History Trivia / AllInTheFamily

** Downplayed; Creator/CarrollOConnor, an Irish American, is portraying Archie Bunker, of Anglo-Saxon/English heritage.

** The pilot episode, "Meet the Bunkers", was actually the ''third'' pilot produced (becoming the first show with three separate pilots - a few years earlier, ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Star Trek]]'' had been the first with two). In both pilots prior to the one that was greenlit (both starring O'Connor and Stapleton), Michael was an Irish-American named Dickie and the Bunkers' last name was Justice. The first pilot, produced in 1968 for Creator/{{ABC}}, not CBS, was entitled "[[PunBasedTitle Justice for All]]" and was actually filmed in New York; the second pilot, filmed in Hollywood in 1969, was called "Those Were the Days". ABC turned the project down out of fear over what happened regarding the infamous sketch comedy ''Series/TurnOn''. "Dickie" and Gloria were recast twice; the same actor (D'Urville Martin) played Lionel in both original pilots but was replaced for the final 1970 pilot.

** The pilot episode, "Meet the Bunkers", was actually the ''third'' pilot produced (becoming the first show with three separate pilots - a few years earlier, ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Star Trek]]'' had been the first with two). In both pilots prior to the one that was greenlit, Michael was an Irish-American named Dickie and the Bunkers' last name was Justice. The first pilot, produced in 1968 for Creator/{{ABC}}, not CBS, was entitled "[[PunBasedTitle Justice for All]]" and was actually filmed in New York; the second pilot, filmed in Hollywood in 1969, was called "Those Were the Days". ABC turned the project down out of fear over what happened regarding the infamous sketch comedy ''Series/TurnOn''. "Dickie" and Gloria were recast twice; the same actor (D'Urville Martin) played Lionel in both original pilots but was replaced for the final 1970 pilot.

** The pilot episode, "Meet the Bunkers", was actually the ''third'' pilot produced (becoming the first show with three separate pilots - a few years earlier, ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Star Trek]]'' had been the first with two). In both pilots prior to the one that was greenlit, Michael was an Irish-American named Dickie and the Bunkers' last name was Justice. The first pilot, produced in 1968 for Creator/{{ABC}}, not CBS, was entitled "[[PunBasedTitle Justice for All]]" and was actually filmed in New York; the second pilot, filmed in Hollywood in 1969, was called "Those Were the Days". ABC turned the project down out of fear over what happened regarding the infamous sketch comedy ''Turn-On''. "Dickie" and Gloria were recast twice; the same actor (D'Urville Martin) played Lionel in both original pilots but was replaced for the final 1970 pilot.

* FakeNationality: Downplayed; Creator/CarrollOConnor, an Irish American, is portraying Archie Bunker, of Anglo-Saxon/English heritage.

* TheWikiRule: The [[http://all-in-the-family-tv-show.wikia.com/wiki/All_In_The_Family_TV_show_Wiki All In The Family Wiki]], and another [[http://allinthefamily.wikia.com/wiki/All_in_the_Family All In The Family Wiki]].

* FakeNationality: Downplayed; Creator/CarrollOConnor, an Irish American, is partying Archie Bunker, of Anglo-Saxon/English heritage.

** Oddly enough, the only one out of the core foursome to fully escape this was Sally Struthers, who put on quite a bit of weight, and then became widely known and ridiculed for those commercials shilling correspondence diplomas ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RKQRVn4NAs you know the ones]]) and later, {{narm}}-laden appeals for children-oriented charities.

** Somewhat averted with Carroll O'Connor, thanks to the TV version of ''Series/InTheHeatOfTheNight''. That said, Gillespie is essentially a more intelligent Archie with a different accent - his basic character arc (bigot who gradually becomes more accepting of others) is identical to Archie's.

** Try to imagine Jean Stapleton as anybody other than Edith Bunker. Just try it. (She could have avoided this fate if she had accepted the lead role on ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' - she was the producers' first choice - but she bizarrely declined and forced them to go with Creator/AngelaLansbury instead).

** Had O'Connor won the part of [[Series/GilligansIsland the Skipper]] it's very likely he wouldn't have been considered for Archie.
** Jean Stapleton was originally considered for the role of Mike Teavee's mother in ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'', but turned it down as it would've interfered with the schedule for shooting the ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' pilot (the role went to Dodo Denney). Even Mel Stuart, who directed the film, later admitted Stapleton made the right call.

----

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: With its storylines almost always centered around the current events and culture of the time, it's a pretty insightful look into the things going on in the '70s.

* FakeNationality: Downplayed; [[Creator/CarrollOConnor Carroll O'Connor]], an Irish American, is partying Archie Bunker, of Anglo-Saxon/English heritage.

** Jean Stapleton was originally considered for the role of Mike Teavee's mother in ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'', but turned it down as it would've interfered with the schedule for shooting the ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' pilot (the role went to Dodo Denney).

* FakeNationality: Downplayed; Carroll O'Connor, an Irish American, is partying Archie Bunker, of Anglo-Saxon/English heritage.

** Vincent Gardenia played different characters in a couple of early episodes before becoming a semi-regular as Frank Lorenzo in season 4.

* DyeHard: Creator/RobReiner actually wore a wig for most of his run as Mike due to his baldness advancing quickly.

* SocietyMarchesOn: The show was the first in television history to feature the sound of a flushing toilet (aka "a terlet", according to Archie.)

** According to the actor himself, [[Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow Gavin McLeod]] was the last considered before the producers went with O'Connor for the role of Archie.
** Long before she became [[Series/LaverneAndShirley Laverne]], Creator/PennyMarshall was up for the role of Gloria. Had she gotten it, she could have worked alongside [[RealLifeRelative then-husband]] Rob Reiner.

* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: A real life example. Archie, an enthusiastic proponent of [[UsefulNotes/RichardNixon "Richard E. Nixon"]] (sic), praised him to anyone who would listen. According to the Watergate tapes, Nixon was not amused.

** Even Creator/RobReiner, who became a successful director, has often said that if he were to win the Nobel Prize, all the headlines would read "MEATHEAD WINS NOBEL PRIZE". It was a double trumping as he was first known mostly as Carl Reiner's son.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: While it would certainly still be sad, the Stivics' move to California would have been a lot easier on the Bunkers in today's age of free long-distance calling, text messaging, social networking, and Skype. Could also work as a bit of Fridge Sadness for young viewers when they stop and think how hard it really must have been on the Bunkers for the kids to move across the country without all of today's technology to keep them close.

** Creator/JackieGleason turned down the role of Archie Bunker.

* FakeNationality: Downplayed; Carrol O’Connor, an Irish American, is partying Archie Bunker, of Anglo-Saxon/English heritage.

** Oddly enough, the only one out of the core foursome to fully escape this was Sally Struthers, who put on quite a bit of weight, and then became [[NeverLiveItDown widely known and ridiculed]] for those commercials shilling correspondence diplomas ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RKQRVn4NAs you know the ones]]) and later, {{narm}}-laden appeals for children-oriented charities.