Throwback Thursday TV Edition- All In The Family

All In The Family is an undisputed classic.

The pilot aired on January 12th, 1971. It was nothing short of earth shattering.

Archie Bunker (the late Carroll O’Connor) is a middle aged, working class World War II veteran. He lives in Queens with his loyal but slightly ditzy wife, Edith (the late Jean Stapleton), his daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and his liberal son in law (Rob Reiner).

Archie has opinions today that would not be considered politically correct. He does not hesitate to share those opinions, especially about those who disagree with him or those who he doesn’t like. Archie represents the generation that came of age during the depression and World War II, the generation that was middle aged with growing or grown children during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Despite his beliefs, Archie is still a decent guy who is trying to adapt to the changing world.

Family sitcoms before All In The Family were lovey-dovey, ooey gooey, with a teachable moment and a story line that was wrapped up neatly within 30 minutes. All In The Family changed that. The characters were flawed and human, using language that had not been heard before on American television. It exposed the raw nerve that was the American culture in that period. After 40+ years, this show is still relevant and still funny.

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Throwback Thursday Part II- An Education

When we are young, we can’t wait to grow up. And then when we grow up…… and we find out that it’s not all that we thought it was.

An Education made it’s debut in 2009. It’s the story of Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a teenager in 1960’s London. Her father (Alfred Molina) has a goal of seeing his daughter receive her college degree from Oxford.  Her life changes when she meets David G0ldman (Peter Saarsgard), a man twice her age. David is very much the gentleman, to Jenny and her parents. Their relationship begins to turn romantic, but David may not be what he seems.

This movie is a very quiet movie, but in that quietness is the power.  Mulligan as teenage Jenny, represents the anxieties and pressures we all faced as teenagers. Molina, as Jenny’s father represents all our fathers when we were teenagers. He wants the best for her, but still does what every father of a teenager girl does. Saarsgard as David, represents the fantasy of being a teenager and taken away from the restrictive life to the freedom of being an adult.

This cast is full of actors who have played characters in Austen adaptations, with a Jane Eyre subplot.

What else does one need for a good movie?