Week of July 22: "All In the Family"'s Pilot Trio

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Last week's look at the original pilot of "That Girl," with Harold Gould and Penny Santon playing the parents of Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) - in roles played in the regular series by Lew Parker and Rosemary DeCamp - triggered another find - in fact, two of them.

Check out this unaired 1968 pilot of "Justice For All," featuring Tim McIntire ("Rich Man Poor Man," "Soap") and character actress Kelly Jean Peters as young newlyweds - along with her parents, Archie and Edith, played by Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton.

What? You say it sounds just like "All In the Family?" It is in every way - except for some changed words in "Those Were the Days," sung by O'Connor and Stapleton, O'Connor's haircut (thankfully) - and the casting of the young newlyweds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xwKhHoQ-_w

That pilot was taped for ABC, which said, "Not now." Series creator Norman Lear tried again in 1969 with Oakland Raider football player Chip Oliver and character actress Candice Azzara as the young couple:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlboZuvBFNM&feature=related

The show was getting closer to full bloom, with familiar opening titles and the classic song. It was obvious that O'Connor and Stapleton were magic as Archie and Edith. But not to ABC, which said No again.

Then CBS said Yes to the gutsiest show in television history and re-titled it "All In the Family." And, of course, the third time was the charm, with "Smothers Brothers" comedy writer (and Carl's son) Rob Reiner cast as Mike and up-and-comer Sally Struthers as Gloria (not to mention "Good Times" co-creator Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf0sgaB3mkc&feature=related

The two rejected pilots are on the "All In the Family" first season DVD. Of course, the entire series is now available on DVD.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!