Before All in the Family became the cultural touchstone it is today, it faced significant hurdles in its early stages, including failed pilots and casting challenges. The original concept for the show, based on the British series Till Death Do Us Part, was far from an immediate success. The first pilot, titled Justice for All, was filmed in 1968, featuring Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton as Archie and Edith Bunker, but the supporting characters were played by different actors. Kelly Jean Peters and Tim McIntire were cast as the Bunker’s daughter, Gloria, and her husband, Michael, but network executives weren’t pleased with the casting choices for these younger characters. They demanded a second pilot, which was retitled Those Were The Days. Despite having new actors in the roles, this pilot still failed to gain traction.
The project might have stalled there if not for a significant change in casting. When Norman Lear was given a second chance, he found the perfect actors in Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, who would become the central couple in the Bunker family. Reiner was cast as Michael Stivic, affectionately known as “Meathead,” while Struthers played Gloria, the couple’s free-spirited daughter. Lear reflected on this breakthrough casting moment in a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, joking that “the gods wanted me to come across Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers.” Lear emphasized that this final cast, featuring O’Connor, Stapleton, Reiner, and Struthers, was the magic combination the show needed to succeed. Their chemistry transformed All in the Family from a controversial, untested idea into one of the most iconic sitcoms in television history.
Lear’s decision to cast Reiner and Struthers was pivotal, as it gave the show the dynamic, sharp chemistry it needed to tackle complex issues like racism, sexism, and political strife. While O’Connor and Stapleton brought their seasoned experience to the roles of Archie and Edith, Reiner and Struthers provided the youthful energy and idealistic worldview that perfectly counterbalanced the Bunkers’ more conservative values.
This combination worked despite the initial fears of network executives, who were reluctant to air a show with such a politically incorrect lead character. Before the show’s debut, Lear received warnings from industry veterans. Mickey Rooney, for example, was reportedly told by executives, “Norm, they are going to kill you. They are going to shoot you in the streets” after being offered the role of Archie. Despite the significant risks, CBS was ultimately willing to take a chance, and the show became a ratings success, earning widespread acclaim for its raw portrayal of American life during a time of great social upheaval.
All in the Family went on to become a trailblazer in television, setting the stage for future sitcoms to explore controversial topics and challenge social norms. Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers went on to have successful careers beyond the show, with Reiner directing beloved films like Stand by Me and When Harry Met Sally…, while Struthers starred in several other TV hits, including 9 to 5 and Gilmore Girls. Thanks to their performances, All in the Family remains one of the most influential sitcoms ever created.
