All in the Family

All in the Family is a popular and acclaimed American situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971 until April 8, 1979, when the final original episode aired. In September 1979, the show was retooled and given a new name, Archie Bunker's Place. With that title, the sitcom lasted another four years, finally ending its run in 1983.

Sample episode: "Sammy's Visit"

Jewish and African American performer Sammy Davis, Jr. loved the show and often pestered Lear to allow him to make a guest appearance. But Lear resisted, feeling that Sammy's appearance playing a character part would upset the continuity of the series. So the writers developed a plot that would allow Davis to play himself in an episode; Archie, low on cash, takes up moonlighting as a taxi driver and he picks Davis up as a fare, but Davis accidentally leaves his briefcase in the cab.

Related Topics:
Jew - African American - Sammy Davis, Jr. - Taxi

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In spite of his bigoted opinions of both Jews and African Americans, Archie can barely contain his excitement as he tells Edith about his encounter and the fact that Davis, himself, would be stopping by later to retrieve his briefcase. He then sternly warns Edith not to mention Davis's glass eye but later slips and asks coffee-sipping Davis "...Do you take cream and sugar in your eye?" while staring into Davis' glass eye.

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In a later exchange between the two, Archie says, "I think that if God had meant for us to be together, he'd have put us together. But look what he done. He put you over in Africa, and put the rest of us in all the white countries," to which Davis responded, "Well, he must've told you where we were because somebody came and got us."

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Finally Munson (who was delivering the briefcase to the Bunkers' house) arrives and, also star struck, asks if he could photograph Davis. Davis agreed on one condition; that Archie be in the photo with him. The two pose for the picture but just as Munson snaps the photo, Davis places a huge kiss on Archie's cheek. A look of confusion mixed with horror replaces the grin on the bigot Archie's face and the studio audience erupts into unconstrained laughter.

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"Sammy's Visit" would later win the episode's director, John Rich, an Emmy Award for Best Directing. It first aired on February 19, 1972.

Related Topics:
Emmy Award - February 19 - 1972

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