and that's how Carroll played it. He didnt want you to agree with Archie so he played it like he was minimally educated. The character wasn't meant to be wise or enlightened but the scene where he finds Edith's slipper after she passed is still one of the most heart wrenching scenes I've still ever seen.

[@ronalddepesa6221]

Born in June of 1970 myself.

[@jflaugher]

The reason “All In The Family” was created and the reason why they made Archie a conservative bigot, Mike a liberal, Gloria a feminist, and his next door neighbors the Jeffersons were black was so they could actually deal with socio-political issues that were relevant to the time period.

[@abevillanueva1974]

You'll find this classic show on ME TV. Carroll was one of the TVs and Hollywood's most talented actors. Won an Emmy for sitcom and drama. Growing up watching at 9:00 pm, I NEVER heard my pops laugh soooo hard. Really, All in the Family was also a real drama show at times. One of the most emotional episodes on TV ever was when Gloria had a miscarriage, Gloria & Mike moved away, and when Edith died...I can laugh so hard and cry like a crocadile watching this show. Norman Lear was a genius for this show!!

[@lisae9958]

These shows still run on the retro channels (MeTV, Cozi TV, Antenna TV, Catchy TV) daily. All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Sanford and Son, etc. I watch them almost every evening🤗

[@kerry-j4m]

These are the shows I grew-up with,the 70s sitcoms were the changing of the guard,society had changed and grown up too.The 60s sitcoms were silly gimmick shows-Bewitched,I Dream of Jeanie,very wholesome,yet entertaining. For each decade tv shows and films changes for that generation.No cringe for tho. LOL.

[@LatinCuz]

Also TV One airs Good Times, The Jeffersons and Sanford & Son in Marathons.

[@klipkultur3680]

Best american TV show of all time...

[@philliptucker4788]

All in the Family was extremely controversial and shocking to audiences at the time - no TV show had ever dared to confront societal issues in such a direct way before, shedding such a bright light on ignorance and intolerance. And it worked. It was one of the most popular and most important shows of all time, and it actually influenced society in America in positive directions. It was truly groundbreaking. Sadly, we have all the same issues today, and modern TV shows also try to confront those issues, but in more subtle ways because our sensibilities have changed. I personally prefer the direct route!

[@JasonDurham-he7tx]

It taught us 80s kids how not to be ignorant,about different people..

[@azizmooshoolov2308]

All in the Family was NOT a."product of its time." Thete was NOTHING like it before. It was the first TV show that (the first two seasons) began with a parental advisory. The show was revolutionary. It was not a program that promoted racism and exclusivity. Archie was a vehicle for showing how stupid that is while still allowing empathy for him because the character WAS a product of his time. The chairs that Archie and Edith sat in every episode are in the Smithsonian.

[@DorothyFarias]

The scenes between Archie and George Jefferson were priceless. Archie met his match. This show put a huge spotlight on ignorance and racism. I don't think there will ever be another one like this.

[@Catherine-u8l]

Jefferson was just as racist. It didn’t shine a light on ignorance as much as shining a light on what’s inherent in everyone. ( To some degree.)

[@StevePaur-hf4vy]

If ya'll ever get the chance you should binge watch full episodes. Archie Bunker actually evolves, but never completely flips, over the run of the series. The series dealt with every issue there was. Abortion, racism, sexual assault, sexism, ageism, gun control etc. Some of the best scenes occurred between Archie and Lionel Jefferson. Lionel was a college kid and neighbor who humorously played into Archie's stereotypes and made Archie look the fool. Another classic two part episode is when Archie thinks he is joining a patriotic group but accidentally joins the KKK causing his daughter and son-in-law to shun him and ban him from seeing his grandson. There were the emotional episodes too like when Gloria and Edith are attacked by rapists, when Archie delivers the eulogy at his best friend's funeral only to find out that he was Jewish and when Edith dies. If you look at the youtube clip "Archie Bunker defends his housekeeper" you will see how far he has come.

