Archie Bunker's Place

THANK YOU TVLAND!

After the huge success of "All In The Family",the spinoff to this series was titled "Archie Bunker's Place",which ran on CBS-TV for four seasons(from 1979-1982). In this installment,the series picks up where one of the most influential series in the history of television left off which to some was not the last we will see of the controversial character Archie Bunker(played by Carroll O'Connor). First off,Archie becomes a widow after his beloved wife Edith passes away and also brings back the last time that fellow actors Jean Stapleton,Sally Struthers,and Rob Reiner would be together in which it was to be the show's final episode,but it wasn't(and this was from the first season of Archie Bunker's Place and the last go round of All In The Family is where this series begins). However,Archie and Edith by the way,adopts a little girl named Stephanie(played by Danielle Brisbois) and after the tragedy of Edith Bunker,Archie leaves his job at the plant,and opens up his own bar in the Queens section of New York(where the setting of the show is shown). Here we get to see a side of Archie Bunker that was never shown before,only this time around that here is a bigot who will see the error of his ways and then all of a sudden repent and Carroll O'Connor pulls this one off brilliantly. Still you may have the same controversial issues that reflect the day,but in all it was a wonderful series that needs to be seen again after two decades sitting on a studio shelf never to be heard from again.

However,TV Land has brought back these classic episodes and what they should have done was after the passing of actor Carroll O'Connor,they should have did a marathon of both "All In The Family",and this series. Let's hope they do.

Archie Bunker ("Carroll O'Connor) moved up in the world by 1979 with this fair follow-up to "All in the Family". He decides to buy the bar down the street that always served as his second home and hilarious situations followed for another 96 episodes over a four-year run from 1979 through 1983. O'Connor though made the transition alone as Jean Stapleton passed away on the show and O'Connor found solace with a young orphan (Danielle Brisebois) who he started to rear as the previous series ended. The comedic timing of O'Connor and Brisebois (an adolescent at the time) was impressive for the most part, but honestly O'Connor thrived on old colleagues like Stapleton, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers much better. Good performers like Anne Meara and old movie character actor Martin Balsam were high-lighted as the series ran its course. Just always lacked the edginess and creativity of its predecessor. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Unfortunately I only saw a few episodes when in it orginially aired and have been watching repeats on TV land. I seriously wonder if Archie Bunker's place was staged before a live audience. The laughter in the series seemed almost forced. In my opinion the only memorable episode is when Archie Bunker visits Reggie Jackson and shows off his hidden racist views. Archie Bunker seems to have mellowed from his previous "All in Family" series and is a mere chuckle than a rip roaring laugh.

I think that Archie Bunker's place was a great sequel to my favorite show, All In The Family. though it wasn't as funny, it still entertained me. I really hope that it will come back to television soon in reruns.

"Archie Bunker's Place" is a TV series that probably never should have been made. It's a strange, neutered version of "All in the Family" with almost all of the edge and political message stripped away. What you have, essentially, is a nicer, more grandfatherly Archie supporting a show of mostly uninteresting characters...all set to an invasive and unwelcome laugh track.

Early in the series, they killed off Edith...as Jean Stapleton was apparently tired after nine seasons of the previous series--plus the turn the new show took probably didn't please her. They'd already taken Mike and Gloria and the usual neighbors off the series* and now they replaced them with folks like of Barney Hefner (whose 'I am a big loser since my wife, Blanche, left me' routine wore thin very quickly...and continued throughout most of the series), countless soulless and faceless employees (it was obvious that the producers were trying in vain to find one who would work into the show properly), a cute kid who was simply annoying most of the time and later a niece who is essentially an older version of the unnecessary little girl.

The show limped along for four seasons...which is inexplicable considering the high turnover of many of the characters and insipid scripts. But they weren't all bad. I recall one with Ann Meara struggling with alcoholism and it was exceptional...but the rare exception...and soon Meara was off the show as well!

Overall, this is a bland and mostly inoffensive series...a show you'd NEVER expect from something that used to be "All in the Family".

*With failing ratings, the producers brought back a divorced Gloria to move back in with Archie. Rarely have I seen a series that jumped the shark as many times as this one did!!

UPDATE: Since my review, I've seen quite a few episodes of "Archie Bunker's Place". While I STILL maintain that it's a pale imitation of its predecessor and a real disappointment, the shows are decent time-passers. Mediocre in every way but tolerable if nothing better is on TV.