All In The Family Facts That Would Make Even Archie Bunker Blush

From 1971 to 1979, people across America couldn’t wait to watch All in the Family every week. Created by the late, great comedy legend Norman Lear, who died in December 2023, the show kept audiences laughing by making sure the loud-mouthed, prejudiced Archie Bunker always got his comeuppance. But while a willingness to address serious social issues put All in the Family in the national spotlight, these behind-the-scenes decisions were what helped the show swim — and nearly caused it to sink.

1. The show was 'basically' cancelled twice

Before All in the Family became a TV classic, it had humble beginnings. Originally, the show was going to be aired on ABC — not CBS. But while the production company created a pilot episode, executives at ABC didn’t like it. Producers took another crack at that first episode, but the execs still weren’t happy. Eventually, the rights to All in the Family were sold to CBS.

2. It aired because of the Rural Purge

Archie Bunker only made it to air when the new CBS president decided he wanted more socially relevant programming. Attempting to attract younger viewers, Robert Wood axed several comedies, including Petticoat Junction and Green Acres, to make way for shows such as All in the Family. This became known as the Rural Purge.

3. All in the Family was based on another show

The idea for All in the Family wasn’t pulled out of a hat. Back in the 1960s, Norman Lear was heavily influenced by the BBC comedy Till Death Us Do Part. The British sitcom revolved around a prejudiced man who freely shared his views with his family. Sound familiar at all?

4. Execs worked through a few different names

That first pilot created for ABC? It was not called All in the Family. The show was originally dubbed Justice For All, which sounds more like a courtroom drama than a sitcom. ABC’s second attempt? Those Were The Days. Finally, when CBS bought the show, it was given its iconic name — and the rest is history.

5. Archie had another name, too

In the original pilot, Archie Bunker wasn’t actually Archie Bunker. He was “Archie Justice” and even had his last name printed on his door mat. The showrunners may have gone with this as a kind of play on his bigoted ways, but perhaps it was too on the nose. Thankfully, in the next version of the pilot, Archie’s last name was changed.

6. The theme song had legendary creators

All in the Family’s famous theme song wasn’t created by just any studio schmuck, either! Lyricist Lee Adams and composer Charles Strouse worked together to engineer the tune every U.S. household would be humming. And the pair had quite some pedigree, as they also composed for the well-known musicals Bye Bye Birdie and Annie.

7 ...and it was almost totally different

Still, Adams and Strouse almost never gave us the version of the theme song we know today. Producers couldn’t find the money for an orchestral rendition of “Those Were the Days,” and they only brought in Carroll O’Connor — who played Archie — and Jean Stapleton — who played Edith — to sing an off-key rendition as a last resort.

8. O’Connor had a good payday from the closing theme

O’Connor also played a part in All in the Family’s closing theme tune, and this proved to be surprisingly lucrative. The actor received royalties and a co-writer credit for the song “Remembering You.” This was despite the fact that the lyrics he penned never ended up being used on the show!

9. O’Connor brought an interesting skillset to Archie

Casting for the show proved to be quite the adventure, but showrunners certainly got the right man for Archie Bunker — the blue-collar, cigar-smoking family man who always knew the wrong thing to say. As a liberal, O’Connor may have seemed an odd fit for the role, but his strong acting abilities helped him make Archie entertaining.

10. But he almost didn’t get the part

In the beginning, Norman Lear wanted someone else to play Archie: Mickey Rooney! After learning about the role, however, Rooney was rumored to have been uncomfortable. He agreed with critics that Archie was controversial — too controversial. Basically, he didn’t want to play the man at all — and who can blame him?

11. It took time to find Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers

It took All in the Family a while to find the right actors for its liberal characters. Before Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers were ultimately cast as Michael and Gloria, respectively, executives tried out two other pairs: Kelly Jean Peter and Tim MacIntire, and Candy Azzara and Chip Oliver.

12. Rob Reiner’s wife almost landed a part

On another interesting note, Penny Marshall — the wife of Rob Reiner — almost earned the role of Gloria. But Sally Struthers and Carroll O’Connor shared a familial likeness that executives appreciated. No one should feel too badly for Marshall, either, as she later landed a lead role in Laverne and Shirley.

13. Producers wanted Harrison Ford for the show

It’s hard to think of anyone besides Rob Reiner playing Polish-American hippie Michael, but studio executives had a few additional casting choices in mind for the role. Norman Lear even tried his best to lure Harrison Ford to the project! The future Han Solo found Archie Bunker too offensive, however, and declined.

14. All in the Family broke production ground

As shows in the ’70s started using laugh tracks, Norman Lear adamantly defended filming in front of actual people and refused to pump fake chuckles in. He was so proud of this, in fact, that every episode of All in the Family bore the end note: “All in the Family was recorded on tape before a live studio audience.”