[@bearbear4389]

When I hear a man with a full, white beard, say the show was "before my time", I think to myself, "man, I'm old!!!".

[@susanmurray7654]

The scenes between archie and Edith, when she fights back or he really hurts her feelings is so moving.

[@pR1mal.]

The scenes with Edith and Louise Jefferson were gold. Especially when the Jeffersons moved away.

[@mollieking7432]

Archie was a product of the environment where he was raised. In the TV audience, everyone had parents or grandparents or coworkers who said the same kind of stuff - not necessarily in public, but among friends or in their homes. In the 60s and 70s, both society and the younger generation started challenging those attitudes more directly, and in the show Archie gets to know a wider range of people and learns that many of his assumptions were flat-out wrong. What made All in the Family so successful was that everyone could recognize or identify with someone in the show as people they knew and interacted with every day. And it's not until you get that personal connection that you can actually start to change the underlying attitudes and behavior.

[@kristilouque8412]

Archie Bunker was one of the most complex characters ever written. There was purpose and intention for everything he said. Exposing hate and fear. Such a great show.

[@JonS0107]

I was 16 when All In The Family first aired. It was only 7 years after Civil Rights legislation was signed and only 3 years after the assignation of MLK. so there was still a lot of division. It was "in your face" but it was needed at the time. And not unlike Blazing Saddles that came out a few years later, this was written to show how idiotic social divisions were. If you watched the entire series over the years you would see that Archie slowly grows to be more understanding. Also, "In the Heat of the Night" tv show was based off a movie of the same title, stirring Sydney Poitier. So if you haven't seen that, I highly recommend it.

[@Rogers_Ranger]

bringing evil into the light is how we take it's power away

[@jeffnaslund]

It’s difficult to look at the early 1970s through a 2020+ lens. At the time, this show was the Beatles of situation comedies. They broke down any walls that existed, and allowed so many different television art forms to blossom. It was a show everyone enjoyed. And Archie evolved.

[@TracyVoD]

The American show "All in the Family" was based on the British show "Til Death do us Part". There were quite a few American sitcoms in the 70s based on UK shows (including Three's Company and The Ropers which were copies of Man about the House and George and Mildred). TBH I generally preferred the UK versions.

[@margopflanczer7677]

The episode where Edith found out she was very ill and the episode where Edith died are two episodes that will pull at your heartstrings. I agree with and respect all of the comments that not every episode was like what we saw in the clips of this video. Archie made his comments and so did George. The banter between the two was hysterical! I’m a white girl and I grew up watching Good Times and The Jeffersons, both of which took their jabs at my race and I laughed my a$$ off. It was comedy. The writing was brilliant and a lot of times there was a good message behind all of it.

[@margopflanczer7677]

Also, Norman Lear was a Jewish man who was a minority as a young man and always said he felt a kinship to the black children he knew because they were also picked on. He was very empathetic.

[@makingthecoin3647]

The back and forth between Archie and George is like they were a comedy team. The classic counterfeit $20 bill episode shows everyone in sync to produce a hilarious show. Also the show where George meets his sons future In Laws with Archie in the room is one of many classics.

[@cjonesufc]

The son in law in this is Rob Reiner who made” Stand By Me”, “The Princess Bride”, “A Few Good Men” and tons of other famous movies. This show was his big break.

[@nathantaylor1921]

We are still talking about a show almost 50 years later..... Ground breaking, innovative, before its time situation-drama-comedy!

[@jaydMANifistation]

Carole O'Connor, The Late, great Norman Lear, Rob Reiner are champions of waking people up.

[@sopdox]

I think you need to watch some full episodes to get what the show was trying to say. They touched on race, religion, sexuality, rape, infidelity, miscarriage, war, the draft, etc. One of my favorite episodes is Edith Writes a Song, guest starring Cleavon Little (sheriff in Blazing Saddles) and Grady Demond Wilson (Lamont from Sanford & Son). In the episode Two’s a Crowd (a.k.a. the shoe-booty episode), you get a better understanding of who Archie Bunker is.

