When "Archie Bunker's Place" aired, I almost never watched it. It's because I found the show was just a pale shadow of the old "All in the Family"--a nice and friendly version with none of the bite. Instead of wonderful fights between Michael and Archie or wonderful dialog with Edith, the new version of the show featured family- oriented stuff with Stephanie. Recently, the shows began airing once again on cable television and I got bored and decided to watch it and see if my old impression was correct. A few have been surprisingly good and others, like "Stephanie's Tryout", are amazingly dull--like an episode of "Father Knows Best" but with a stupid father.
In this episode, Stephanie wants to try out for a local baseball team...a team which is made up of boys. Surprisingly, she makes the team and Archie is proud of her. However, after making the team she's cut...a victim of the coach's sexist views that girls CANNOT play ball! So, like so many episodes of "Archie Bunker's Place", Archie inexplicably plays the role of the liberal-minded father and stands up for Stephanie.
Is there any edge to this show? Not a lot. It does have a point to make and is pleasant but pleasant is NOT why Americans used to tune in to "All in the Family" by the millions. Watchable and not a total waste of time.
In this episode, Stephanie wants to try out for a local baseball team...a team which is made up of boys. Surprisingly, she makes the team and Archie is proud of her. However, after making the team she's cut...a victim of the coach's sexist views that girls CANNOT play ball! So, like so many episodes of "Archie Bunker's Place", Archie inexplicably plays the role of the liberal-minded father and stands up for Stephanie.
Is there any edge to this show? Not a lot. It does have a point to make and is pleasant but pleasant is NOT why Americans used to tune in to "All in the Family" by the millions. Watchable and not a total waste of time.