Archie Bunker's Place Homepage
|
|
Fred Rubin with his writing partner Alan Rosen wrote and produced for Archie
Bunker’s Place from the beginning of it’s second season in 1980 until it’s
cancellation in 1983. He now teaches script writing at the University of
Southern California (USC) and at the University of California Los Angles (UCLA).
Here is the E-Mail Q&A that he graciously answered for me.
(1)ABP HOMMEPAGE: What were the challenges of Co-writing your first Archie
Bunker's Place episode "Archie Alone", in which both the writers and Archie had
to deal with the death of Edith Bunker, one of TV's most beloved sitcom
characters?
FRED RUBIN: The challenges were fairly obvious. We didn't have the actress to
work with so we had to craft a story that didn't involve her, but really about
Archie and Stephanie which is pretty much what we did. And since we were killing
off one of the most popular characters in the history of American fiction we
wanted to be careful, tactful, and respectful. We easily spent a month working
on the story.
(2)ABPHP: Why did you decide not to show Edith's funeral on camera?
FR:
Again, the actress was not available to us and we didn't want to exploit the
Edith character either. A funeral would have been typical, and we wanted the
episode to be about feelings for Edith and not about Edith.
(3)ABPHP:
Other than Archie Bunker's Place which other TV series have you
written for?
FR:
Different Strokes, Mama's Family, Night Court, Webster, Family Matters, Step
by Step, Two of A Kind.
(4) ABPHP: Which was your personal favorite of all the episodes you wrote for
Archie Bunker's Place?
FR:
Ediths death. Because it had such a momentous responsibility to it. It was
well done and well acted. A lot of thought went into the story and writing.
(5) ABPHP:
Are their any storylines you wanted to do for Archie Bunker's Place
that never came about?
FR:
Yes. We wanted to have a reunion of Archie and his old Army buddies in Foggia, Italy where he always claimed to serve. Of course all of us on staff
wanted a free trip to Italy. But the network never went with the idea.
(6) ABPHP: In all your years of writing sitcoms which character did you have the
most fun writing for? Arnold Jackson, Steve Urkel or Archie Bunker?
FR: Easy Question! Steve Urkel. I personally feel that Jaleel White was one of
the most talented comic performers to ever grace television. He was incredibly
gifted with physical comedy. And remember he also played Stephan, and his girl
cousin Myrtle. Anything we could dream up we could do on that show. Great fun.
(7) ABPHP: How would you describe Archie Bunker Place as a series?
FR: It was a spin off. It was totally different from All In the Family. It added
to the history of Archie but it was never as dynamic as the series it came from.
(8) ABPHP: Do you think having to live in the footsteps of one of the all time
great sitcoms All in the Family has hurt peoples' perception of Archie Bunker's
Place?
FR:
Absolutely. It was one hard act to follow. Plus without Mike, Gloria, and
Edith the series lost a certain dynamic of conflict. And the best humor comes
from conflict.
(9) ABPHP: Your writing partner, Alan Rosen played Billie's so-called ex-boy
friend, Ted Green, in the Episode "A Blast from the Past" How did that come
about?
FR:
Alan is a very talented writer, actor, and director. He appealed to Carroll
to let him explore some of his talents and Carroll agreed.
(10) ABPHP: Though I am a Mets fan, I had to ask you about a certain ex-Yankee.
You and Alan Rosen wrote the Episode "Reggie-3 Archie-0", which guest stared now
baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. How did that episode come about? Was it
fun working with Reggie? Were you and Alan Rosen writers on Diff'rent Strokes
when Reggie played Willis' fill in father in the episode "Father and Son Day"?
FR: The two of us worked on 3 different series with Reggie Jackson. Scznyck with
Ned Beatty (right after Reggie hit his 3 home runs in the world series) as well
as Different Strokes and Archie. Sports personalities are always looking to do
sitcoms and sitcoms love having them in the mistaken belief that they increase
the ratings.