[@gazoontight]

You have to watch the episode where Lionel introduces his fiancée’s parents to his parents. Pure gold!

[@Phx_Phreak]

I disagree that Archie was a racist in the 'evil' sense. Watch the 'shoe booty' episode and it explains a lot about his thinking. Keep reacting, y'all rock!

[@peardrop61]

This and other shows from that time did not sugar coat our language. I sorta miss the older way as more honest.

[@davidbarnes1113]

Being very young when All In The Family came out, about 8 years old to be exact, I missed a lot of the racial humor until I watched it in reruns when I got older. I appreciate that show, and it brings back memories of watching it with my mom . Maude was another one I liked, especially I’d Esther Rolle as Florida was on the episode, of course she eventually got her own spinoff, Good Times. RIP Norman Lear, he was a legend and TV genius. Also the show is very much in syndication on MeTV (retro tv channel)

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

I absolutely love this show! They addressed so many issues that people just don't talk about anymore and act like they don't exist. This show brought out racism from both sides of the fence! From this show stemmed the show The Jefferson's .....& George Jefferson was exactly like Archie !

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

In all honesty... the only thing I found offensive was the 1 guy that kept saying the F. word every 5 seconds LOL

[@tessasnow]

It was satire and it was a way to “talk about things” without actually “talking about things”. It made fun of touchy subjects. 🖖🏻🇨🇦

[@peterjordanson1021]

All in the Family is in still shown on over the air TV - ME TV, as it deserves to be.

[@joelds1751]

The show intended to discuss current cultural issues in the open, using humor, versus keeping quiet. It was a very popular show then, My family watched it every week. The language was all around at the time.

[@mikelesley2803]

Sadly there are still a lot of Archie Bunker living in our country today. The show is now being shown on MeTV currently.

[@TheDivayenta]

RIP to creator Norman Lear- of AITF, Jefferson’s, Good Times, Sanford and Son, Maude and so much more! Of course watching these excerpts is tough- but when seen in the context of an entire episode , you realize what a jerk Archie is and he always gets his comeuppance- every single episode. AITF was about showing how bad and ridiculous racism is. The encounters between George Jefferson and Archie were iconic! The Jefferson engagement party for their son, Lionel where Archie is invited is HILARIOUS. AND please react to Fred and Esther!!!!! Every episode was hilarious and taught a lesson. You can only get that if you watch an entire episode. Lionel Jefferson’s engagement party is the best. Or when Archie meets Sammy Davis. Sammy really lets Archie have it and Archie’s too stupid to know! Give it another shot and you’ll see.

[@kirkdarling4120]

I came here to say that.

[@RoxanneGarland]

Every episode in this series has a hidden message. Back in the day this language was used. This show was the first one to bring social issues out and talked about openly. You're seeing bits and pieces. Watch whole episodes.

[@susanjones4904]

I grew up with the Bunkers, and you'll find that what you call controversial is nothing compared to the sex and violence of today's shows. All in the Family poked fun at the limitations of ignorance, and showed quite clearly how denigrating this type of thinking was. It was a smack in the face to bigotry, and helped develop a better perspective for generations to come.Watch the episode with Sammy Davis Jr. Absolutely fantastic!! ❤

[@fredericsalgado2025]

In the Heat of the Night was based on the 1967 movie with Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier

[@TheCleo223]

The whole point of this show was to show Archie and his prejudices to be abhorrent. I grew up watching this show and it taught me to align with the liberal side of these arguments. Easier to teach through comedy. This show did not use bigotry gratuitously. It was there to shine a light. RIP Norman Lear

[@jeanniefarnsworth8047]

The whole point of the show was to aggressively confront the issues of racism and prejudice. Archie was blunt and insensitive. The interactions between Archie and George Jefferson were magical. George just gave it right back.

[@kellycrook543]

There was nothing wrong with it. People didnt take it personal because it was meant to be comedy. Now, People take everything too personal, and its just meant to be funny...comedy.

