ALL IN THE FAMILY

Norman Lear bought the rights to a U.K. television show called “Till Death Do Us Part” about a working class family whose patriarch holds racist and anti-social views. Carroll O’Conner read a story in Variety about the show, and commented to his wife that no one could ever get away with doing the show in the U.S. And so began the story of Archie Bunker and his family, exploring the issues that divided America- racism, sexism, and the war in Vietnam, among others. After the show’s premiere, audiences complained and it was feared that the show would be cancelled after the first season. However, after summer reruns in 1971, viewership began a steady rise and the show became a beloved fixture on television for nine seasons. The theme continued through many spinoffs, including “The Jeffersons,” which ran for 11 seasons. Norman Lear took many experiences of his childhood to the show, including his own father’s nickname for him, “Meathead.”