Few sitcoms have been as dominant throughout the history of television as All in the Family was. Created by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin way back in 1971, All in the Family ran for nine years before it eventually spun off into Archie Bunker’s Place.
But in those nine years, few shows were as challenging to the audiences of the 1970s as All in the Family was. (Perhaps only M*A*S*H came close!) Over the seasons, there were a plethora of iconic episodes for the Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton led show. “Edith’s Problem” from season two still sticks out in the memories of many.
Changing Television Forever
As one of the most game-changing shows of its time, All in the Family was constantly pushing the envelope on television by concocting story lines that were never done before. Many of the plot lines of the show were about topics that were widely-regarded as taboo! But the show was not afraid to engage with them.
“Edith’s Problem” is all about Edith Bunker going through the early stages of menopause. It was a big deal to see the topic out in the open on television, as menopause was kept hush hush in the public eye. But All in the Family took a sledgehammer to that social barrier and the episode will live on forever because of it.
Topping Menopause?
Likewise, “Edith’s Problem” was so influential for how it dealt with the topic of menopause in an open manner that few shows have ever dared to tread the ground covered by the installment. It remains television’s best ever menopause episode.
It is such an iconic installment of the show that many comedy writers have explored the richness in the other taboo topics broken open by All in the Family. They tend to leave menopause alone, though, because this episode is pitch perfect. Lucy and Ricky may have slept in two different beds, but two decades later, Archie and Edith had no qualms about their relationship.
Welcome Donald Duck
The menopause experienced by Edith comes at an unfortunate time for the Bunkers, as they were preparing for a vacation to Walt Disney World. Of course, it would never be so easy for the Bunkers to get what they’re aiming for.
To prepare for the trip, Archie procured a blue t-shirt that was labeled as being from Disney World. The shirt was accompanied with an autograph from who else but Donald Duck, too! However, the shirt is not seen in this episode. Eagle-eyed viewers will be able to catch its appearances in later installments, however.
Walt Disney World’s Timing
What is particularly interesting about the Disney World connections in “Edith’s Problem” is how close the timing was of the two monumental aspects of American culture. (“Edith’s Problem” changed sitcom taboos just as much as Disney World changed the theme park culture.)
The episode first aired back on January 8, 1972. This means that Archie and Edith were preparing to visit Disney World just over three months after the Magic Kingdom first opened. The Orlando location opened its gates on October 1, 1971. Timing is everything as the world approaches the fiftieth anniversary of both landmarks.
Stifle And Change
Many of the most quoted lines from All in the Family consisted of just one word, as was the efficiently-speaking way of Archie Bunker. However, two of these one-word catchalls come from this episode, “Edith’s Problem”!
With the mood changes of menopause, Archie becomes extremely frustrated and explodes at Edith, “Change, Edith, change! Right now! Change!” Of course, Edith has her own snapping when Archie tries to calm her down and she roars, “Stifle!” at her husband. “Change” and “stifle” remain two of the most quoted one-word lines from the show and they came from the same episode!
Immense Popularity
Part of the reason why it was so remarkable that All in the Family was regarding such taboo topics was because of how widely watched the show actually was at the time. “Edith’s Problem” helped contribute to the number one spot that All in the Family occupied in the network ratings.
Airing during season two, “Edith’s Problem” was one of the most watched installments of the year for CBS. That year, All in the Family finished first in the ratings, a spot they would occupy all the way through season six. Season two also netted them a 34.0 rating, the show’s highest ever for a single season. Thanks, “Edith’s Problem.”
Free To Watch!
It has been almost fifty years since “Edith’s Problem” first aired. In the age of shows like Friends and The Office becoming popular binge watches on Netflix, All in the Family has not seen such a resurgence. Therefore, not too many television fans have seen the show, never mind just this one episode.
Fortunately, the barrier for entry to the classic sitcom is non-existent. The fourteenth episode of season two is available to watch on Dailymotion. It’s certainly worth a viewing if one has not seen one of television’s all-time greats.
Directed By John Rich
With an episode as monumental and high quality as “Edith’s Problem,” there is no doubting that the pedigree behind it would be of an immensely high caliber. That is obvious right from the realization that it was directed by John Rich, a close collaborator of Norman Lear’s (pictured above).
Rich is one of television’s best journeyman directors in history. He has credits far beyond All in the Family, for which he won two Emmys in his time. He also directed episodes of shows like Good Times, The Jeffersons, The Brady Bunch, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bonanza, Gilligan’s Island, and more. A decade and a half prior to “Edith’s Problem” and its Disney connections, Rich also appeared at Disneyland’s 1955 opening day!
Jean Stapleton’s Emmy Win
Over the years, Jean Stapleton was asked to do a lot with the character of Edith Bunker and her acting prowess was called into action multiple times. Many of her stories were a lot more taboo than menopause, as well!
Over the years, she earned eight nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy at the Emmys, winning three times! One of the times she won came at the 24th Emmys, which honored the second season of All in the Family. There’s no denying that “Edith’s Problem” was on the minds of Emmy voters.
An Emmy For Burt Styler, Too
This is also largely true because the episode actually earned an Emmy victory. At the 1972 Emmys, “Edith’s Problem” won the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, on the heels of the screenplay that was penned by Burt Styler. Steve Zacharias earned a trophy for his contributions, as well.
Of course, the competition for “Edith’s Problem” was not quite so contentious. The other two nominees that year were also episodes of All in the Family! “Mike’s Problem” and “The Saga of Cousin Oscar” competed against “Edith’s Problem.” But “Edith’s Problem” pulled ahead of the potential vote splitting.
