A Review of "All in the Family," the Classic CBS Sitcom

Being among television's funniest shows is not only an incredible feat, it is one which is truly accomplished by few series. One of these shows that has long been known for begin a member of this elite group of television shows is All in the Family, a Norman Lear production. The show won scores of awards, including Emmy's, and was a #1 hit for CBS during the heart of the 1970s. Running from 1971 to 1979, All in the Family first appeared on television at a time when the nation was embroiled in the Nixon White House and the Viet Nam war and signed off at a time when the United States was poising itself to elect Ronald Reagan and boldly march into the 1980s. Why is this social perspective important? Because All in the Family ingeniously intertwined all the pressing issues of the days into an ingenious, remarkably comical, and thought-provoking nine seasons of episodes that still resonate with their viewers today.

All in the Family tackled all the tough, hot issues of the day: feminism, racism, discrimination, Viet Nam, Watergate, inflation, the rise of computers, the fall of traditions. Furthermore, All in the Family still hits home with timeless matters: cancer, rape, miscarriage, crime, justice, death, birth, and life. Each and every episode included remarkable comic timing, an-often-no-holds-barred handling of some pretty difficult topics, and impeccable chemistry among the four main actors: Carroll O' Connor (Archie "Archibald" Bunker), Jean Stapleton (Edith "Dingbat" Bunker), Rob Reiner (Michael "Meathead" Stivic), and Sally Struthers (Gloria "Little Goil [girl]" Stivic).