Its 50th anniversary highlights its lasting impact on television. The show broke ground by tackling social issues head-on. It changed what was acceptable for prime-time comedy forever.
The show premiered on CBS in January 1971. It was an immediate shock to the system. Created by Norman Lear, it centered on Archie Bunker, a loudmouthed dockworker from Queens.Archie, played by Carroll O'Connor, voiced bigoted opinions from his armchair. His family included his kind wife Edith and their liberal daughter and son-in-law. Their heated debates became must-see TV.According to CBS archives, the network expected major backlash. Instead, it became a historic hit. It soared to number one in the ratings for five consecutive years.The show reached over 40 million viewers weekly at its peak. It used humor to confront racism, sexism, and political strife. This was a stark departure from the escapist comedies of the 1960s.It was the first sitcom to be filmed in front of a live studio audience using videotape. This gave it a raw, immediate energy. The realistic setting in a working-class home also broke new ground.