Best Norman Lear sitcom

Cafe Society
41

Two reasons: (a) It was based on a British sitcom called Steptoe and Son, and (b) it was intended purely as a vehicle for Redd Foxx. Politics were very tangental to the show. The only example I can think of is when Fred went to traffic court:

FRED: (Berating the officer who gave him a ticket) How come you don’t give no tickets to white drivers?

OFFICER: (Indignantly) I do!

FRED: Where are they? (Waves arms around the courtroom) I don’t see no white people! All I see is niggers! (Audience laughs uproariously) There’s enough niggers here to make a Tarzan movie!

Yes, he used the “*N *word,” because he knew he could get away with it. It was still outrageous at the time, but perfectly in character for him.

42

All in the Family was easily the most significant of the group, well written and the cast was first rate. It covered things that no other sitcom dared- rape, impotence, menopause, racism… the list goes on.

I suspect One Day At A Time will seem quite dated in reruns, though I do look forward to seeing a teenage Valerie Bertinelli again.

43

I started watching Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. That shit is fucked up.

44

All in the Family.

45

All in the Family was great in its day, and now is barely mediocre. Still the best of the bunch, but times change.

Regards,
Shodan