15. CBS worried about the first episode

Before the All in the Family pilot finally aired, CBS was terrified of the potentially offensive material Lear was about to deliver by way of Archie Bunker. So, network executives ordered a huge team of operators to man the phone lines when the episode aired — expecting the viewer complaints to come flooding in.

16. The network knew Archie was controversial

And when the show finally aired, did the phones ring off the hook with viewers livid about Archie’s bigotry being broadcast on primetime TV? No. Almost no one called to complain. Maybe that was because CBS added in a disclaimer at the start of the pilot; maybe it was because audiences were unfazed.

17. People did call about the theme song

But while CBS worried audiences would be unsettled by the show’s topics, it was another matter entirely that caused the phones to ring. In a nutshell, some viewers had a hard time comprehending the last lines of the opening theme song. Calls about the muffled lyrics became so frequent, in fact, that showrunners had to re-record the song.

18. Two “Archieisms” were derived from Lear’s real family

Lear used his own family experiences as the basis for much of the show. In fact, two of Archie’s most famous quips were first uttered by his parents. His father would often tell his mother to “stifle herself.” She would then retaliate by saying, “You are the laziest white man I ever saw.”

19. Archie was misunderstood by a lot of people

The big reason Lear made the show was the anticipation that Archie was always going to be in the wrong. In every episode, someone would correct him or reprimand him — or tried to, anyway. And when fans grew to love Archie so much that they called for him to be president, Lear couldn’t help but feel as though they had missed the show’s point.

20. Rob Reiner’s hair almost cost him a job

During the first season of All in the Family, Rob Reiner started to get on the bad side of the writers and producers. But it wasn’t due to contractual demands or anything like that. Instead, Reiner’s hairline was receding — which didn’t make him look like a hip young guy. To fix the problem, the producers handed him a hairpiece.

21. Commercial breaks infuriated Norman Lear

Commercial time increased in the 1970s, meaning each episode of All in the Family lost about three additional minutes to ads. And Lear couldn’t stand this. Citing his show’s decreased run-time as a reason, Lear offered to pay CBS to give up these extra commercial spots. Unfortunately for him, his offer was ultimately denied.

22. The show created storytelling tropes

Lear also created “the bottle episode" — a term used for a TV episode that takes place all on one or two sets, or “trapped in a bottle.” We saw this for the first time in the episode “Two’s a Crowd,” when Archie and Michael get stuck in a bar’s storeroom. And, obviously, the limited set pieces saved production a ton of money.

23. Still, Lear was influenced by a lot of other media

Lear was influenced by the greats of cinema, too. In the All in the Family episode “Everybody Tells the Truth,” the creator drew inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon. Both stories feature flashbacks to offer different viewpoints of a single incident — although Rashomon is a drama rather than a comedy.

24. One of its actors quit the show from boredom

The Bunkers’ far more liberal next-door neighbors Frank and Irene Lorenzo were originally intended to be long-running characters. But while Betty Garrett played Irene until 1975, Vincent Gardenia only appeared as Frank for one season. The actor quit the show in its infancy — apparently because he found his character boring.

25. O’Connor held up production

As All in the Family steamrolled through successful season after successful season, Carroll O’Connor demanded a new contract. He wanted 12 weeks of vacation time with a 24-week work schedule, even going on strike to get his wish. When some of his demands were met, he finally returned — which is just as well, as the show wouldn't be the same without him.

26. He also wanted flight money before accepting the role

And O’Connor had taken some persuading to accept the role in the first place. Based in Italy at the time, the actor had wanted reassurance that his flight home would be paid for if All in the Family stalled at the pilot stage. But as we all now know, producers never needed to take out their wallets.

27. It addressed a ton of social issues

Only a couple of years after the Stonewall riots propelled gay rights into the social consciousness, All in the Family introduced a gay character — making it the first TV sitcom to do so. In the episode, the word “gay” is never said once, but Michael and Gloria’s flamboyant friend still makes Archie flustered and uncomfortable.

28. But a baby caused a big outcry

CBS worried that many elements of the show would be offensive to viewers, but executives probably didn’t expect what would set audiences off the most. In an episode where Gloria delivers a baby, the camera briefly catches the nude newborn. That short glimpse of bare skin left mouths agape — and complaints rolling in.

29. Edith gave a voice to new kinds of stories

Writer Ben Styler won an Emmy for “Edith’s Problem,” an episode in which the family matriarch accepts that she will go through menopause. Frustrated and anxious, Edith unleashed on her husband, who always gave it back to her in hefty supply. It was one of the many “taboo” topics All in the Family wasn’t afraid to address.