[@LuvTadnDixie]

The humor was about how ridiculous Archie sounded and how stupid he was. The show was brilliant!

[@DeniseThomson-d1p]

​@@LuvTadnDixiehe was a product of his childhood like kids today will be a product of this time .

[@CherylHughes-ts9jz]

Growing up the only nonracist in a racist family, I loved this show. It showede that I wasn't crazy for thinking racism was wrong. I wasn't allowed to argue with my parents, so I loved seeing mike, Gloria, George Jefferson argue for me😅

[@hobbievk5119]

I grew up watching All in the Family and there had never been anything like it on television. Norman Lear, the show's creator (who passed away just yesterday) wanted to show racism and intolerance as the absurdities they are, allowing us to laugh at Archie and his extreme views. It was truly revolutionary, and the use of comedy to discuss serious topics continues today. The show dealt with racism, sexism, the Vietnam War, social intolerance, rape, religion, and other things once deemed too controversial for television. And, since you mentioned In the Heat of the Night, you really should see the original film with Sidney Poitier, which was a great film and nothing like the show. Great reaction!

[@Wilderoses912]

I don’t care what anybody says. This shows back then are the best shows. I still watch them today. I will continue to watch them every single one them. a lot there’s Soap, All in the family, Maude, The Jefferson’s, Good Times oh so many more

[@redstate502]

Words weren't taboo back in those days. We openly practiced freedom of speech. People weren't soft back then. Society is way too thin skinned now. If you let "a word" make you involuntarily resort to physical altercation, that's on you, and you are being "owned" by that word. We grew up with, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That was our mindset, still is. All of my friends used to tell each other the racist jokes that we heard the adults say and we laughed our a$$e$ off and it brought us closer together. Funny is funny and if you can't laugh at yourself something is wrong. The whole thing with Archie was to show how ignorant he was and they did it in a humorous way. The Jefferson's ended up being the exact opposite when they moved next door. George was the racist in their family and watching him and Archie go at it was hilarious all while them forming a bound with one another. I grew up in the 60's and 70's in and around Louisville. One of my childhood heroes was Muhammad Ali and the funniest man on the planet at that time was Richard Pryor. I went from the Jackson 5 to Jimi Hendrix on the radio dial. We had it good!

[@emcsquared8681]

I grew up in that time also, and yes you could be more openly racist back then but words were taboo if you spoke up against religion (mainly Christianity) and depending where you lived if you actually spoke up against racism you were shut up quick. Things changed, racism isn’t as “cool” as it was then and we’re better off for it.

[@redstate502]

@@emcsquared8681 A joke is a joke but racism has never been cool. We were approached by a guy dressed up in his KKK gear when I was 9 years old and we ran him off throwing rocks at him. 😆

[@emcsquared8681]

@@redstate502 there are black people alive today that remember when they would be put in jail for using a whites only toilet. Yes, in the southern red states racism was the norm.

[@redstate502]

@@emcsquared8681 If you walk in the rain without an umbrella you will get wet. Is there a point that you were trying to make or are we just making statements that are true?

[@emcsquared8681]

@@redstate502 if my statement was true then yours wasn’t. Really my only point.

[@Kerppu68]

Poor Meathead always getting provoked for the whole of humanity

[@jazshas]

I'm Black. It was funny then and it's funny now. 😂

[@melissaford717]

Proud Gen Xer here. This show changed television as we know it because of the serious topics raised in the show (racism, rape, Vietnam, women's lib, to name a few) but it was still a comedy. No one was doing it until that show. AITF still airs to this very day. Last night on Catchy Comedy channel, the 20th Anniversary of All in the Family special from 1991 with Norman Lear (RIP) hosting was played. On Sunday night (tomorrow), the MeTV channel is airing episodes of shows he produced in a memorial to him. An episode called Two's a Crowd is where you find out why Archie became Archie. Mike & him get locked in a bar basement. I just read about this episode and both of them ad libbed parts of dialogue, and it is the only episode ever in the series where Archie uses the n word. Good review guys and take care 🙂

[@RobynHurley-zp9sh]

Im a gen xer too .

