Sally Struthers got tired of playing ”fourth banana” to ”Mr. O’Connor” and the rest of the All in the Family cast
Viewers may have been surprised when they tuned in to see Gloria Bunker Stivic on her own in 1982. That’s the year when Sally Struthers’ then-new series Gloria premiered on CBS’ fall lineup. The show picked up where All in the Family left off, with Gloria raising her eight-year-old son Joey. However, there was a big difference in where her show was set. Instead of the familiar dwelling at 704 Hauser Street, Gloria had relocated to suburban Dutchess County, New York, where she worked as a veterinarian’s assistant.
That same year, Sally Struthers discussed the new show and everything that came with it in an interview with The Indianapolis Star. Struthers was thrilled for the opportunity to pave her way with her own TV show, one that would highlight the reality of being a working-class, single mom.
“Gloria will show the evolution of a woman of the 1980s,” she said, describing Gloria as “a woman on her own after always being taken care of.
“When I left All in the Family, I had played every facet of Gloria. Now, three-and-a-half years later, she’s a whole new character.”
That new show would benefit from a format that focused entirely on Gloria. Other characters from All in the Family might be mentioned off-handedly, but none would appear on the show. This was a huge selling point for Struthers, who looked forward to the chance to have her own show without being overshadowed by the likes of Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton.
“It’s so exciting going from fourth banana to your own show,” she said. “It’s like going to Oz.”
When the conversation inevitably touched on her former co-stars, Struthers spoke of the former head of the Bunker household in strangely formal tones. Throughout the interview, she only referred to the actor who played Archie as “Mr. O’Connor.”
Asked if she always spoke of Carroll this way, she said, “Yes, out of respect because he is a most incredible performer. I fear and love God — I respect Mr. O’Connor.”
Gloria ranked 18th in the ratings for the 1982 televizsion series. Despite the promising start, CBS decided not to renew the show for a second season.