30. But Jean Stapleton almost missed out

In 1971 All in the Family nearly lost Edith Bunker for several episodes — perhaps even a whole season! Jean Stapleton had the opportunity to play the role of Mrs. Teavee in the then-upcoming Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. She decided that she preferred portraying Edith, however, and ultimately declined the role.

31. The show even addressed draft dodging

Along with bringing up menopause and the gay rights movement, the sitcom also threatened to ruffle feathers when talking about the Vietnam War. “The Draft Dodger” put Archie in the middle of the conflict, having him host a Christmas dinner attended by a draft dodger — much to the patriarch’s chagrin. The episode became iconic.

32. O’Connor wanted a ’90s revival

O’Connor wanted to extend All in the Family’s legacy with a brand new series in the early ’90s. The show would focus on Archie’s full-time cab driver job and his topical conversations with passengers. Lear was left unconvinced, however, and instead decided to focus on developing 1994’s 704 Hauser.

33. Sally Struthers decided to sue the show’s producers

Frustrated with her character’s lack of development, Sally Struthers took very drastic measures. The actress, who played Gloria Bunker, sued producers in 1974 so that she could break free from her contract. The tactic worked, and Struthers was given more to do. In the end, she appeared on the show for 157 episodes.

34. Sammy Davis Jr. left an impression

Who was the most famous guest star on this sitcom? That would have been Sammy Davis Jr. When the famous Black entertainer arrived, Archie put his foot in his mouth again and again, which gave the Rat Pack star the chance to fire back. There was even the opportunity to plant a kiss on Archie’s cheek!

35. All in the Family is memorialized in a museum

What happened to the artifacts from All in the Family? Well, the two chairs Archie and Edith always sat in are carefully preserved in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Those two chairs were purchased from a thrift shop prior to the pilot — only to be immortalized by Lear’s sitcom!

36. There were plenty of spinoffs

What was the first All in the Family spinoff? You may think it’s The Jeffersons, but the very first one was the Bea Arthur-led Maude. The complete opposite of her fictional relation, Maude Findlay was the outspoken, liberal cousin of Edith Bunker. And much like the show it came from, Maude wasn’t afraid to tackle some big issues.

37. There’s basically an Archie Bunker extended universe

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe expanded with Iron Man, Captain America, and the Scarlet Witch, Norman Lear created his own television universe. All in the Family put out more spinoffs than any other sitcom: Maude, The Jeffersons, Archie Bunkers Place, Good Times, and more. In fact, there were seven of them altogether!

38. Isabel Sanford was hesitant about The Jeffersons

Isabel Sanford didn’t really have a choice when it came to moving over to work on The Jeffersons. Producers told the actress that they were taking her character, Louise, out of All in the Family whatever she decided to do. So, Sanford had a new cast to get used to — and, naturally, lots more backstage drama!

39. Sanford was 20 years older than Sherman Hemsley

Sanford and Hemsley may have convinced as husband and wife, but the pair were actually two decades apart in real life. Sanford was born in 1917; Hemsley, meanwhile, had entered the world in 1938. But that wasn’t the show’s only notable age difference, as Hemsley was just 11 years older than his on-screen son Mike Evans.

40. Hemsley and Sanford weren’t the best of friends

As with many on-screen couples, there was no love lost off screen between the two main stars of The Jeffersons. Sanford was reportedly disappointed by how unattractive and small her TV husband was. She also allegedly thought him to be overbearing. In return, Hemsley is said to have found Sanford rather full of herself.

41. They also both had on-set nicknames

Sanford also had a less than complimentary nickname for her on-screen husband: “Neck.” According to the actress, that particular bodily feature stood out on Hemsley. Sanford’s The Jeffersons co-stars gave her a nickname, too — although it was far less insulting. Apparently, she was dubbed “The Queen” owing to her natural elegance and regal poise.

42. There was a real-life Weezy

As fans know, Sanford’s character was given a nickname as well. Louise Jefferson was mistakenly called “Weezy” by Hemsley during the filming of one episode, but producers liked it so much that the name stuck. Weezy also happened to be the name of a girl Hemsley had a crush on during his early years in Philadelphia.

43. George Jefferson was written specifically for Hemsley

Sanford may not have been a fan of Hemsley, but Norman Lear certainly was. In fact, the show creator had the actor in mind from the start. And even when Hemsley found himself unavailable in the early stages of filming All in the Family, Lear still fought for him. Instead, a temporary stand-in for Hemsley was hired until the star’s Broadway production had finished its run.

44. Franklin Cover received hate mail from bigoted viewers

Unfortunately, some viewers took offense to Tom and Helen’s marriage. Franklin Cover was even sent abusive messages about the affection that Tom showed his wife. But both the star and the show’s producers refused to let the bigots win, and the series chose to keep pushing the boundaries throughout its 11-season run.