[@melissaford717]

@RobynHurley-zp9sh our generation is the best, I believe. We didn't have cell phones, we didn't have internet, we played outside, and it looked like we were 35 when in reality we were 16, lol. You take care and Happy Holidays to you & yours 🙂🎄

[@touriewright5428]

Great reaction guys. You should realize this show and many by Norman Lear should real talk sometimes a bit broad but throughout all of All in the Family thru Archies Place you see Archie grow as a human being. archie was a product of the time he grew up in and it took many years but he grew to either be less racists or to be fully woke. He had confrontations with Nazi's and other racists where he defended a black person as OlliWodada said you knew where Archie stood. The point (IMO) was to put what was really going on in neighborhoods and maybe people would say to themselves maybe I shouldn't say this or that. When Sammy Davis Jr. kissed Archie was a big deal at the time.

[@GodLovesComics]

All of that is spot on, except I don't know if you could ever call Archie "woke." ;) But he was constantly exposed to be a frail and complex human being with a good heart, but a head filled with the prejudices he grew up being immersed in. I do remember the Sammy Davis Jr. appearance being a huge event.

[@danacasey8543]

Oh, the episode with Sammy Davis Jr. is priceless! I grew up watching All In The Family and even then I cringed at Archie Bunker! But it was so funny watching him make a fool of himself!

[@terryconnelly484]

This was such an intelligent show If you're not truly woke you won't understand. This expressed the ignorance of racism... One of the most woke shows out there. We need more like it.

[@christopherking4932]

I guarantee no one would call it woke at all.

[@terryconnelly484]

@@christopherking4932 not these days people are too sensitive and quick to jump without thinking But it was a woke series In those days. If you haven't watched a couple of full episodes don't even talk to me... Open your mind

[@Far2hip]

In this role as Archie, if your judging what his character was depicting at that point in time was more accurately about his mountains of prejudices and not actually racism. You need to remember that back at that time, there wasn’t much in the may of manipulating the factual definition of words in order to gain some perceived upper hand in an argument with some political correctness flex. The “Archie” character was absolutely intended to be in your face because back then you had the full protection of actual Constitutional free speech. Combine that with the artistic freedoms of true comedy in a time where you didn’t have to worry about offending people as long as the message was obviously not intended as genuinely hateful of any specific identity defined group. In that time frame in this country you could create an incredibly powerful messenger in the creation of the Archie character that takes just about every prejudice imaginable and wrap it up into one hilariously transparent character. In doing so this show was incredibly effective at cementing the stereotype image of what a racist bigot appears to be in the eyes of others. But the plot lines also showed that Archie wasn’t actually filled with actual hate, but rather an overload of bold faced ignorance. When they spun off The Jefferson’s and created episodes for both shows with cast from both shows, the combined brilliance in subtle messaging hidden in the shock value of the banter was just legendary. And it was a time when the power of comedy could be used to with extraordinary effectiveness. Carrol O’Conner was a seriously dedicated participant of civil rights to an extraordinary degree and he took the Archie role very seriously being careful not to ever have anyone feel genuine hate from that character. Just brilliantly open ignorance presented with genius comedic performances to give an irresistible mirror to those that do have actual prejudice to take a good look. His presentation was intended to be a highly exaggerated version of the ignorance of prejudice without any genuine hate and he did it brilliantly. The only issues today for a format that’s so in your face (which if done properly can be breathtakingly effective) is the fact that so many people have been conditioned to be constantly analyzing every word for something to be offended by instead of letting comedy hijack reality and use the end product to shove the image of how utterly ridiculous some folks appear when they are intentionally misleading others by hiding reality. Sorry for being wordy, but there was so much of that area where folks like myself could really shovel prejudices back into the face of those that carried them and this show did an amazing job of just that. But I feel that many folks have been pulled away from having the observational depth and will only be offended by the superficial aspect of the content instead of allowing themselves the freedom to laugh at how truly ridiculous and foolish some one like “Archie” appears to most all of us.

