Watching All in the Family: Edith goes through menopause

[MonkeyFunk]

the classic episode where Edith is going through "the change".

At the time it was considered ground-breaking television - the first time menopause was ever addressed on TV.

But... It portrays Edith as a raving lunatic. Pleasant one minute, insanely vicious the next, and apparently with no memory of the prior state.

I remember watching this when it first aired, and it was really avant-garde. But its funny to watch it 30-some years later.

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. 'STIFLE!

STIFLE, STIFLE, STIFLE!!"

:rofl:

[SeattleGirl]

2. Believe me, I know first hand that what Edith was going through

is quite normal, damnit!!!!

[MonkeyFunk]

8. heheh...

I doubt the mood changes were as dramatic depicted, nor the short-term memory-loss.

But nonetheless, I'm sure it can't be comfortable, and All in the Family did a great service by even discussing the issue.

[SeattleGirl]

26. Well, I must say that the mood changes and the short-term memory

loss are all to real for me, though I know that menopause is different for everyone.

And I give big kudos to AITF for broaching this subject in the first place. They definitely went where no one had gone before!

[VenusRising]

3. I'm watching All in the Family

or rather I'm listening to it in the background.

Edith is awesome. It takes a lot of goodness to put up with Archie's not-so-goodness.

[SeattleGirl]

4. Edith was a wonderful woman!

I cried my eyes out when she died. :cry:

[VenusRising]

5. I always wanted to live next door to them as a kid.

She was so nice, and I always wanted to be as sweet as she was when I grew up.

I'm not. She's on tv and I got some perspective as I aged.

Although, I do wish there were someone around who had the little gems of wisdom that Edith had.

[SeattleGirl]

6. I've had several Edith's in my life, for which I am very grateful.

Sometimes the common woman/man can say so very much, even if it's in a goofy way.

[VenusRising]

10. It's the goofy way that makes it.

It's so endearing and memorable.

You're very lucky.

:hug:

[MonkeyFunk]

7. I DID grow up next to them...

I'm from NY. It has its pluses and minuses. But the hard-pressed women were true joys.

[VenusRising]

12. That would have been an interesting childhood.

I bet you have some stories you could tell.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. Y'mean like

"Archie! Mike! Don't fight! Not on Henry Mancini's birthday!" ?

:D

[VenusRising]

11. That's as good a reason as any

that I've heard of not to fight.

:hi:

:hug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. The biggest laugh I got from Edith

came when she was explaining to Archie how she dented a car with her shopping cart. She'd let go of it when a can of cling peaches in heavy syrup popped out and rolled along the ground.

Of course, Edith could never make a long story short, and Archie tired of hearing about cling peaches in heavy syrup, so she called it "the can of mmmm hmmmm... in heavy syrup."
:rofl:




Guess you hadda be there. :blush:

[SeattleGirl]

14. I remember that!

I loved that show! And I lurve Edith!

[VenusRising]

15. I know exactly what scene you're talking about.

That was hysterically funny. She was so literal about things.

I also love Edith's, "Oh, noooooo." Like when she figured out that the "woman" Archie saved the life of was actually a transvestite.

:rofl:

[SeattleGirl]

16. Jeez, that was the funniest episode!

Watching Archie freak out when he realizes he has given mouth-to-mouth to a man! :rofl:

[VenusRising]

17. Archie's eyes were as big as saucers.

And he turned his head really slow always looking out of the corner of his eye.

70s TV was so good.

[Oeditpus Rex]

20. Remember when Mike told him

that his he-man, ex-football-player friend was gay, and Mike's somewhat-effeminate friend wasn't?

I'll never forget that. Archie and the guy were arm-wrestling at Kelsey's, which was their tradition, and Archie "casually" brought up what Mike had told him. The guy looked him straight in the eye, said, "He's right, Arch," and pinned him.

Archie just sat there, stunned, trying to take it all in. :D

[SeattleGirl]

22. You know, despite his bigotry, there was something very loveable

about Archie. Sort of the same kind of thing as with Andy Sipowitz on NYPD Blue. Two human being trying to come to terms with themselves, and the world as it was changing.

[Oeditpus Rex]

25. I think also

you knew Archie's bigotry wasn't born of hatred, but of ignorance. And when presented with incontrovertible truth contrary to his beliefs, he tried to grasp it.

That's more than you can say for a lot of people.

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. Wasn't that 'ooOOOOOooooohhh'?

With a look on her face that told you dawn was breaking on her brain? :D

[SeattleGirl]

19. You got it, Oedi!

Edith is a treasure, isn't she?

[Oeditpus Rex]

21. Absolutely

Next to Lucille Ball and perhaps Mary Tyler Moore, one of the most important and beloved woman in teevee history.

[SeattleGirl]

24. Yup!

Absolutely agree with you! When Edith died, I cried my eyes out.

[pokerfan]

27. Don't forget Audrey Meadows!

She was able to handle the comic genius that was Jackie Gleason and she did wearing heels.

Every bit his comedic equal.

And for all his paper tiger bluster about sending her bang! zoom! to the moon, you just knew he wouldn't really lay a hand on her. Meanwhile she just stood there and stared him down.

And most every episode ended in an embrace and "Baby, you're the greatest!"

Don't get me started on Art Carney.

[SeattleGirl]

28. Aw, The Honeymooners!

Another great show!

[VenusRising]

23. That one, too.

She had a couple of good ones. :)

[Darth_Kitten]

29. I like the episode with Edith on jury duty..........

one lone dingbat. :D