Before “All in the Family” became one of television’s most groundbreaking sitcoms, it faced a rocky start with two failed pilot episodes. The first pilot, titled “Justice For All,” was taped three years before the show’s official debut. This early version featured Carol O’Connor and Jean Stapleton as Archie and Edith Bunker, roles they would later immortalize. However, the actors playing their daughter and son-in-law were different: Kelly Jean Peters (“Cagney & Lacey”) and Tim McIntire (“Soap”), who played a character initially named Richard.
In his memoir “I Think I’m Outta Here,” O’Connor revealed that he largely rewrote the original pilot script himself. The pilot was recorded in New York in October 1968, but network executives were unhappy with the casting choices for the younger Bunker family members. As Daniel S. Levy recounted in a TIME Magazine 50th anniversary retrospective, the network requested a second pilot with the same script but a new cast. This second attempt, titled “Those Were The Days,” featured Candice Azzara (“Catch Me If You Can”) and newcomer Chip Oliver as the younger characters. Unfortunately, this version also failed to impress.
It wasn’t until CBS got a new president who offered series creator Norman Lear a 13-week commitment for the first season that “All in the Family” as we know it was born.
The Magic of Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers
In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lear attributed the show’s eventual success to a crucial casting change. “The gods wanted me to come across Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers,” Lear said, referring to the actors who ultimately played Gloria and Michael “Meathead” Stivic. According to Lear, the scripts for the first, second, and third pilots were identical, but it was the casting of Reiner and Struthers that made the difference.
“The first pilot we made was terrific, and it was word-for-word the same as the second and third pilot. I had Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, but I had different young people,” Lear explained. “It was the third time we were asked to make it that I cast Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, and bless the fact that nobody picked up the show before we found them. Because the chemistry of those four people in every direction was magic.”
After nine successful seasons of “All in the Family,” Reiner went on to direct beloved films like “Stand By Me,” “When Harry Met Sally…,” and “The Princess Bride.” Struthers continued her TV career with roles in “9 to 5,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Dinosaurs.”
Controversy and Triumph
“All in the Family” was famously controversial for its portrayal of a racist, sexist, and reactionary patriarch. Despite its bold themes, the show became wildly popular. However, it was initially met with hesitation from network executives. ABC shelved the project after the second pilot, despite spending $250,000, due to fears of backlash. Actor Mickey Rooney, who was offered the role of Archie, once told Lear, “Norm, they are going to kill you. They are going to shoot you in the streets.”
Lear recalled that the network’s fear, rather than the show’s humor, was the main obstacle. “They peed in their pants. But they were afraid,” he told People (per Yahoo). By 1972, CBS was ready to take the risk, and it paid off spectacularly. “All in the Family” remains one of the most influential TV shows of all time, celebrated for its bold commentary on social issues and its dynamic comedic cast.
Legacy
The journey of “All in the Family” from failed pilots to television icon underscores the importance of casting and timing in the success of a show. The chemistry between O’Connor, Stapleton, Reiner, and Struthers created a magic that resonated with audiences and broke new ground in television history. Today, “All in the Family” is remembered not only for its humor but also for its fearless approach to addressing social issues, making it a timeless classic.
