Original Series Premiere Date and Network
All in the Family debuted on CBS on January 12, 1971, as a sitcom adaptation of the British series Till Death Us Do Part. The show was created by Norman Lear and produced by Bud Yorkin, with executive oversight from CBS Entertainment. It quickly became the highest-rated series in the United States, holding the top position for five consecutive seasons. For background on Norman Lear's career and production companies, see the Forbes profile of Norman Lear.
The series ran for nine seasons on CBS, concluding with a two-hour finale on April 8, 1979. During its run, the show aired a total of 205 episodes and consistently ranked in the Nielsen top ten. The opening theme song, "Those Were the Days," performed by Archie and Edith, became iconic. The show's production company, Tandem Productions, later evolved into other successful ventures in film and television.
Spin-Off Series and Franchise Timeline
Maude and The Jeffersons
Maude premiered on CBS on September 12, 1972, directly following the fourth season of All in the Family. The spin-off starred Bea Arthur and ran for six seasons until April 22, 1978. The Jeffersons launched on January 18, 1975, focusing on George and Louise Jefferson moving to a deluxe apartment on the East Side of Manhattan.
The Jeffersons ran for 11 seasons, ending on July 2, 1985, making it one of the longest-running sitcoms in television history. Both shows were produced by Norman Lear's Tandem Productions in association with Columbia Pictures Television. The success of these spin-offs demonstrated the power of the All in the Family franchise model for broadcast networks.
Revival and Reboot Attempts
All in the Family Continuation
All in the Family was revived as a continuation series titled Archie Bunker's Place, which aired on CBS from September 23, 1979, to April 4, 1983. The show focused on Archie Bunker managing a bar in Queens, New York, and ran for four seasons with 97 episodes. Carroll O'Connor continued in the lead role throughout the series.
In 2018, CBS announced a revival project titled All in the Family, but the series did not move forward past the development stage. The original pilot script was written by Norman Lear and producers attempted to update the premise for modern audiences. The project was never greenlit for a full season order, and no episodes were produced or aired.