All in the Family cast reunites for Norman Lear tribute at the 2023 Emmys

The cast of All in the Family paid tribute to the series' late forefather, legendary television producer Norman Lear, at the 2023 Emmys, which finally aired Monday night after a previous delay amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.

At the event, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, who played married couple Gloria and Michael on the sitcom, appeared on a set decorated to look just like the Bunker family home. “Sally and I were part of a unique television family: not just the Bunkers, but Norman Lear’s extended family,” Reiner began. “Over the decades, Norman brought us together and he created groundbreaking television shows that depicted real people who made us laugh, made us think, made us feel.” 

“There’s a Yiddish word that describes Norman’s genius: it’s kochleffel,” he continued. “For all you non-Jews out there, kochleffel is a ladle, a ladle that stirs the pot. And when Norman the kochleffel stirred that pot, he wound up changing American culture.”

Struthers added, "Tonight, as we remember the legends of our industry we lost this past year, we celebrate their lives and legacy and the joy they brought to us. So to all of the members of all of our television families who have passed on..."

Then, accompanied by Reiner, she concluded, "Those were the days."

Based on the British sitcom Till Death Do Us Part, All in the Family centered around the Bunker family and how their beliefs clashed between generations — especially between bigoted blue collar patriarch Archie (Carroll O'Connor) and his "meathead" son-in-law, Michael (Reiner). No topic was ever too taboo for the Bunkers, with the pioneering series regularly pushing the boundaries of 1970s television with its discussions about abortion, the Vietnam War, birth control, homosexuality, religion, menopause, and racial and ethnic stereotypes. 

Widely considered to be among the greatest sitcoms of all time, All in the Family aired for for nine seasons, won three Emmys for Best Comedy Series, and spawned several spinoffs, including Maude, Archie Bunker’s Place, and The Jeffersons. 

Lear died of natural causes on Dec. 5 at 101. In a statement on his website, the Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated legend’s family said that he “lived a life of gratitude."

"'Am I not the luckiest dude?' he often said. He was grateful for everything that brought him to the moment he was in. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he was unwaveringly devoted. He was always transparent and vocal about his love and admiration for each of us," they wrote. "We were adored by him, and we adored him right back. Knowing and loving him has been the greatest of gifts."

The 2023 Emmys aired live on Fox from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Monday night. See the full list of winners.

Check out more from EW's The Awardist, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's best films, TV, and music.

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