Well, one thing for sure is that it was a heck of a lot simpler. I liked All in the Family, but it was a little too serious and a little too political for me.
I liked it back then and iv been watching it on cable and like it now. But you know, I never thought Archie and Edith looked to be late 40's early 50's. They seemed much older. And watching the shows now I still think that. I dont think I have a favorite epesode..
As I understand it this show was a rehash of the BBC show Till Death Us Do Part about cockney bigot who said how much he did not like Jews and immigrants with dark skin but he would readily argue with them in the pub.
Arch was pretty funny. I remember Carroll O'Conner making Jean Stapleton come out of character a little bit by whistling and saying "here's the dingbat" because he did it in such a funny way lol.
I loved it... ARCHIE SPOKE HIS MIND!! (That was before this BS P.C. trash started in this country) Heres one of my favourite episodes! (I have this on VHS) THE ELEVATOR STORY - www.youtube.com/v/aczNerhVvZ0
After 8 years this thread is reborn. So.... When All in the Family came out the Baby Boomers were young and the WWII generation was middle aged. While Archie and Mike weren't typical representatives of their age groups their unending conflict underscored the generation gap of the time. There has always been a generation gap, but back then it was a chasm.