(11) ABPHP: Though you did not personally write this episode, you were a story
editor on it. What was it like working with Don Rickles on "Death of a Lodger".?
FR:
He's exactly what you'd expect. Fun and wild and he cuts up everybody even
when the cameras are not rolling. I liked him, he was also very real and
friendly.
(12) ABPHP: Other then Archie which Archie Bunker's Place character was the most
fun to write for?
FR: The Barry Gordon character, Rabinowitz. Barry's a naturally funny guy-great
timing. Writing for him was like writing for Woody Allen.
(13) ABPHP: Who do you keep in touch with from Archie Bunker's Place?
FR: Personal question, rather not discuss.
(14) ABPHP: What are you doing now?
FR:
Professor of screenwriting and comedy writing. Private consultant for screen
and tv writers.
(15) ABPHP: You got the opportunity to work with the late David Angell, who went
on to great success writing for Cheers and writing and co-creating Wings and
Frasier. What was he like to work with?
FR:
If I'm not mistaken, we on Archie Bunker gave David his first episode ever. He
was a very nice man. Everyone in the industry loved and respected him.
(16) ABPHP: What do you think of the current sitcoms on the air? Which ones do
you think are the best?
FR: Some good, some bad. My favorites in order are (1) The Simpsons (2)
Everybody Loves Raymond (3) Ed
(17) ABPHP: Why did Anne Meara leave the show and why did her name remain in the
opening credits for the rest of that season? Why did you never fully explain why
Veronica had given up her job as the cook at Archie Place's.
Did you have any inkling that Anne Meara's son, Ben Stiller, would follow in his
mom and dad's (Jerry Stiller) footsteps become such a talented comedian and
actor?
FR: I don't recall why she left the show, and have no idea about the credits.
Ben who used to vist the set as a kid was always very animated, funny, and
charming. He made movies as a kid.
(18) ABPHP: A rumor is going around the Internet that Denice Miller has been
missing at the World Trade Center since the September 11th 2001 terrorist
attack. Can you put this rumor to rest?
FR:
Denice stilll lives here somewhere. I'm sure it's just a rumor.
(19) ABPHP: Was there ever any talk during your tenure on Archie Bunker's Place
of Bea Arthur doing a guest shot as Maude or having Sherman Hemsley do a
crossover as George Jefferson? Those two could probably drive Archie more crazy
than anybody.
FR: No.
(20) ABPHP: I know it was filmed before you came on the show, but I was
wondering if you know if the location used for Archie Bunker's Place in the
opening was a real location in Queens, as was done on Cheers, or a storefront on
a Hollywood back lot?
FR: It was really Queens. I believe Northern Blvd, which Archie called Nawthren.
(21) ABPHP: During the final season you produced some episodes of Archie
Bunker's Place. How did that come about? What determined who got to produce a
particular episode?
FR: Alan Rosen, Fred Rubin, Mark Fink, and Steve Miller produced all three years
on Archie Bunkers place. Contractually we were only allowed story editor credit
for two of the 3 years...we still did the work of producers the whole time.
(22) ABPHP: When the Final Archie Bunker's Place episodes were in production in
early 1983, did you have any indication that CBS planed to cancel the series?
FR:
There were rumors. It was a very highly rated show, even when it was
canceled. In today's market it would never have been canceled.
(23) ABPHP: If you had known that the show was going to be canceled, would you
have written a final episode? How you would have wanted to end the series?
FR:
No real thoughts on this question but I supposed it would have been nice to
reunite Mike, Gloria, and Archie.
(24) ABPHP: What is your favorite memory from Archie Bunker's Place?
FR: Telling jokes to Anne Mera, warm conversations with Martin Balsam (a
wonderful person and actor) and many late nights working and laughing with the
other writer producers.
ABPHP I like to thank Mr. Rubin for taking the time to answer these questions.
Archie Bunker's Place Homepage (C)2001