45. Mike Evans was reportedly fired over a pay dispute

The official line was that Mike Evans had given up the role of Lionel after just one season to concentrate on writing Good Times. However, a member of the Maude spinoff’s cast claimed that Evans didn’t jump but was pushed. Jimmie Walker alleged that the actor was ultimately fired by Norman Lear after threatening to quit over a pay rise.

46. Damon Evans regretted playing Lionel

The actor who replaced Mike Evans later admitted that he regretted doing so. Damon Evans — no relation to Mike — spent four years playing Lionel before making way for his predecessor’s return. And he struggled to cope with losing his anonymity. “I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the public’s eye overnight,” he told Keith Boykin in 2007. “Talk about stress and adjustment issues.”

47. Willona from Good Times sings the theme tune

Mike Evans isn’t the only connection that The Jeffersons has with Good Times. Ja’net Dubois — a.k.a. Willona Woods — is the voice behind The Jeffersons’ infectious theme tune. The multi-talented star co-penned the track with Jeff Barry, the hitmaker behind such girl group classics as “Be My Baby” and “Then He Kissed Me.”

48. Hemsley used to deliberately flub his lines

Hemsley often used to mess up his lines while filming — but that was nothing to do with poor memory or lack of preparation. Instead, the actor was frustrated with his character’s use of words such as “honky.” To encourage the scriptwriters to remove such expressions, then, Hemsley deliberately flubbed his dialogue until he got his own way.

49. Cover made a weekly commute from NY to LA

The Jeffersons may have been filmed in Los Angeles, but Franklin Cover wasn’t interested in living in California full-time. Instead, the actor spent weekends at his New York home with his wife and kids. Then he traveled to LA for filming — staying at an apartment there — before commuting back to the Big Apple after that week’s shoots had finished.

50. Marla Gibbs kept her day job for years

If fans of The Jeffersons had booked a United Airlines flight in the mid-1970s, they may have gotten a surprise. Why? Well, Marla Gibbs continued to work as a reservation agent for the company for years after she had started playing housekeeper Florence. The actress only gave up her day job when producers turned her character from an occasional guest into a full-time regular.

51. The show annoyed the Jeffersons’ building’s real-life residents

The luxurious Manhattan building that the Jeffersons moved into was actually Park Lane Towers on 185 East 85th Street. But the real-life residents of the property may not have been fans of the show. Some of the folks who lived in the deluxe condominiums were also reportedly disgruntled about their home being constantly referred to as “The Jefferson Building.”

52. The network tried to edit out the show’s first interracial kiss

Tom and Helen Willis made headlines when they became one of the first interracial couples to ever appear on a TV show. Sadly, though, not everyone behind the scenes was comfortable with their relationship. Numerous CBS execs wanted Tom and Helen’s first kiss to be removed from broadcast. Thankfully, executive producer Fred Silverman stood firm, and the smooch stayed in.

53. Roxie Roker used to bring her future rock star son on set

But Roxie Roker was used to dealing with the prejudice surrounding interracial relationships. That was because the actress was part of one in real life. Roker was married to Sy Kravitz — of Jewish Ukrainian heritage — and the pair had a son together. In fact, the Jeffersons star regularly brought her child — none other than future rock star Lenny Kravitz — to the set of the show.

54. The show went through 15 different time slots

The Jeffersons’ enduring success is all the more impressive when you consider how often CBS bounced it around the schedules. The network changed the show’s time slot an incredible 15 times during its 11-year run. Unfortunately, its final shift — the Tuesday evening slot opposite NBC’s The A-Team — proved to be one change too many.

55. The cast weren’t officially informed about the show’s cancelation

Despite giving CBS one of the network’s most enduring hits, The Jeffersons’ cast weren’t even given a courtesy call about the show’s cancelation. Sherman Hemsley only discovered that he was out of a job after reading a newspaper article, while Isabel Sanford had to be told about the axing by a cousin.

56. The Jeffersons’ own spinoff lasted just four episodes

Unfortunately, The Jeffersons’ very own spinoff didn’t enjoy quite the same level of success as its predecessor. Checking In — which revolved around Florence — ran for only four episodes before being shelved by CBS. But Gibbs wasn’t out of work for long, as Checking In’s immediate failure was followed by Florence’s return to the Jefferson family.

57. The cast later reunited for a stage play

Disappointed by the underwhelming end to their ten years on air, the original cast of The Jeffersons decided to do something about it themselves. So Hemsley, Sanford, and Gibbs reunited in 1993 for a stage play designed to give the show a proper farewell. Taking in several cities, The Best of the Jeffersons was based on three episodes of the sitcom from the early 1980s.