RIP, Dingbat

[ArtVandelay]

One of the greats, and one of my favorite shows.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d8FTPv955I

[ArtVandelay]

Nothing?!? Really!?!?!? Perhaps the greatest, most influential TV character of all time???

Here is one of her finest episodes, where the loving, nice, Edith becomes highly unpredictable, to the confusion of the simple minded Archie Bunker. The genius is how they are able to take a subject soooooo uncomfortable, and use comedy to make it work!


http://youtu.be/V_-nOW88YhI

RIP, to the GREAT Jean Stapleton.

[billf]

That show had the bowling balls to go where no show had gone before. I can remember watching as a kid and not realizing what all the fuss was about.

[got_a_300]

The show All In The Family just wouldn't have been the same
without Jean Stapleton she pretty much completed the show
along with Carroll O'Connor.

I do not believe it would have been as funny if anyone else
had played the part of Edith.

So RIP Jean Stapleton you will be missed.

[vdubtx]

The show All In The Family just wouldn't have been the same
without Jean Stapleton she pretty much completed the show
along with Carroll O'Connor.

I do not believe it would have been as funny if anyone else
had played the part of Edith.

So RIP Jean Stapleton you will be missed.

Agreed, RIP Ms. Stapleton. :(

[ArtVandelay]

They say she was just as good a person in real life (but much smarter, of course). All accounts point to her being a very simple person who never really chased the spotlight, but did what she did because she enjoyed it and didn't want to make a living doing anything else.

The show really did break ground for their views. It was very Mel Brooks-ish, like when he did Blazzing Saddles. It's hard to come up with things that can be controversial, and make them acceptable. Comedy allows it to happen though, when masters do it.

[GeoLes]

That show had the bowling balls to go where no show had gone before. I can remember watching as a kid and not realizing what all the fuss was about.

I agree 100%. They gave us a look at our own unconscious biases. What was obviious to everyone else was not even on Archie's radar. Through it all Edith quietly maintained a dignified roll, respecting everyone, dispite all the noise around her. They were not afraid to use any ethnicity. I recall Archi making fun of Jews with his "the Hebs and their maneshoe-its" line. Even his neighbor, George Jefferson, was not afraid to use the "H" word regularly. He was the same a Archie with regard to race hatred. Even when they spun off "The Jeffersons" they continued the theme with George as the bigot, condeming the "zebras".

They made us look at ourselves. And when we laughed at them, we laughed at ourselves.

[ArtVandelay]

There was a very brief tribute to her during the Tony's that was pretty neat, I thought. It really was an amazing show.

[Hammer]

This show came on when I just finished four years in the Navy. My brother and I watched it all of the time. Well, she is back with Archie now. R.I.P. Edith. :cool: