“Archie Bunker couldn’t exist today.” This phrase has been echoing across social media and emails in the wake of “All in the Family” creator Norman Lear’s passing. The character of Archie Bunker, the blunt, bigoted patriarch portrayed by Carroll O’Connor, was undeniably a product of its time, but why exactly do people think he wouldn’t work in today’s world? Depending on one’s political leanings, the reasons differ.
Some conservatives argue that “the woke left” would never allow such a show to air today. On the flip side, many on the left dismiss the idea, thinking “Why bother?” They view Archie’s caricatured bigotry as a symbol of a bygone era that is best left behind. But perhaps now, more than ever, we need an Archie Bunker—someone to help us confront and laugh at the deep-seated divisions that are more apparent than ever.
When Lear introduced Archie to CBS audiences in 1971, he shattered the traditional family sitcom format. Gone were the simplistic, feel-good storylines of previous shows. Instead, “All in the Family” tackled tough, polarizing issues like race, gender, the Vietnam War, and the changing social fabric of America, all through the lens of a cantankerous, politically incorrect working-class man. Archie’s opinions were often steeped in racism, sexism, and ignorance, and yet, they opened the door for critical dialogue on such issues.
Archie’s rants about “long-haired hippies” opposing the war, “coloreds” moving into his neighborhood, and “feminazis” pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable for primetime television. CBS even felt the need to warn viewers, running a disclaimer that said the show “seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns” to demonstrate their absurdity. This blunt approach was not without controversy—on both sides of the political spectrum, people were deeply uncomfortable with what they saw. For some, Archie was a truth-teller, representing the voice of the working-class, while others saw him as a relic of a racist, sexist past that needed to be eradicated.
But “All in the Family” was more than just a vehicle for Archie’s tirades. It was a showcase of the cultural schisms of the time. His son-in-law, Michael (played by Rob Reiner), embodied the growing progressive forces of the ’70s, while Archie’s wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton), acted as the “uninformed” moderate. Meanwhile, the show also brought in characters like Maude (Bea Arthur), a feminist, and George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), Archie’s African-American neighbor, who would school him on his prejudices.
Even President Richard Nixon had mixed feelings about the show, identifying with Archie’s working-class sensibilities, but objecting to the show’s portrayal of gay characters as “handsome” and “glorifying homosexuality.” This blend of humor, cultural critique, and social commentary was one of the show’s greatest achievements.
So why does it feel like we need “All in the Family” or something like it today? The media landscape now is fragmented, where every issue is debated in echo chambers. Whether it’s social media, cable news, or partisan podcasts, the national conversation seems broken. The idea of a shared space where Americans can engage in the kind of dialogue “All in the Family” offered seems more far-fetched than ever.
Today’s divide runs deep. The cultural wars around issues like race, gender, identity, and politics are more intense, but people are increasingly unwilling to listen to each other. The concept of common ground is nearly impossible to find. The polarization we face now has eroded trust in leadership, deepened our mistrust of each other, and crippled the ability of institutions like Congress to get anything done.
Perhaps the reason we need Archie Bunker now is because we need that kind of unvarnished, uncomfortable dialogue again. We need a space where people can confront their prejudices and beliefs, but do so with the understanding that it’s okay to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Archie’s complaints about a “better” time when “men were men and girls were girls” weren’t just musings of a curmudgeon—they were opportunities to spark critical debates, wrapped in humor.
Today, we are witnessing a fragmentation of our national discourse. But a show like “All in the Family” could remind us of what it was like when people from all walks of life, and with wildly differing viewpoints, could still sit in front of a television together. It could give us a platform where even the most contentious ideas could be aired and examined. In an era where we can’t seem to agree on much of anything, we could certainly use more opportunities like that—if not for the good of the nation, then at least for the good of our humor.
