re: #286 Gus

Oh man. Rediscovering the genius of “All in the Family.”

Probably my all-time favorite show. I loved it as a 5-year old when it debuted, and I love reruns of it now. Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton were perfect…even Reiner and Struthers were really good, as were many of the supporting actors (Bea Arthur, though not in that many episodes, et al.)

I saw a panel discussion the other day for Breaking Bad. Producer Vince Gilligan used AITF as an example of shows that couldn’t get made today for network TV. It was too socially and politically aware, and it was about the struggle of working class people. Cable stations still have interest, to some extent, in such shows. But the networks have wussed out. Pathetic that they’ve moved backwards over the last 40 years in many ways.