[@kellycrook543]

I really wish people were the way they were back in the day. STOP TAKING EVERYTHING SO PERSONAL!!!!!!

[@gordforbes417]

I grew up with this show. It taught me how to laugh at fools.

[@transistorradiorecords3661]

Not every show was "racist material". Watch "a sock and a sock and a shoe and a shoe." Funniest episode ever cuz Archie and Meathead were actually arguing over how to put socks and shoes on. I liked All in the Family, still do. Brilliant writing that got people talking, and people are still talking like this channel. I can say all this cuz I am a white soul singer. 😂🤣

[@williammorris3815]

After the tumultuous 1960’s civil rights movement the show provided the opportunity for viewers to interact, talk and learn about wrong stereotypes and prejudices. The show through comedy, united people of different races, cultures and backgrounds. It was actually a catalyst to open dialogue. It seems these days things are worse and I don’t know why?

[@michaelstevens4999]

Carol O'Connor, who played Archie Bunker, was the exact opposite in real life, very liberal. The show was meant to point out the inherent stupidity of racism

[@wordup897]

Very liberal by 1970s standards. Today's liberals have lost their minds.

[@ViralTuber]

It was cutting edge over-the-line then too. The difference is that the audience has become super duper soft. Both eras of people (then and now) were shocked by this material. It's just that one era melts in cringe reaction, the other era laughed and rolled with it. One era allowed free speech, the other era seeks to outlaw free speech.

[@MaRoach7]

George and Archie were 2 peas in a pod. The 70's had the greatest sitcoms ever

[@martycallmer9865]

you're right because George was always picking on his white neighbor and I laughed you three laughter too

[@JohnNewkirk1]

Norman Lear was a genius! This show was purposely meant to put a mirror up to America and show how ridiculous bigotry really is. From an article about NL regarding "All In The Family": And so, with Carroll O’Connor as the racist Archie, Jean Stapleton as his naive wife Edith, Sally Struthers as their daughter Gloria and Reiner as their Polish-American son-in-law, All in the Family, taped before an audience of about 250 in Hollywood, debuted at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1971. It began with this disclaimer: “The program you are about to see is All in the Family. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show - in a mature fashion - just how absurd they are.”

[@impudentdomain]

They balanced it out when they created the character George Jefferson who was basically a black Archie Bunker

[@henryandlindapazos9465]

Props to you guys for reacting and your senses of humor. When this first came out, I was a huge Mike Stivek fan and loved it when he made Archie (and a lot of America) look like fools. I am so happy we’ve made a “little” progress since then and this should always serve as a stark reminder of those “cavemen”.

[@tonyaristide2582]

Grew up watching this show . Carroll O Conner was very liberal but he was great playing the Archie Bunkers of the world . These were the conversations happening in the 70s households with the WW2 and the Vietnam eras. The Vietnam episode was heavy.

[@DeniseThomson-d1p]

I grew up in the 70's ,instead of ignorant we were maybe nieve.

[@LuvTadnDixie]

The guy on right covering his face in amazement has me in stitches. I thought for sure he was going to spit his drink out when he was laughing.

[@johnlong9534]

Norman Lear was a genius. This was his way of exposing racism and how stupid it was. Everyone of every race watched and enjoyed this show.

[@jonnaking3054]

I grew up watching this in reruns in the 80s. This was one of the most controversial shows of it's time

[@juliemaven212]

BACK THEN WE WASNT TO TOUCHY LIKE THEY ARE TODAY, PEOPLE TODAY COULDNT HANDLE HEARING THOSE TEARMS THEY WOULD BE READY TO TEAR THINGS UP ALSO BACK THEN WE DIDNT HAVE A LOT OF CHANNELS TO PICK FROM , EVEN THO ARCHIE WAS THE WAY HE WAS THE SHOW WAS STILL FUNNY AND BY THE WAY IM BLACK AND 64 AND A WOMEN AND I CAN STILL LOOK AT THE SHOW TOADY AND GET A GOOD LAUGH, HE WAS JUST SAYING WHAT ALOT OF AMERICA WAS THING HE JUST SAID THEM OUT LOUD.

