Yorkin, Bud

All in the Family - The Complete Second Season

With a new time slot (8:00 p.m. Saturdays) and three first-season Emmys®, All in the Family was primed for greatness, and these 24 episodes represent the series at its best. Carroll O'Connor leads the perfect cast as blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker, and the standout classic is "Sammy's Visit," in which black, Jewish rat-packer Sammy Davis Jr. visits the Bunker home, where he's hilariously horrified by Archie's prejudicial ignorance. The script was written by comedian Bill ("José Jiminez") Dana, and to borrow Archie's phrase, it's a pip, as Sammy turns Archie's racist remarks on their ear to the delight of young liberals Gloria (Sally Struthers) and husband Mike (Rob Reiner). Sammy's parting kiss on Archie's cheek is one of the series' all-time highlights. Then there's Burt Styler's Emmy-winning script for "Edith's Problem," in which Archie's "Dingbat" wife experiences the mood swings of menopause (another first, along with impotence in "Mike's Problem," in the series' taboo-busting candor). A showcase for Jean Stapleton (who deservedly won her second consecutive Emmy), it also demonstrates (as does "Archie and Edith Alone") the hurtful repercussions of Archie's unintentional cruelty. Edith's Archie-baiting cousin Maude (Bea Arthur) is introduced ("Maude" is a pilot for the character's spin-off sitcom, which premiered in '72), and credit must be given to John Rich, who directed all 24 episodes (winning an Emmy for "Sammy's Visit") with a flawless sense of ensemble chemistry, precision timing, and lasting political relevance. This season earned seven Emmys overall, including awards for O'Connor and Struthers. Given such a wealth of sitcom glory, it's a shame these DVDs are devoid of retrospective features. --Jeff Shannon

Those were the days. Norman Lear's landmark comedy featured one of the most beloved families in television history the Bunkers. Starring Carroll O'Connor as Archie Jean Stapleton as Edith Rob Reiner as Mike "Meathead" Stivic and Sally Struthers as Gloria "All In The Family" remains an Emmy® Award-winning treasure. Watch this ground-breaking first season for yourself and just try to stifle your laughter!Disc One: Episodes 1-4Disc Two: Episodes 5-8Disc Three: Episodes 9-13Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396004054 Manufacturer No: 00405

All In the Family: The Complete Third Season

The enduring appeal of one of television's best and most controversial programs comes through loud (literally) and clear on All in the Family: The Complete Third Season, some 10 hours of compelling, entertaining viewing that serve as a timely reminder that even as TV in the new millennium has seemingly become more diverse and inclusive, with its many gay-themed shows and, gasp, proliferation of all manner of minorities, it has lost the kind of bite that the beloved (well, by some folks, anyway) bigot Archie Bunker used to bring to the small screen.

All 24 episodes (there is no bonus material or extra features) from the '72-'73 season of executive producer Norman Lear's sitcom are contained here, and those unfamiliar with the show may well find them a bit startling. The language is part of it; Archie's frequent use of terms like "gook" and "fag" would never pass muster in these politically correct times. Yet even more striking is All in the Family's subject matter. Again and again, serious themes like politics (the '72 presidential race, pitting Richard Nixon against George McGovern, is mentioned frequently), racism ("Archie in the Hospital" is just one episode dealing with that issue), the death penalty and violence in the name of religion ("Archie Is Branded"), sexual assault ("Gloria, the Victim"), and gun control ("Archie and the Editorial") are handled with remarkable frankness. At the center of it all, of course, is Carroll O'Connor's Archie, who remains belligerent, boorish, and downright mean to the bitter end. Whether he's bribing an IRS agent, cheating an insurance company, or just being pig-headed in general, Archie is utterly unrepentant; basically, he never does the right thing, a trait that's somehow both irritating and refreshing.

All in the Family is hardly perfect; the dysfunctional family's ceaseless squabbling and shouting--usually involving Archie and liberal son-in-law Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner), although wife Edith (the brilliant Jean Stapleton) and daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) aren't immune--eventually becomes tiresome and shrill. But for the most part, the show's acting, writing (which manages to be very funny as well as incisive), and point of view make this set a must-have. --Sam Graham

