All in the Family | |
TV season guide |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Also see: Maude (TV series) Archie Bunker's Place |
This page lists all of the season two episodes of All in the Family aired during the 1971-72 television season. Beatrice Arthur, who appeared as Edith's outspoken, liberal cousin Maude early during the second season, made another appearance at season's end which would serve as the pilot introduction to the Findlay family, eventually spinning off into Norman Lear's first spinoff series of All in the Family, simply titled Maude.
Season review[]
Veteran entertainer/actor/singer Sammy Davis, Jr. would also make a guest appearance, which garnered lots of media attention internationally and high Nielsen ratings for his sarcastic "kiss" of Archie in the episode "Sammy's Visit".
Season 2 (1971-72)[]
Season 2 episodes | |||||||
Image | No. in series | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 1 | "The Saga of Cousin Oscar" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Burt Styler and Norman Lear Story by: Burt Styler |
September 18, 1971 | 202 | |
Archie's freeloading cousin Oscar comes to stay with the Bunkers. Just as he is eating the Bunkers out of house and home, Oscar (who is never seen on camera) unexpectedly passes away. Archie and Mike are left to ponder their options on what to do with Oscar's body: have a funeral or simply dispose of it in a potter's field. | |||||||
15 | 2 | "Gloria Poses in the Nude" | John Rich | Michael Ross, Bernie West & Norman Lear | September 25, 1971 | 201 | |
Archie is less than thrilled when he learns Mike's artist friend (guest star David Soul) wants to paint Gloria au naturel. | |||||||
16 | 3 | "Archie and the Lock-up" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Paul Wayne, Michael Ross & Bernie West Story by: Paul Wayne |
October 2, 1971 | 205 | |
After inadvertently getting involved with a mob planning an anti-war protest Mike and Lionel had planned to attend, Archie finds himself in jail along with the people he despises most—"Pinkos", "commies" and "hippies".
Note: Allan Melvin appears playing police sergeant Paul Pulaski; he would eventually have a recurring role as Archie's best friend Barney Hefner. | |||||||
17 | 4 | "Edith Writes a Song" | John Rich | Lee Kalcheim | October 9, 1971 | 204 | |
The Bunkers and Stivics arrive home and are greeted by burglars who are trying to elude the authorities. The Bunkers and the bad guys end up arguing over how the family's cash reserves should be spent: give it to the crooks, use it to buy an effective alarm system, or to sell Edith's new song.
Note: Cleavon Little (Blazing Saddles) and Demond Wilson ("Lamont" of Sanford and Son), guest-star in this episode. | |||||||
18 | 5 | "Flashback: Mike Meets Archie" | John Rich | Philip Mishkin and Rob Reiner | October 16, 1971 | 203 | |
The Bunkers and Stivics recall the tempestuous first meeting between Archie and Mike. | |||||||
19 | 6 | "The Election Story" | John Rich | Michael Ross & Bernie West | October 30, 1971 | 206 | |
Archie and Mike quarrel over who is the best candidate in a local election. | |||||||
20 | 7 | "Edith's Accident" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Michael Ross & Bernie West Story by: Tom & Helen August |
November 6, 1971 | 207 | |
Due to an accident in a grocery store parking lot, a can of cling peaches in heavy syrup from Edith's shopping basket slightly damages someone's car.
Note: Barnard Hughes guest stars as Father Majeski; he would reprise his role in the episodes "Edith Flips Her Wig" and "Edith's Conversion"). | |||||||
21 | 8 | "The Blockbuster" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Michael Ross, Bernie West, Austin & Irma Kalish Story by: Austin & Irma Kalish |
November 13, 1971 | 209 | |
A corrupt African-American real estate agent (Thalmus Rasulala) tempts Archie to sell his home at an inflated price.
Note: Lionel refers to the real estate agent as an "Oreo cookie." | |||||||
22 | 9 | "Mike's Problem" | John Rich (uncredited) | Teleplay by: Alan J. Levitt and Philip Mishkin Story by: Alan J. Levitt |
November 20, 1971 | 210 | |
Mike's anxiety over his upcoming exams puts pressure on the Stivics' sex life, so much that Mike becomes impotent. Gloria is left to deal with her husband's (temporary) impotency. | |||||||
23 | 10 | "The Insurance Is Cancelled" | John Rich | Lee Kalcheim w/ Michael Ross & Bernie West | November 27, 1971 | 210 | |
Archie is enduring quite a bit of stress these days—he is told to reduce his workforce during cutbacks at the loading dock, at the same time he is told his homeowner's insurance policy has been cancelled. | |||||||
24 | 11 | "The Man in the Street" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Don Nicholl and Paul Harrison & Lennie Weinrib Story by: Paul Harrison & Lennie Weinrib |
December 4, 1971 | 212 | |
Archie is polled for a "man-on-the-street" question, and it is airing on "The CBS Evening News" with Walter Cronkite. Unfortunately, Archie does not have a working television set to see himself being interviewed.
