All in the Family

I’m amazed, sometimes, at how progressive All in the Family was. I’m watching an episode about Edith’s finding out at her cousin’s funeral, that she was a lesbian (Episode #162 - Cousin Liz First Aired 1977). They refer to the couple as ‘like being married’, and Edith lets her keep a family heirloom tea-set, because ‘she’s family’.

Archie takes the right argument, point by point (it hasn’t changed in 30 years) and Edith takes the ‘liberal’ side, saying it’s God’s job to judge, not theirs.

Best moment: Archie says ‘I don’t understand you people at all. Why don’t you just …stop that!’ to the cousin’s surviving partner.

If it aired today, I’m sure the right would lose their mind.