Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place followed Norman Lear's long-running hit sitcom All in the Family with a largely new cast of characters surrounding Carroll O'Connor's beloved bigot from Queens, Archie Bunker. Jean Stapleton, reprising her role as Archie's wife, Edith, occasionally appeared in the new show for continuity's sake, but was gone by the second season. (Archie Bunker's Place ran from 1979 to 1983.) Seen much more often was young Danielle Brisbois as Archie's feisty niece, Stephanie, who moved into the Bunker home toward the end of All in the Family's duration.
The "place" in the series title is not, in fact, Archie's house but rather the saloon he bought into with barkeep Harry Snowden (Jason Wingreen), a development that also happened toward the conclusion of the previous series. Happy to have his own business, Archie still finds plenty to grouse about, not least of all the opinions and private affairs of his regular patrons (as well as Harry). Among the faces one is likely to find at Archie Bunker's Place at any time of the day or night are old pal and neighbor Barney Hefner (Allan Melvin) and Mr. Van Ranseleer (Bill Quinn), whose blindness seems to intensify his focus on surrounding conversations. (He's good at inserting the uninvited zinger in other people's dialogue.) The Complete First Season begins with something unexpected, however: Harry wants to sell his stake in the bar. Unable to raise the cash, Archie watches with great discontent from the sidelines as Murray Klein (Martin Balsam), a complete stranger, buys Harry out and becomes a partner. Archie and Murray's initially rocky relationship becomes more stable over time, and the two even develop a bond of trust and shared insight. Other highlights of the season include an episode in which kindly Edith takes a job helping patients at a psychiatric hospital (much to Archie's chagrin); a two-part Thanksgiving tale featuring daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Mike (Rob Reiner), who pay a visit following Mike's dismissal from his teaching job in California; and stories starring Estelle Parsons (as Barney's sexy ex-wife) and Sammy Davis Jr. in a follow-up to one of the most popular All in the Family episodes. --Tom Keogh
Archie decides to expand his bar, Archie Bunker's Place, into a restaurant. In the meantime, Harry has decided to sell his half of the bar to Jewish liberal Murray Klein. Archie, being the bigot he is, tries in vain to get a loan to buy Harry out.
Harry finalizes the sale of his half to Murray Klein, much to Archie's chagrin. However, Archie must come to grips with the fact that he has a new partner. Murray also discovers that there is more to Archie than his bigoted exterior.
Archie's Place has acquired a new regular customer, Dottie. However, Archie and Murray discover that she is a prostitute and is conducting her business at the bar. This is bad for the bar's image. How can they convince her to leave?
Edith, who has been jobless since she got fired from the Sunshine Home, has gotten a job as recreational assistant at the Rego Park Center for the Mentally Ill. However, Archie has decided that he thinks that Edith should not be working.
The energy crisis has become a big problem. The bar is freezing cold and Edith has been preserving as much energy as possible at home as well. Soon, Archie is suffering as well, when the frigid conditions give him a case of strep throat.
Archie is in trouble with the State of New York when he is charged with non-payment of sales tax and questionable record keeping. Now it's up to Murray to save Archie and the bar by trying to romance the tax agent.
Construction on the restaurant is underway, but the contractor Archie and Murray hired is demanding more money. Archie, who is determined that the restaurant will be a success, goes to a loan shark.
Archie and Murray hire short-order cook Veronica Rooney (Anne Meara), but she insists that her gay nephew be hired as waiter. Archie's strong feelings on homosexuality present a problem.
In a protest march against Napom, Murray punched a cop. Although it has been pardoned, his ""criminal record"" may cost the bar its liquor license.
Mike and Gloria Stivic, and little Joey, come home to spend Thanksgiving with the Bunkers. (Originally a 1-hour special)
Mike and Gloria Stivic, and little Joey, come home to spend Thanksgiving with the Bunkers. (Originally a 1-hour special)
Dottie (the hooker from #3) has been arrested for prostitution. Murray bails her out and talks Archie into hiring her as a waitress to try to keep her out of trouble. However, trouble finds her when now divorcee Barney Hefner falls in love and proposes.
An old high school buddy of Archie's (who is also a conman) comes to town to inform Archie that he has been elected Man of the Year.
Edith and Stephanie are preparing a Shabbat dinner, a dinner eaten on the Jewish sabbath. They invite Archie's partner, Murray and his non-Jewish girlfriend. Unbeknownst to him, Edith also invites his mother, who feels that Murray should only be dating Jewish women.
When Barney's barstool collapses while he is sitting on it, Archie is afraid he will try to sue.
Barney's ex-wife Blanche comes back to town, and is as sex crazy as ever. She now goes after Murray, infuriating Barney.
Murray's estranged daughter suddenly shows up with a Puerto Rican husband and children on the way.
The neighborhood has had a sudden rash of burglaries and Archie and Murray are afraid the bar will be the next one.
Archie's ""old friend"" Sammy Davis Jr. is in town appearing on a talk show. Archie calls him up and invites him to the bar.
Customers have been complaining about Veronica's nephew, Fred, the gay waiter. So Archie decides that he can convert him by setting him up on a date with a pretty girl.
Murray steps in when Archie refuses to appear in the father and daughter talent show at Stephanie's school.
When Archie and the guys at the bar read in the paper that there might be a cure for Mr. Van Ranseleer's blindness, they pool their efforts and money so he can have the operation.
Veronica's ex-husband (Jerry Stiller) come back to town, and Veronica falls for him all over again.
An old friend of Murray's comes to visit, but he's also a crime kingpin. When Murray unknowingly signals the death of a rival mob boss, Archie fears retalitation.
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Martin Balsam | Murray Klein |
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Carroll O'Connor | Archie Bunker |
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Allan Melvin | Barney Hefner |
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Danielle Brisebois | Stephanie Mills |
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Jason Wingreen | Harry Snowden |
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Bill Quinn | Mr. Van Ranseleer |
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Anne Meara | Veronica Rooney |
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Danny Dayton | Hank Pivnik |
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Abraham Alvarez | Jose Perez |
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Jean Stapleton | Edith Bunker |
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Dean Scofield | Fred |
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Connie Sawyer | Mama Klein |
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Norma Donaldson | Ms. Watson |
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Florence Halop | Aunt Gussie |
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Mel Bryant | Swanson |
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Rob Reiner | Michael 'Meathead' Stivic |
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Sally Struthers | Gloria Bunker Stivic |
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Sheree North | Dotty Wertz |
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Cynthia Sikes | Peggy Levy |
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Jay Gerber | Levy the Lawyer |
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Dick Billingsley | Joey Stivic |
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Andy Garcia | Hay-Soos |
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Jerry Stiller | Carmine |
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William Schallert | Dr. Wakeford |
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Talia Balsam | Beverly Klein-Munoz |
| Packaging | Custom Case |
|---|---|
| Nr Discs | 3 |
| Screen Ratios | 1.33:1 |
| Audio Tracks | ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Stereo |
| Distributor | Sony Pictures |
| Layers | Single side, Dual layer |
| Edition Release Date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Regions | Region 1 |
| Purchased | For $ 29.95 |
|---|---|
| Index | 1086 |
| Added Date | Dec 12, 2012 01:15:21 |
| Modified Date | Nov 14, 2019 01:46:53 |