Although the new sitcoms appear every day, it is clear that the public still has a weakness for older programs. In addition to the supply of an audience with a high dose of comforting nostalgia, these shows have a very distinct sense of humor which is not seen in many more recent sitcoms. Thus, sometimes the public wants to immerse themselves in an older representation of domestic bliss and hear the charming nuances of living laughter.
An excellent example of these aspects is Everything in the familyA sitcom from the 1970s whose public still appreciates today. Aside from its immense prestige in industry, this show is best known to have beaten an incredibly prestigious record, especially in the world of comedy. Ironically, this achievement is also linked to one of its most shocking episodes, especially at the time.
“Sammy’s visit” broke the record for laughter
Everything in the family appreciated tons of success during his 9 -season race on television during prime time, but he probably saw his greatest success in season 2, episode 21, “Sammy’s Visit”. Here, the public learns that Achie Bunker has taken a second job as a taxi driver in order to earn additional money. In a surprise turn of the events, the patriarch learns that the one and only Sammy Davis Jr. left his case in the back of his taxi. As expected, when the artist presents himself at the Maison des Bunkers, Archie and Edith do not know how to act and end up insulting man with their manifest ignorance. However, Davis decides to give the couple a lesson on acceptance and gives Archie a sneaky kiss on the cheek before saying goodbye to her new friends.
At first glance, this episode may not seem much, but it is recognized for having broken the record for the longest laugh in the history of television. The public was so shocked when Sammy kissed Archie that they broke out laughing for two whole minutes, forcing CBS to cut the laughter in unionized versions just so that the musician can deliver his last line. It goes without saying that it is a massive achievement for any sitcom, but more for Everything in the family. Not only was the show one of the first American sitcoms to record in front of a live studio audience, but it did not use a piece of laughter.
In the 1960s, most programs were filmed using a single camera system and used preserved laughter to stimulate the reaction of an audience and also prompted viewers to recognize punchline at home. However, the creator of the show, Norman Lear, was proud that Everything in the family did not need a piece of laughter because it proved that the performances were really funny. In this sense, the fact that the “Sammy visit” managed to make the public laugh for two minutes entirely is impressive in itself, but it is even more intriguing than Everything in the family used a selection of pioneer techniques.
Surprisingly, the introduction of Sammy Davis Jr. was coordinated by Carroll O ‘Connor, who plays Archie Bunker. The actor was well aware that the musician appreciated the spectacle and helped him make a game, mainly because they had been friends for years at this stage. However, O’Connor was categorical about the fact that he wanted Davis’s natural charisma to shine, so he convinced it to do a lot of its lines. As such, “Sammy’s Visit” stands out for a number of interesting reasons. In addition to holding the record for the longest period of laughter live, this episode broke the mold by allowing one of the greatest artists in the world to give the miserable old Bunker Archie a small smooch.
Everything in the family broke the mold with this shocking episode
Despite the blinding success of “Sammy Visit”, there are probably a handful of audiences who see this episode as nothing more than a simple seizure in cash. Everything in the family Is by no means the only sitcom to include a celebrity star, and this technique is generally used to attract more audiences. However, by bringing a man like Sammy Davis Jr. to the house of the bunker, the show was able to break intense stigmas. It goes without saying that Davis appreciated a high level life with his relationship with Kim Novak and even converted to Judaism after a car accident in the 60s. Of course, there were also rumors that the artist was bisexual, a label that is still questioned today. But that of Sammy Davis Jr., which would have been considered then, the “controversial” life seemed to be a risk but Everything in the family was not afraid to have it.
As soon as Davis enters the play, the whole scene is filled with tension, especially awkward. Even Edith, who is generally a little more liberal and open -minded than her husband, looks at man in shock. The same goes for Archie, which continuously makes coarse comments, despite his attempts to establish a solid relationship with the singer. There is a separate moment when Archie asks Sammy why he decided to convert to Judaism, but the fact in an ignorant way that the language used was shameful even in the 1970s.
However, it is a very important line because it emphasizes that, although Achie can be somewhat fanatic, this is due to her lack of intelligence rather than her heart. Of course, Davis explains his story with Grace and does not hold Archie’s words against him. Without forgetting, the kiss seals the idea that Sammy is a real character and is not afraid to make some jokes at the expense of Archie. Surprisingly, the kiss was a last minute addition to the script of O’Carroll, which estimated that a little peak on the cheek would help this episode to repel all the social borders at the same time.
This episode was not the first to present a gay kiss or even an interracial kiss. However, these two things were still very controversial, and each time a television show tried to break their barriers, they would be encountered by extreme criticism. The most obvious answer is Star Trek’s “The Beaux-enfants de Plato”, where the passionate kiss between Kirk and Uhura led to an abundance of hate mail and calls to prohibit the spectacle. However, it is clear that Everything in the family I wanted to settle as a different type of sitcom, which was happy to vibrate the boat a little. So, while many young audiences will just see “Sammy’s Visit” like just another celebrity cameo, it is essential that fans understand that the sight of a black man kissing another white man, even on the cheek, was enough to push a few pimples.
All in the family liked to break records
In the 2020s, Everything in the family May seem terribly dated. The bunkers seem very narrow, and the gags feel a little forced compared to the dry spirit which is seen in the world of modern sitcom. These feelings are only exaggerated when the public learns that the spectacle was inspired by a British sitcom called Until death separates usWho is now considered so offensive that it is rarely shown on television these days. However, a simple episode like “Sammy’s Visit” proves that bunkers are just a normal workers’ family that understands things one day. Actually, Everything in the family is well known for breaking records. In one of his very special episodes, this program was the first to discuss sexual assault on the screen, a subject that the show treated with incredible levels of sympathy. At one point, the sitcom was so widespread that even President Nixon looked at him, as we heard the sadly famous Watergate cassettes.
It would be wrong to discuss the revolutionary success of “Sammy’s Visit” without explaining how Sammy Davis Jr. was important for the contemporary public. Even at a time marked by racism and prejudices, Davis stood out from his ability to entertain the mass public. He was even the first black man to spend the night at the White House, which again means this influence on contemporary America. However, the world class artist has taken the time to appear in Everything in the familyMake sure that a man like Archie Bunker could learn that differences have nothing to fear. Although Sammy Davis Jr. remembers him for much more than his brief appearance in this program, it seems appropriate that the “Sammy visit” is associated with record laughter levels.
Everything in the family
- Release date
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1971 – 1978
- Showrunner
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Norman Lear
- Directors
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Norman Lear
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Carroll O’Connor
Archie Bunker
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Jean Stapleton
Edith Bunker
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Sally Struthers
Gloria Stivic
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Rob Reiner
Michael Stivic