Customer Reviews

All in the Family [VHS]

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4 star:		(1)
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"All In The Family" has got to be one of the best and funniest TV programs ever made. As is usually the case with long-running television series, however, the first few seasons seem to always be better in quality than the later shows. I think AITF falls into this pattern as well. Not that the late '70s programs weren't entertaining, but in my opinion the shows from the early seasons (many of which we find in this 10-Tape VHS boxed set) were the cream of the "Archie Bunker" crop, and absolutely hysterical.

Each videotape in this VHS collection contains three episodes (from various seasons of the series). But these versions, unfortunately, have been edited, with a few minutes cut out of each show. Video and audio quality are pretty decent however. Just don't expect complete, uncut episodes here. For full-length programs, you'll have to get the complete-season DVD sets.

Mr. A. Bunker (played to bigoted perfection by Carroll O'Connor) had more "bite" in the early programs from 1971 to about 1974, before being "softened" more in the latter years of the series. His stinging remarks on virtually any subject you can imagine provided the show's executives with some sweaty palms, no doubt, in those early days of the series. They probably weren't quite sure how the American public was going to react to this opinionated blowhard from Queens. I'm glad, though, that the majority of viewers loved him, instead of hated him.

Then there's Gloria ("Little Girl"), Edith ("Dingbat"), and Mike ("Meathead"). Everybody in this cast was terrific, including the neighbors, "The Jeffersons". An all-around Classic TV show, to be enjoyed again and again.

Trivia from Episode #1 ..... Watch and listen carefully to some of the racy and spicy dialogue (for its day) from this debut episode from January 1971. I can just envision the CBS censors reaching for the suicide pills as this program ran for the first time. Archie, during the debut program, introduces the American television audience to such vivid terms as ..... Spic, Spade, Heeb, and Yid. Listen to the live studio audience literally gasp out loud when Archie uses "Yid" for the first time.

One of my favorite "Archie-isms" occurs in the episode where The Jeffersons move in next door -- Archie, in his usual "subtle" manner, conveys to the family how he feels about the new family on the block: "Well we'll see how great it is when the watermelon rinds come flyin' out the windows!!"

~LOL!~

I've also always enjoyed Archie's sensible and intelligent views on how to solve the problem of all those early-1970s airplane hijackings -- "The solution is very simple," exclaims Mr. Bunker confidently. "You simply arm all your passengers. At the beginning of the trip, just pass out the pistols, and then collect them again at the end of the flight."*

* = Classic Archie Bunker logic. Think the FAA would go along with Archie on this today? :)

Long live Archie Bunker and "All In The Family" in reruns (and on VHS and DVD)!

If you are an All in the Family fan then this pack is for you. You get 10 great videos with 3 episodes each. Plus the best part is their are no commercial interruptions.

Fabulous collection of AITFC series! No comedy series since AITFC can make us laugh, cry, acknowledge our prejudices and deliver such great social commentary. I've watched each episode probably 100 times and I always get a laugh and the best part is -- no commercials!

I enjoyed watching this. It had some of the greats on it. I wish it was longer but all in all it was a good buy.

Wonderful mix of episode from one the best comedy series of the 70's.