The hilarious landmark comedy series ALL IN THE FAMILY returns for Season Three with its flawless sense of ensemble chemistry precision timing and lasting political relevance intact (and went on to win both the Emmy® and Golden Globe® for Outstanding Comedy Series). By now these characters have come to feel like television's first dysfunctional family: blue-collar conservative Archie (Carroll O'Connor) his long-suffering but loving wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) "little girl" Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her liberal husband "Meathead" Mike (Rob Reiner). Series creator Normal Lear broke nearly every rule and taboo but their foibles produced some of television's biggest laughs. They could also make us cry as with the heartbreaking "Gloria the Victim" or shock us as with "The Bunkers & the Swingers" (1973 Emmy® for Writing in a Comedy Series).System Requirements:Starring: Carroll O'Conner Jean Stapleton Rob Reiner Sally Struthers Running Time: 610 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396047624 Manufacturer No: 04762

All in the Family - The Complete Sixth Season

The more things change, the more they stay the same? When it comes to All in the Family, the answer is an unqualified yes… and no. Considering the show's tremendous popularity (this sixth season, spanning 1975 and '76, was the fifth straight year it held down the top spot in the Nielsen ratings), creator-producer Norman Lear was unlikely to make any drastic adjustments to the basic formula. And sure enough, in these 24 episodes (on three discs, sans bonus features), the four main characters--Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor, brilliant as ever), ditzy wife Edith (Jean Stapleton), daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers), and contentious son-in-law Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner)--and their relationships remain the obvious focal point. What's more, while it's true that various new developments, including Mike and Gloria's move next door (to the house once occupied by the Jeffersons), her pregnancy, and the birth of little Joey, are more than cosmetic and account for the lion's share of the storylines, All in the Family's basic dynamic remains one of the strongest and most instantly recognizable in TV sitcom history. Ditto the writers' penchant for the trenchant; social issues include tolerance and homophobia (Archie saves a woman's life with "mouth-to-mouth restitution," only to discover that "she" is a transvestite), women's rights (Gloria gets fired for being pregnant), vigilantism (Archie fends off a mugger with illegal tear gas), religion (Archie wants his grandson baptized and raised as a Christian, but Mike has other ideas), and so on. And now more than ever, some of the language will seem a little shocking, as Archie regularly uses a variant of the gay slur that got Grey's Anatomy cast member Isaiah Washington in very hot water more than three decades later.

Some changes, however, are a little more profound. The kinder, gentler Archie who began to appear a few seasons back is more in effect now; an extended and largely improvised scene in which he coddles his infant grandson is surprisingly tender, and when he hugs Mike after Joey is born, longtime viewers might wonder if what on earth has happened to TV's most unrepentant, close-minded bigot. But hey, even cavemen evolved, and the Archie Bunker we see in Season 6 bears an increasing resemblance to a character he most surely inspired, one who usually ends up removing his foot from his mouth long enough to do the right thing: Homer Simpson. --Sam Graham

All in the Family centers on a working class family man whose conservative views of the world clash with nearly everyone he meets. The cast of supporting characters includes Archie s long-suffering but loving wife Edith (Jean Stapleton); daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and liberal son-in-law Mike "Meathead" Stivic (Rob Reiner).In the sixth season Mike and Gloria finally move into their own home and discover Gloria is pregnant. After the baby is born Archie has the baby baptized without their permission. While driving a cab Archie rescues a woman who turns out to be a transvestite and Edith starts volunteering at an old age home. Guest stars this season include Billy Crystal Doris Roberts (TV s "Everybody Loves Raymond") Robert Guillaume (TV s "Benson") Bernadette Peters and Betty Garrett who won a Golden Globe® for her role.DVD Features:24 episodes on 3 discs including: The Very Moving Day Alone at Last Archie the Donor Archie the Hero Mike's Pains Chain Letter Mike Faces Life Edith Breaks Out Grandpa Blues Gloria Suspects Mike The Little Atheist Archie's Civil Rights Gloria Is Nervous The Baby (Part 1) The Baby (Part 2) New Year's Wedding Archie the Babysitter Archie Finds a Friend Mike's Move Archie's Weighty Problem Love by Appointment Joey's Baptism Gloria and Mike's House Guests Edith s Night OutSystem Requirements:Run Time: 612 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396162365 Manufacturer No: 16236