Note: Episode features news footage of then-CBS White House Correspondent Dan Rather and President Richard Nixon. | |||||||
25 | 12 | "Cousin Maude's Visit" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Philip Mishkin, Michael Ross & Bernie West Story by: Philip Mishkin |
December 11, 1971 | 213 | |
Gloria, Mike and Archie are all flu-ridden and running Edith ragged taking care of them. Adding insult to injury, a caretaker who backs Mike's liberal viewpoints is present: Edith's cousin, Maude.
Note: Beatrice Arthur makes her debut appearance as Maude Findlay. | |||||||
26 | 13 | "Christmas Day at the Bunkers'" | John Rich | Don Nicholl | December 18, 1971 | 211 | |
Archie's depressed at Christmas, particularly since he has to find a way to tell his family he did not get the bonus he expected because his team bungled a work order. | |||||||
27 | 14 | "The Elevator Story" | John Rich | Alan J. Levitt | January 1, 1972 | 215 | |
It is Edith's birthday, and the whole family plans to take her out to dinner. Archie makes a quick stop at the insurance agent's office first—but the elevator he is in suddenly stops, trapping him with a black businessman, a ditsy secretary, a Puerto Rican man, and his very pregnant wife.
Notes: Eileen Brennan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Hector Elizondo and Edith Diaz guest-star. | |||||||
28 | 15 | "Edith's Problem" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Burt Styler Story by: Burt Styler and Steve Zacharias |
January 8, 1972 | 214 | |
Edith tells Archie to "stifle, stifle, stifle!" when she goes through the early stages of menopause. Archie tries to be understanding, but just wants his wife to have her change of life so they can get on with their lives as usual. | |||||||
29 | 16 | "Archie and the FBI" | John Rich | Michael Ross, Bernie West & Susan Harris | January 15, 1972 | 216 | |
During a visit between Archie and his longtime friend/American Legion Post 3201 Commander Larry Grundy (Graham Jarvis), an FBI agent investigates both of them, in which their mutual paranoia causes a rift that may permanently damage the friendship. | |||||||
30 | 17 | "Mike's Mysterious Son" | John Rich | Warren Murray | January 22, 1972 | 218 | |
Mike's ex-girlfriend shows up with a four-year-old boy in tow. She tells Edith that Mike is the father and wants him to claim the boy. Wanting to avoid a confrontation, Edith does her best to conceal the boy from Archie.
Note: Marcia Rodd appears as the role of the boy's mother. She would return later in the season as Maude Findlay's daughter. | |||||||
31 | 18 | "Archie Sees a Mugging" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Philip Mishkin and Don Nicholl Story by: Henry Garson |
January 29, 1972 | 217 | |
Archie witnesses a mugging and does not want to appear as a witness. During questioning, he makes up a story about gangsters doing the deed, resulting in a visit to Archie's house by a pair of men Archie believes to be from the Mafia. | |||||||
32 | 19 | "Archie and Edith, Alone" | John Rich | Teleplay by: Lee Kalcheim and Michael Ross & Bernie WestStory by: Tina & Les Pine | February 5, 1972 | 219 | |
Mike and Gloria take a vacation, leaving Archie and Edith by themselves and revealing the often uneasy marital relationship between Archie and Edith. | |||||||
33 | 20 | "Edith Gets a Mink" | John Rich | Teleplay by: David Pollock, Elias Davis & Don Nicholl Story by: David Pollock & Elias Davis |
February 12, 1972 | 220 | |
Edith gets a mink cape from her wealthy cousin, and Archie objects, demanding she return it. However when the cape is damaged by the cleaners, Archie does an about-face and schemes to keep the insurance check. | |||||||
34 | 21 | "Sammy's Visit" | John Rich | Bill Dana | February 19, 1972 | 221 | |
Sammy Davis Jr. leaves a briefcase in Archie's taxicab, and needs to visit the Bunkers to retrieve it. Archie tries to be on his best behavior but winds up being himself. In the moment that made the episode, Sammy decides to pose for a picture with Archie, but kisses him on the cheek just as Munson trips the camera's shutter.
Note: O'Connor and Davis were longtime friends and when Davis expressed an interest in appearing on the show, O'Connor and Lear came up with the idea of having Davis as himself but doing most of his parts in ad lib form to make it more natural. The kiss at the end was O'Connor's idea. The unrestrained laughter was the longest in television history; it was cut short in the final print to allow Archie to say the last line on screen. | |||||||
35 | 22 | "Edith the Judge" | John Rich | Lee Kalcheim | February 26, 1972 | 222 | |
At a coin-operated laundry, Archie breaks one of the machines, and the manager (Jack Weston) wants to collect damages. Edith reluctantly agrees to arbitrate the grievance lest it wind up in small claims court. | |||||||
36 | 23 | "Archie Is Jealous" | John Rich | Rod Parker | March 5, 1972 | 223 | |
Archie learns a secret from Edith's deep past between her and an old boyfriend. | |||||||
37 | 24 | "Maude" | John Rich | Rod Parker | March 12, 1972 | 224 | |
Edith drags Archie along to Cousin Maude's daughter Carol's wedding in Tuckahoe. Note: This was the pilot episode for the spinoff series Maude. In addition to Beatrice Arthur as Edith's cousin, Maude Findlay, the episode featured Bill Macy as Maude's husband Walter, while the part of Carol, in this episode, is played by Marcia Rodd. |