Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/20/2005 Run time: 286 minutes Rating: Nr

Boy, the way the Beaver played. Ricky Nelson made the hit parade. Voices they were seldom raised. Those were the days. And then, on January 12, 1971, America met the Bunkers, and sitcoms would never be the same. The Bunkers were TV's first dysfunctional family: blue-collar bigot Archie (the late Carroll O'Connor in his iconic role), his long-suffering but loving wife Edith (Jean Stapleton), "little goil" Gloria (Sally Struthers), and her liberal husband "Meathead" Mike (Rob Reiner). Series creator Norman Lear broke near every rule and taboo in adapting the British series "Till Death Do Us Part" for American television. The series pilot, "Meet the Bunkers," was a bracing shocker that dared to find humor in prejudice. Archie dispenses racial epithets and ethnic slurs. Mike and Gloria clearly have an active sex life, while Edith, in the pilot at any rate, is more "pip" than "dingbat." In its first season, the series refused to, in Archie's words, "stifle" itself, tackling such hot-button topics as homophobia ("Judging Books by Covers"), racism ("Lionel Moves into the Neighborhood"), feminism ("Gloria Discovers Women's Lib"), and the generation gap (the touching "Success Story," with William Windom as Archie's former army buddy, a successful man who is revealed to be estranged from his son). All in the Family was a rich human comedy. Brought to life by a peerless ensemble, these characters would come to feel like family. Their foibles produced some of television's biggest laughs. They could also make us cry, as with the heartbreaking "Gloria's Pregnancy." Another series landmark is the season finale, "The First and Last Supper," in which we meet Isabel Sanford's Louise Jefferson (but, hilariously, not her husband, George). All in the Family was an instant lightning rod for controversy but went on to earn the comedy Emmy Award in its first year. This three-disc set has no extras (future sets will hopefully contain commentary by Lear or surviving cast members), but each episode is presented complete and uncut, restoring the funny, sometimes touching codas that were cut for syndication. --Donald Liebenson

All in the Family is always funny no matter how many times I watch the dvds I purchased. I do wish that for the price there were a few more dvds. Kinda high priced for what I got.

I bought this DVD as a gift for my grandmother. she was a big fan of the show and says that the DVD is great.

Purchased this DVD as a gift. Recipient really appreciated the gift and later told us he laughed for hours.

All In The Family's first, highly groundbreaking season (eat dust, Green Acres!), premiered to an extremely shaky CBS and around 10 million people on January 12, 1971. The hilarious, thought-provoking comedy unlocked taboo issues and threw them onto your television screen like you had never seen before.

Here's my episode-by-episode thoughts (Note - episodes are in airdate order):

1. Meet The Bunkers (12/1/71): Title explains it all, introduces us to the zany world of bigot Archie Bunker (the late, great Carroll O'Connor, RIP), slow-witted wife Edith (Jean Stapleton), their daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers), and her liberal, anti-Archie husband Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner). Also introduced in this episode is Lionel Jefferson (Mike Evans, RIP). Gloria and Mike serve Archie and Edith an anniversary brunch, only for a big argument to break out between Archie and Mike. Sets the tone for the series. 7.5/10

2. Writing The President (19/1/71): Mike writes a letter to Richard Nixon about what's wrong in the US, Archie responds by writing a letter to Nixon about what's right. 8/10

3. Oh, My Aching Back (26/1/71): Archie has a minor fender-bender with a Jewish woman, and doesn't care until Lionel tells him about his parents getting money from a lawsuit. 8/10

4. Archie Gives Blood (2/2/71): Mike goes down to the blood bank to donate blood and asks Archie if he'd like to do the same, though Archie doesn't want his blood in the body of a person of a different race. 8/10

5. Judging Books By Covers (9/2/71): Roger, a friend of Mike and Gloria's stops by for a visit. When Archie looks at him, he immediately writes him off as gay. 7/10

6. Gloria's Pregnancy (16/2/71): Gloria comes home from the doctor's and tells everyone she's pregnant. An argument between Archie and Mike follows and Mike quits school, gets a job in Detroit and plans to move there, only halted when Gloria suffers a miscarriage. 6.5/10

7. Mike's Hippie Friends Come To Visit (23/2/71): Some of Mike's hippie friends need somewhere to stay before flying to Europe, and of course, Archie disapproves of an unmarried couple under his roof 8/10

8. Lionel Moves Into The Neighbourhood (2/3/71): Archie's old neighbour sells his house, which puts him into a fear of a Jewish family moving into the neighbourhood, but they happen to be a black family, namely the Jeffersons - Lionel, his mother Louise (Isabel Sanford, RIP), father George (Sherman Hemsley, not seen until Season 4) and uncle Henry (Mel Stewart, first seen in finale of this season). 8/10

9. Edith Has Jury Duty (9/3/71): Edith is chosen for jury duty, which naturally excites her as she never gets out of the house (courtesy of Archie, who wants her to stay and cook and clean for him). Archie must fend for himself in the prolonged trial period. 8.5/10

10. Archie Is Worried About His Job (16/3/71): Archie stays up all night, worried he might lose his job as the company is in the midst of cuts. Edith, Gloria and Mike can't sleep either and an array of people come to the front door. 9/10

11. Gloria Discover's Women's Lib (23/3/71): Gloria discover's women's lib and tries to get Edith involved in it. When Mike doesn't approve of Gloria's ways, she gets angry and storms off. 8.5/10

12. Success Story (30/3/71): One day in the Bunker household, a delivery man brings two gifts, both for Archie (fancy cigars and assorted alcohol), from his friend Eddie Frazier (William Windom), who's made it big in the used car business, though Mike thinks Eddie isn't as successful as he's made out to be. 7.5/10

13. The First And Last Supper (6/4/71): Archie's all ready for the Mets game, but Edith's already agreed to go to dinner with the Jeffersons. Archie makes up an excuse, as does George, who sends his brother Henry over to the Bunker house instead. 8/10

Whilst the first season isn't as good as later seasons (I'm watching Season 4 at the moment), it's definitely worth picking up if you love comedies and/or you're sick of modern television and want some stuff from the good ol' days.

LONG LIVE THE BUNKERS!

I was just nine years old when I first watched this witty and ground breaking series that still provides honest laughter and wit not seen since the 1970s. Short on episodes, the first season easily presents this groungbreaking slice of American Television history. It was the crowning jewel of the CBS Sunday line-up for years, and set the tone for the 1970 socio-political atmosphere.

This is what "sit-com" meant to me when I was young. As the networks fade into oblivion, this is a fertile reminder of what was. Watching these episodes un-edited is a joy, reminding me of how much has been lost. TVLand seems to censor my favorites. There are a few episodes that I have not seen since the original air dates. Controversial and funny. Lessons to be remembered for a lifetime.