I absolutely agree.   I think unless you lived through that era, you couldn't appreciate the impact of this really brave show.  They always pushed the envelope and it was always wildly debated in the media. 

No one was used to hearing any thruth on tv.

AAAAAAWWWWWCHEEEEEEEEEE!

I totally agree I both loved and hated that show because of the issues it showed. Loved it because it pointed things out in a hilarious way and hated it because it showed some horrible truths about our society at the time.

I look back at them and realize what an enormous risk the creators took to hold a mirror up to us all.

I can still laugh at the reruns but I am even more offended now.That was really putting your professional life on the line.

Apparently, Caroll O'Connor was a very conciensious and socially literate guy -- about the opposite of Archie.

Such a good show ..... think of Archie and Edith singing this .......

Boy the way Glen Miller played
Songs that made the hit parade.
Guys like us we had it made,
Those were the days.

And you knew who you were then,
Girls were girls and men were men,
Mister we could use a man
Like Herbert Hoover again.

Didn't need no welfare state,
Everybody pulled his weight.
Gee our old LaSalle ran great.
Those were the days.

Myst - I could never figure out the second last line of that song.  Thank you for printing it out.

It one of my favourite (all time) shows.  I loved Archie and Edith (especially Edith).  And Lionel - the next door neighbour.   I thought Gloria was a bit of an airhead - and a spoiled brat that needed to grow up - and that Mike could be a bit more respectful of his elders.  But they needed them to give some tension to the show.

Even the other characters - the neighbours, Edith's relatives, Archie's buddy Stretch Cunningham seemed like real people.

seeler. Lasalle was the name of a car, I think.

I remember it a bit from the first time around.  I remember watching it as reruns a few years ago and my mouth gaping open!  It was a fun show, and would even be better now with a discussion group afterwards!

My grandparents loved it, and I was never sure how they related to the stuff I was shocked at.  And I am easygoing about some stuff, and see it in the context it was in. 

We often sling "Meathead" at the kids when they are being goofy.

I am like you Birthstone. Did they laugh because it was funny ( and it was ) or did they laugh because they agreed with what was being said?

And yet as you say, crazy, I think it really was a show for a particular point in time.  Not as funny seen through 21st century eyes. 

I've noticed the same about MASH, just really isn'y funny anymore.

Today it refuses to let me post a picture.  Oh well, here is a link to a LaSalle.

 http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1930-1939/1939-LaSalle-Convertible-maroon-fa-nf.jpg

IT

Russ

Thanks Russ. Wouldn't you love to own one today?

Re: Mash and AITF, Russ -- I agree it's hard to watch with 21 cent. sensibilities.  There's still a lot of racism, sexism and few other 'isms" revealed in the scripts, isn't there?  At the time, it was edgy.

The LaSalle is beauty. I'll have to find an image of it with the top down.  I like the design.

It could be retrofitted to run on electricity for just around $250k.lol

ninja

Somehow I think if you approached it with a pair of cutters, they would string you up by your toes.

IT

Russ

it may not be really funny anymore, but it is still meaningful.  Funny is sometimes just shock we don't know what to do with.  Now, we've heard the racist, sexist stuff and know what to do with it.  I think watching Archie Bunker now is more like a time capsule and we should have a bit of reverence for battles fought and distance gained, even while we giggle.

Even though I, personally, find some of these earlier shows painfully not funny, I absolutely defend the right of others to see them and draw their own conclusions. 

I wouldn't change a thing. 

There are few shows on television, particularly in the comedy genre, that can match what was happening in the 70's - WKRP, MASH and All in the Family - all used humour to make people confront real issues.  Even sci fi shows like Star Trek and the Twilight Zone were tackling the subjects in innovative ways.

I miss those days, I really do.  It was a time when television wasn't afraid to take on the political or offending the power brokers of corporate, religion and government.  IMHO television has dumbed down, there are very few shows that could claim to be innovative, witty and provocative.

Good thing the Web came along.....

LB - probably showing my age

I wish there were a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence. There's a knob called "brightness," but that doesn't work.      Author Unknown
 

ninja

I was referring to your comment about electrifying the LaSalle 

IT

Russ

Hahahahhaaa

Could work either way.

Apologies for the slander.

ninja

Slander, take a lot more than that

IT

Russ

LB - that was brilliant!!! I'm gonna paint that on my living room wall

Birthstone, only us old timers would know what it meant....

Knob?  What knob?  What are ya talkin' about ya crazy old woman?

LB - whose dog ate - and I literally mean ate - the fancy ExpressVu PVR remote the other night.  It was a sad sight seeing it's motherboard lying half chewed upon the floor, and even worse, now when the dog wags its tail the channel changes!

who ya callin' old???  My dad was just cheap and kept the old tv around a long long time.  Ok, so I'm not that young anymore.   Bah!!!

lol - The dog changes the channel... AHHH  spittin my coffee all over the place!!! My puppies are older now and not chewing much, but we've lost some remotes before. 

Good morning on the Cafe!!!

Politics, schmolotics.  I watched it for the eye candy .... GLORIA.

lol!!! can you say... FLAKE 

And then there was Meathead who has put on many pounds over the years ( Rob Reiner)

I can say 'flake' but only in French .  And, she still has a good smile.

Fier d'etre un flocon! 

 She was fun.  A great character.  Now, Edith...  she was a looker!

I have tried to emulate Archie Bunker in my life as much as possible but I just can't find an Edith.

I can't say as I've ever seen the Bunkers or what ever but I love MASH. I find it hallarious. In retrospect I maybe shouldn't because of some of the raceistness in it and such but I can't help it.

Of them all WKRP was my favourite and the link below my all time favourite episode of any tv show in history - including Trouble with Tribbles - watch and enjoy

LB

As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly    Ed Carlson