All In The Family broke ground at a pivotal moment in American history. The civil rights movement was in full swing, and equality of race, creed and sex had become dinner table issues. Arriving on the back of the Vietnam war and a chasm-sized generation gap between parents and progressive kids, the show said out loud what everyone was thinking.
Whether Liberal or Conservative, white or black, Theist or Atheist, All In The Family has done more to push dialogue than any other sitcom in history. That being said, here’s 5 ways the show has aged well over the years, and 5 ways it has dwindled.
AGED WELL: THE COMEDY
First-time All In The Family viewers will undoubtedly be shocked at just how open and unapologetic the comedy is. Racial stereotypes, slurs directed against sexes and sexual orientations, and bare-knuckle political pit-fights are par for the course. Amidst all this outrageous content is some of the best comedy ever committed to television, thanks largely to its characters.
NOT AGED WELL: THE DELIVERY
Through no fault of its own, All In The Family would have serious trouble flying in today’s ultra-politically correct world. As attempts to shut down open dialogue and discussion continue unabated, America becomes more divided and tribal in nature. All In The Family recognized the danger of such a social climate, and dragged important issues into the spotlight, kicking and screaming all the way.
AGED WELL: THE THEMES
All In The Family’s core values are still there, and none of them are locked in a specific decade. The show focuses on doing the right thing unto your fellow neighbor, regardless of who they are, and each story attempted to drive that point home a little more.
NOT AGED WELL: THE POLITICAL CLIMATE
Politics can change in the blink of an eye, and the political climate of the 1970s is a vastly different beast than the one we’ve seen in the last 30 years. While progressive ideals were at the forefront of the show’s message, they have been corrupted in recent years by a tribal mindset that has given rise to radicalism.
AGED WELL: ARCHIE BUNKER
It never gets old watching Archie Bunker provide a human platform for many important topics. He’s the canvas upon which the writers worked with to explore an issue, dissect it from both sides, and come to some sort of conclusion.
NOT AGED WELL: CERTAIN JOKES
The show was developed for a very different (some would say more innocent) audience, and that means some of the jokes in the show can be a bit cringe-worthy. For all their corniness, they are each a window into what life was like the in 1970s, and how people saw the world.
AGED WELL: THE PERFORMANCES
With so much raw emotion thrown into practically every episode, it’s a wonder the stars didn’t suffer exhaustion. A never-ending cascade of screaming matches, physical comedy and rapid-fire lines means that timing is key, above all else.
NOT AGED WELL: MIKE STIVIC
The “Meathead” was intended to be the polar opposite voice of reason in contrast to Archie Bunker’s ignorant ways. However, the character hasn’t aged well over the years. Some of Mike’s progressive beliefs have turned out to be wrong, as was the handling of his character arc.
