All in the Family - The Complete First Season (1971)

 Bring this show back
All in the family is a great show - a show like this could never be made today and that is beyond sad. "Political Correctness" has killed comedy. But it doesn't stop there; the writing is great and shows, comedy shows, are not written like this anymore.

The writing is far above the level for shows like "Friends" and "Yes Dear". If you've not seen the show, you've missed out. Although it was on in the 1970s, you will see that the storyline is still relevant today - recession, gas prices, racism - heck even Ralph Nader is a topic of conversation.

Find the time and watch it
May 7, 2008

 A Christmas gift for my father
I remember watching "All in the Family" back in the 1970's when I was just a youngster (grammar school age). My dad would laugh hysterically, which would then make me laugh. I am glad they had laugh tracks back then, because at 7 years old I didn't "get it" but still knew when I SHOULD laugh.

I wasn't sure what to get my dad this year for Christmas and then I saw this DVD. It was such a huge hit (the gift) that my dad and my mom have watched it at least three times already and it's only January.

I would recommend it to anyone who loved the show back in the day. You can count on me buying the following seasons for my dad in the future. (Oh, I hope he doesn't read this review or it will ruin the surprise) January 14, 2008

 A classic!!!
I've always loved this show. ....and always will. It's a pity that they don't give you any extras, like outtakes, behind the scenes or commentaries. December 14, 2007

 DVD
This seller was quick to complete the transaction and this Christmas gift arrived in New conditions. Thanks November 15, 2007

 Wonderful series, crappy DVD!
"All in the Family" is justifiably remembered as one of the greatest TV shows ever to air on American TV, and probably one of the greatest anywhere. It was very well-written and well-acted, at least for the first few seasons. TV audiences had never seen anything quite like it and they were hooked!

No one was prepared for a character like Archie Bunker. Here was a man who had opinions and ideas that were quite repulsive to the average American. Or at least that we claimed were repulsive. In truth, his views were and are shared by a great many people. Watching the show now I was amazed at how recent it all feels. The only thing different, really, is that Archie, a hard-core Republican neo-con before neo-cons existed, was also a staunch union member. That wouldn't be the same if the show was done now. Admitedly, nowadays you don't have people talking quite as directly about their prejudices as Archie did, but they're still there, just lurking in the back of the mind and coming out in code (ie: "Urban" instead of "colored").

Sadly, this series is given the shaft on DVD. It has even less extras than early Paramount DVDs, where they'd list "Chapter Stops" as a special feature (one which this DVD set lacks, btw). Given that all the main actors, plus Norman Lear, are still alive and kicking (except Caroll O'Connor, of course), one would think they would have at the very least assembled them for an audio commentary on the pilot. But no. No retrospectives, no commentaries, no news clips on the controversy of the show, nothing. That is the one and only reason this set gets three stars instead of five. It's still worth owning for the episodes, but otherwise... eh. They could've done a lot better. Mind you, seasons two and three, which I also own, didn't improve on this any. It's really sad, cause a show this great deserves better. October 4, 2007

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