All in the Family - The Complete Fourth Season

By the fourth season Norman Lear's landmark series ALL IN THE FAMILY was on its way to becoming an American institution. It consistently ranked number one in the ratings while at the same time breaking all of prime time TV's taboos. Archie Bunker's (Carroll O'Conner) shocking politically incorrect diatribes marriage problems for Mike (Rob Reiner) and Gloria (Sally Struthers) a breast cancer scare for Edith (Jean Stapleton) all broke with sitcom conventions. In the fourth season Archie was hilariously faced with two worthy new opponents: neighbor Irene Lorenzo (betty Garrett) a staunch believer in women's rights and loud-mouthed George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) soon to star in the spin-off hit series "The Jeffersons." Rob Reiner won an Emmy® Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and the show was nominated for four other Emmy® Awards for the fourth season.System Requirements:Starring: Carroll O'Conner Jean Stapleton Rob Reiner Sally Struthers Running Time: 608 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396102804 Manufacturer No: 10280

All in the Family - The Complete Fifth Season

Expecting anything resembling growth from Archie Bunker is like asking the sun to rise in the west: it ain't gonna happen. Accordingly, the most unrepentantly incorrigible character in TV sit-com history is his old self throughout this three-disc box set, which includes all 24 episodes from the fifth season of producer Norman Lear's All in the Family. Which is to say that Archie (played brilliantly as always by Carroll O'Connor) is an irascible, intolerant, sexist, ignorant, cheap misanthrope. Funny, too.

Still, a few subtle changes are apparent. For one thing, this was the mid-'70s, the Gerald Ford era, and after the tumultuous Richard Nixon years, things were a little mellower… sometimes even Archie. Sure, he's still a guy with a blue collar and red state politics (on Nixon and Watergate: "He did not lie. He forgot to tell the truth"), a bigot ("the whole place is locked up tighter than a Jew's purse") and a master of malapropisms ("that's the crotch of the problem"). But Archie's political arguments with son-in-law Mike "Meathead" Stivic (Rob Reiner) are fewer and farther between; in fact, the overall tone of the show seems a bit lighter, with more outright slapstick humor, and the almost constant bickering is less shrill than before. That's a welcome development, as are the occasional moments when Archie reveals that he might even have a heart.

Season Five also finds George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) and son Lionel (Mike Evans) moving out of the neighborhood (the pilot for The Jeffersons is one of the episodes here), while daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and Meathead move into the Jeffersons' house next door at season's end. But perhaps the most notable change is Edith's gradual willingness to stand up to her husband. She's still a dingbat, but her assertiveness and confidence show through from time to time, especially in the hilarious episode 18 ("All's Fair"), in which Edith, coached by Mike and Gloria, learns how to engage Archie in a fair fight.

Although the box set contains no bonus material, it does include a "Best Of" episode with highlights from the first 100 shows, hosted by Henry Fonda, of all people. And look for future Oscar winner James Cromwell in the recurring role of Stretch Cunningham, one of Archie's co-workers. --Sam Graham

Sanford and Son - The First Season

Fred Sanford and his 34-year-old son live together many times lacking in harmony attempting to support themselves as junk dealers. They are surrounded by a cast of characters who help them keep their sense of humor.System Requirements:Starring: Redd Foxx Demond Wilson LaWanda Page Don Bexley Hal Williams Running Time: 364 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396094277 Manufacturer No: 09427

Sanford and Son - The Second Season

This three-disc boxed set compiles all 24 episodes from Sanford and Son's second season, which began on September 15, 1972. The sitcom quickly vaulted to the No. 2 spot on the network ratings--right behind creators Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin's previous effort, All in the Family. The second season brought no changes to the show's basic format--comedian Redd Foxx remained the focus as cantankerous junkman Fred Sanford, with Demond Wilson as his son and perennial foil, Lamont. What the second season did bring was several new characters and some of the series' funniest episodes. The second season supporting cast was filled out by some of Foxx's fellow comics, including Leroy and Skillet ("A Visit from Lena Horne") and LaWanda Page as Aunt Esther, who became a recurring character after "The Big Party." Also joining was Don Bexley as Bubba ("By the Numbers"), Nathaniel Taylor as Rollo ("Have Gun, Will Sell"), and Barney Miller's Gregory Sierra as neighbor Julio ("The Puerto Ricans Are Coming!").

