Why 'Two's a Crowd' Stands Out as a Favorite Episode
You might think everyone has their favorite episode of "All in the Family," but for the man who created it all, Norman Lear, one stands out: "Two’s a Crowd." Now, picture this: Archie Bunker, that lovable but stubborn blue-collar guy, gets stuck in his bar’s storage room with his son-in-law, Mike Stivic. They’re trapped together overnight, and let me tell you, the sparks fly. As they argue, drink, and eventually open up to each other, we see a side of Archie that most people never get to witness. He talks about his difficult childhood, pouring his heart out to the very man he used to call "Meathead." It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s one of the moments that made this show unforgettable.
Speaking exclusively to Closer Weekly, Norman Lear, now 98 years young, explains why this episode resonated so deeply. "You realized how much they cared for one another despite their disagreements," he says. From the opening scenes of Queens, New York, where the row houses stand as a symbol of working-class life, to the iconic duet of "Those Were the Days" by Archie and Edith, this show gave America a glimpse into the lives of everyday people. It wasn’t just entertainment; it was a reflection of our society.
Revolutionizing Television: Breaking Barriers on 'All in the Family'
When you think about the shows that truly changed television, "All in the Family" has to be at the top of the list. It premiered 50 years ago, back in 1971, and ran for nine groundbreaking seasons. The show was more than just entertainment; it tackled real-life issues like war, racism, women’s liberation, and even homosexuality. Sally Struthers, who played Gloria, recalls the show’s impact: "On 'All in the Family,' you actually heard a toilet flush! All of that didn’t go on a family television show before. We opened up Pandora’s box." It wasn’t just about the issues they discussed; it was about the way they discussed them. They didn’t shy away from uncomfortable topics—they embraced them.
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Norman Lear, the mastermind behind the show, drew inspiration from his own life. Growing up in a Jewish household in Connecticut, he loosely based the Bunkers on his parents. He remembers his father telling his mother to "Stifle it," which became one of Archie’s famous lines. But it was Carroll O’Connor who truly brought Archie to life. "I had the ladder, and he climbed it," Norman says. "When he sat down and read it, I said, 'Oh my God, that’s Archie.'" Carroll wasn’t just a character actor; he was a legend.
When Rob Reiner was cast as Mike Stivic, Sally Struthers auditioned for the role of Gloria. She walked into the room knowing that Rob’s real-life girlfriend, Penny Marshall, was also auditioning. "Of course, he was going to have a rhythm and comfort with Penny," Sally recalls. "I thought I didn’t stand a chance!" But she approached the audition with fearlessness and ended up landing the role. That’s showbiz for you.
The Magical Mix: Chemistry Among the Cast
The chemistry between the four main actors was nothing short of magical. Sally describes it as a mix of different backgrounds coming together to create something special. "We all came from different places," she explains. "Carroll was Irish-Catholic, raised in New York, very well-educated; Rob, from Beverly Hills, with a famous father, rich, Jewish kid; Jean Stapleton, Christian Scientist raised by a single, opera singer mother in New York; and me, from the Pacific Northwest, where the men are men and the sheep are damp! But we all brought something to the table." It wasn’t just about their differences; it was about how they complemented each other. They were a family on and off the screen.
