All in the Family was a groundbreaking and immensely popular American television comedy series that ran from 1971 to 1979. It focused on the blue-collar Bunker family and their friends and neighbors who live in the New York City borough of Queens. The show became famous for its realism in dealing with controversial subjects, such as racial and religious prejudice, women’s liberation, and sexual issues. The series won numerous Emmy Awards.
The Bunker family consisted of the bigoted, loud-mouthed Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor); his kind, scatterbrained wife Edith (Jean Stapleton); their daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers); and Gloria’s husband, Michael Stivic (Rob Reiner), a college student and liberal who clashed with Archie on many subjects. The two women would often step in and try to settle arguments between their husbands. Episodes focused on such previously avoided topics on television as homosexuality, rape, miscarriage, impotence, menopause, and breast cancer. The show also addressed topical political issues, such as affirmative action, Watergate, and the Vietnam War (1957-1975).
“All in the Family” was created by the American producers and directors Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin. It was based on the British television series “Till Death Us Do Part” (1966-1975). Lear created two successful new series from characters who originated in “All in the Family.” They were “Maude” (1972-1978) and “The Jeffersons” (1975-1985). The situation comedy “Archie Bunker’s Place” (1979-1983) was a continuation of “All in the Family,” with episodes about Archie’s adventures running his own tavern.
See also CBS Corporation ; Lear, Norman ; O’Connor, Carroll ; Reiner, Rob ; Television (The 1970’s) .