But Sanford and Son's strength remained in Foxx's sharp-tongued and often improvised performance, which was ably abetted by the scripts (a number of plotlines were taken directly from Steptoe and Son, the U.K. series that inspired Sanford). Richard Pryor and Paul Mooney penned two of the collection's most laugh-filled half-hours, "The Dowry" and "Sanford and Son and Sister Make Three," but every episode has its share of hilarity thanks to Foxx and his costars. Though only English and Spanish subtitles are offered as extras, series fans should be pleased with the set, especially as a reference for Fred's best zingers ("I'm gonna stick your face in a bowl full of dough and make gorilla cookies!"). --Paul Gaita

An early milestone in urban TV comedy "SANFORD AND SON" was an immediate critical and audience favorite when it debuted in the early '70s signaling the arrival of one of TV's most memorable characters: Cantankerous-but-lovable junk dealer Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx). An African American answer to "Archie Bunker" widower Sanford and his "Dummy" son Lamont (Demond Wilson) run a family junk business in Watts dreaming up schemes to strike it rich. Outspoken and outrageous Sanford serves up big laughs as he skewers stereotypes forever threatening "How'd you like one across your lip?" Aided by a colorful cast that includes acid-tongued Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) "SANFORD AND SON" provided a showcase of black talent of all generations freaturing guest stars like Lena Horne and episodes written by Richard Pryor. Timely and topical during its highly-rated five-year run (1972-1977) "SANFORD AND SON" emerged as one of the decade's biggest TV hits inspiring producer Norman Lear to develop more barrier-breaking shows like "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times".System Requirements:Starring: Redd Foxx Demond Wilson LaWanda Page Don Bexley Hal Williams Running Time: 225 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396003507 Manufacturer No: 00350

Sanford and Son - The Third Season

Return for more laughs with SANFORD AND SON: THE THIRD SEASON starring legendary comedian Redd Foxx as grumpy Los Angeles junk dealer Fred Sanford and Demond Wilson as his long-suffering son Lamont. Emmy-nominated "Sanford and Son" was breakthrough TV as seminal as it was sidesplitting ushering in an African-American perspective to the small screen. Golden Globe® -winner Foxx told it like it was raising the roof with his bold brand of outrageous humor as phrases like "You big dummy!" "How'd you like one across your lip?" and "I'm coming Elizabeth" all entered pop culture. Created by Norman Lear ("All in the Family") "Sanford and Son" was as hilarious as it was historic the first TV sitcom featuring an African-American cast and urban themes as Fred and Lamont forever dreamed and schemed of making a better life. Returning cast members included Bible-thumping sister-in-law Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) Fred's girlfriend Donna (Lynn Hamilton) and old pal Grady (Whitman Mayo) who even got his own spin-off series "Grady." Cool cameos during the show's third season includes Soul Sisters The Three Degrees and Antonio "Huggy Bear" Fargas among others. For fans and collectors alike this deluxe three-DVD edition compiling the series' complete 24-episode third season is unquestionably "The Big One!"System Requirements:Starring: Redd Fox Demond Wilson Don Bexley Hal Williams Running Time: 198 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396013902 Manufacturer No: 01390

Though conflict erupted between comic Redd Foxx and the producers of Sanford and Son during its third season, viewers of this three-disc set, which compiles all 24 episodes of the 1973-74 season, are spared the backstage rancor and instead enjoy more hilarious episodes, fueled as always by Foxx's Emmy-nominated performance as cantankerous junkman Fred Sanford. Sanford and Son was a solid ratings hit as it entered its third season (ranked third among network shows) and Foxx had won a Golden Globe the previous year, but a contract dispute had driven a wedge between him and series producers Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear (who also ran the season's top-rated program, All in the Family). Negotiations would eventually break down, and Foxx would be absent from six episodes (Fred was said to be visiting relatives in St. Louis) and did not return to the show until season 4 was underway.

Foxx's departure allowed the spotlight to shine more brightly on co-star Demond Wilson (who would soon launch his own contract disputes, which prompted his leaving the series in 1976) as well as new cast member Whitman Mayo, who joined the show that season as Fred's pal Grady. While series aficionados are firmly divided over Grady, Mayo is quite funny, especially during the final six episodes (in particular "Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Stand Up?" and season closer "Hello Cousin Emma, Goodbye Cousin Emma"). Other standout episodes include "The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection" (in which Fred attempts to reclaim his donated record collection) and "Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle" (Fred defends Lamont in traffic court), which features Starsky and Hutch's Antonio Fargas. The third-season scripts, penned mostly by story editor Ilunga Adell (Moesha), remain sharp, as does the direction (the lion's share is handled by Peter Baldwin, though Bud Yorkin helms two episodes). Fans and first-timers alike will find plenty of laughs among the three discs, which unfortunately lack any extras. --Paul Gaita

Sanford and Son - The Complete Fourth Season

Sanford and Son's fourth season (1974-1975) was the highest rated of its five years on network TV (the program reached no. 2 on the Nielsen charts); the program and star Redd Foxx both received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the season, all 24 episodes of which are compiled on this three-disc set. Behind the scenes, however, the series was in turmoil due to Foxx's dissatisfaction with the tone and quality of the program, and he went missing from nine episodes, three of which kick off the first disc (Fred's absence is explained away as a trip to St. Louis).

