All in the Family (TV Series) Judging Books by Covers (1971) User Reviews

Judging Books by Covers (#1.5)

[rbrooksie12 · 9/10 · 9 March 2016]

This episode is a great example about how the general attitudes of people towards various topics have changed in the past half century. I don't know of a television show that dealt with such controversial topics before "All in the Family" did. This episode, perhaps the best as well as the most famous from season one was one of the first, if not the first episode to deal with attitudes towards gay people.

Mike and Gloria announce to Archie that their friend Roger is spending the afternoon with the Bunkers. This does not go over well with Archie, as he believes that Roger is gay based on his mannerisms and appearance.

If you take a look at this episode, you will see how much the general attitudes towards gay people gradually improved beginning with the generation Mike and Gloria were in. You will see how much the attitudes have changed from what they were in Archie's generation when you watch the episode. The end features one of the best moments not only from season one, but from the entire run of the series. I would say that out of the first five episodes, the best episode of "All in the Family" is this one. The great writing in this episode gives the viewer a perfect look at how during the history of the show, "All in the Family" takes a controversial topic and presents it with humor that allows the audience to enjoy the episode even more, even if they may not agree with some of the things that were said by some of the characters.

Archie wrong, wrong, wrong

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 2 October 2021]

Memorable performances by Philip Carey & Tony Geary. Kelsey sounds like Monty Python's "Nudge, Nudge" talking to Mike. 2 veteran actors in Kelsey's Billy Halop & Billy Sands familiar faces. Jerry at the end in her only credited TV / movie role.

Great mix

[stones78 · 12 July 2012]

The subject matter and acting performances are what sets this show apart from most other shows, and there's usually a great mix of comedy and drama, as is the case in this solid episode. Anthony Geary, of General Hospital fame, makes one of his first acting appearances as Roger, a friend of Mike's who Archie believes to be gay; according to Archie's logic, since Roger is thin and likes to travel, he must be gay. An interesting sidebar, and not exactly relevant, is Gloria's chair trick, in which she says only woman can do and men can't, but I'm too lazy to explain, so look it up yourself and try it. During Roger's visit with Mike, Archie heads to Kelsey's and meets up with an old friend named Steve(Philip Carey), a former pro football player, a guy I haven't seen since this episode, but his performance was solid. Back at home, Archie and Mike disagree yet again about Roger, and this time Mike threatens to tell the stubborn Archie something that will surprise him; soon after, he tells him that his friend Steve is gay(Mike was told this by Kelsey(Bob Hastings)), even though Archie doesn't believe it. The next scene has Archie arm wrestling with Steve, who's friends with Roger, and as Archie makes a rude comment to Steve about Roger, he(Steve)gets slightly defensive. Archie then begrudgingly tells Steve what Mike said about him being gay, to which he replies, "he's right" to a stunned Archie; Steve mentions that in all the years that Archie's known him, has he ever brought up a woman once? Archie thinks that Steve being a bachelor gives him access to all kinds of women, to which Steve replies being gay is the reason he's still single, to which Archie's still in denial, as Steve leaves the bar. A weird irony is that Anthony Geary is gay in real life, and the late Philip Carey was straight, and married 2 times and had 5 children. Edith wasn't very noticeable, but Archie more than made up for it.