[@movieman9100]

Archie Bunker, Fred Sanford, George Jefferson were more honest and likable than most pf today's celebrities.

[@curestruck]

You’d have to watch when the Jefferson came in… tit for tat

[@spress7254]

I'd recommend watching All In The Family in the first 5 year. It was made in the 70s and it was groundbreaking. BTW as far Archie getting punched in the face thing, in the show he fought in Italy and was awarded the Pruple Heart during WWII. He was racist for sure but he was more ignorant than racist. Times have changed for sure.

[@lisannebaumholz5028]

I thought you posted this because the show's creator, Norman Lear, just died at 101. But you seem to be oblivious to this, which I find incredible. All in the Family, its spin-offs and many other groundbreaking network sitcoms came about because of Norman Lear! Great actors, yes, but they wouldn't even have been involved in these shows without Lear.

[@daren7889]

Baby Boomer here! I really enjoy listening to how you three gentlemen take turns, don't interrupt each other and listen ! You actually RESPECT the other two . 🤗🥰🤗🇩🇪🇨🇭🇺🇲💙🌊💙🌊

[@Ssoftnsweet71]

Hello, I just came across your channel. All in the family is still showing on different apps like free vee which is part of Amazon prime. This app shows movies many shows from that era.

[@danbarrasso2253]

This is arguably the greatest sit-com ever. But you have to watch to determine if you think so or not. As far as Archie being a bigot, the reason behind that was, they were trying to show people how stupid they appear if they act that way.

[@Trep-k1z]

Norman Lear was brilliant he did this just for that to show how stupid racism is ..jeffersons n Sanford n son did exactly that from different perspectives..mission accomplished with your reaction

[@gigi64tx7]

When I was a kid my grandma told me that she never knew how ignorant she was or how stupid she sounded until she heard Archie Bunker. She was of his generation and she and my mom had conversations exactly like Mike and Archie until grandma saw AITF and it really did change her.

[@mick976]

All in the family taught us not to be an "Archie bunker type"

[@phw6526]

I grew up in the 70s, white suburbs of Chicago near the airport, my Dad would watch all in the family, Sanford and sons, good times, and the Jefferson’s.. he would say, real entertainment; speaking about the “true” point of view the show’s subject matters.. this was all good family entertainment.. !! And somehow society pussied up and went cancel culture and woke.. people choose to be racist! Or have prejudice in some way.. the content was funny, as well as educational, as well as family oriented!!! Great job guys!!!

[@DeniseThomson-d1p]

George and Lionel Jefferson Archie were my favorite.

[@dlondon1144]

"All in the Family" was so popular because it was extremely edgy - even for the 70's. I remember watching this when I was just a kid in small-town Montana, and thinking that it was a bit too much - and this was before the re-runs. If you tried running this now, the woke SJW's would come out of the woodwork and completely shut your network down. Archie Bunker was an unadulterated bigot with very few redeeming qualities. He hated blacks, Jews, Catholics, atheists, and even his own son-in-law, who was Polish and unemployed. I only watched infrequently, but the one that sticks in my memory most was when he was invited to join the "Kweens Kouncil of Krusaders" -- guess who that was! I am aware that as the show evolved, the tried to paint Archie in a more favorable light but his irascible, bigoted personality was still there -- even if it was hiding just below the surface. There is simply no way any network could run this show today without huge backlash. And, despite my extreme disagreement with everything that Bunker stood for, I am saddened by the fact that there is no such thing as free speech in America anymore. I will grant that a key part of the show was aimed at ridiculing Archie's attitude but in many ways it helped to perpetuate division. In short - I wasn't fond of it then and am not interested in watching it now. But I hope they keep the tapes for researches in the future to discover just how ugly bigotry is and how pervasive it was 50 years ago.

[@lonlevinholler74]

Here we are in 2024 and Rob Reiner is still a meathead.