But even without Foxx, Sanford and Son still managed to generate plenty of laughs, thanks in no small part to its hard-working supporting cast; Whitman Mayo's Grady, in particular, gets plenty of chances to shine, especially in "Grady and His Lady" (disc 1) and "The Family Man" (disc 3, which served as the pilot for Mayo's own short-lived series). Pat Morita's Ah Chew makes his first appearance in "There'll Be Some Changes Made (on disc 1) and Gregory Sierra as Julio makes his last in "The Stung" (disc 3); guest stars include Billy Eckstine and Scatman Crothers. Sanford and Son's fourth season can be viewed as something of a swan song for the popular series; after a ratings dip and timeslot change in the fifth season, Foxx and Wilson would both depart the show by the sixth season, and the show was cancelled in 1977. --Paul Gaita

Return to TV's most famous junk shop for an outrageously funny fourth season of "Sanford and Son." Golden Globe ® Award winner Redd Foxx stars as Fred Sanford the junk dealer with a big mouth and every get-rich-quick scheme in the book. Caught up in his plans are his long-suffering son Lamont his best friend Grady and his arch-enemy and sister-in-law Esther. Returning from a trip to St. Louis Fred wastes no time in getting knee-deep in trouble; from accidentally growing "special herbs" in his backyard garden to trying to return a ring he thinks was stolen from Frank Sinatra to setting Lamont up with a computer date. The fourth season welcomes such guest stars as David Doyle ("Charlie's Angels") Ron Glass ("Barney Miller") Howard Hesseman ("WKRP in Cincinnati") and Scat Man Crothers. One of the 70's highest-rated shows this legendary sitcom is now yours to take home and enjoy over and over again in a collectible three-disc set.System Requirements:Starring: Redd Foxx Whitman Mayo LaWanda Page Demond Wilson Running Time: 601 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396028845 Manufacturer No: 02884

Sanford and Son - The Fifth Season

Laughs & more laughs with SANFORD AND SON: THE 5TH SEASON. Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson return for another twenty-four hysterical episodes of SANFORD AND SON the comic misadventures of a cantankerous 65-year-old junk dealer and his outrageous circle of family and friends. For the series' fifth sidesplitting season Fred takes no prisoners as he unleashes an uproarious array of jokes jibes and insults at such targets as LA earthquakes Japanese restaurants the Sanford Arms apartments Lamont's mysterious new girlfriend the Senior Olympics escort services the Watts Businessman-of-the-Year Award and the roman a clef sitcom "Steinberg and Son." Nominated for seven Emmy Awards® and six Golden Globes® during its six-year run SANDFORD AND SON was the highest rated half-hour series in NBC-TV history. And here are two-dozen enormously funny examples as to why - uncut uncensored and commercial free!System Requirements:Starring: Redd Foxx Demond Wilson Running Time: 622 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396070790 Manufacturer No: 07079

Guest stars and more guest stars seem to be the theme of Sanford and Son's very funny fifth season (1975-1976). The 25 episodes feature a parade of celebrities supporting stars Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson in guest and recurring roles, including John Larroquette and Robert Guillaume in Steinberg and Son, a TV sitcom based on Fred and Lamont's life; Marlene Clark as Lamont's girlfriend June; Nancy (The Beverly Hillbillies) as Officer Hoppy's overprotective mom; and George Foreman, Merv Griffin, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme as themselves. The other addition to the series comes with the introduction of the Sanford Arms, a apartment built on former neighbor Julio's place, and which comes complete with a host of eccentric guests (the hotel, along with Sanford stars LaWanda Page and Don Bexley, would be the focus of its own short-lived sitcom following Sanford and Son's cancellation in 1977).

Otherwise, it's business as usual at Fred and Lamont's junkyard, with the pair getting involved in bank robberies, earthquakes, and escort services, while still finding time to go camping (in the season finale, written by Garry Shandling). The sheer amount of laughs offered by season 5 was a strong reminder of why the show had remained so popular for four seasons; unfortunately, time slot changes and the disinterest of both leads would spell the show's demise only one season later. As with the other Sanford sets, the fifth season box contains no supplemental features. --Paul Gaita