When I watched these two shows back in the 1970's I thought that they were funny, pointed and iconic. The fact that Archie Bunker's chair is in the Smithsonian Museum is proof of the impact 'All In Thre Family' had.
Something happened when we traveled back in time watching the All In The Family remake, the humor was lost in the translation. Was it that the stories did not transfer or was it that the majority of actors were amazingly inferior to the original.
The acting was often horrible. Woody Harrelson was as bad as any third grader would be playing Archie. He was so obviously campy and pretentious it was like watching a train crash. I kept turning my head hoping to miss the carnage.
Marisa Tomei was acting like a cartoon character. Edith Bunker may have been naive but she was not stupid. Marisa Edith was pitifully idiotic. At least Marisa's Queen's NY accent was fun to listen too.
The Jeffersons remake was a fair amount better. The acting was on point and humor was still funny. Wanda Sykes was a hilarious, but different Louise Jefferson. The original was the calming influence on her husband George while Skyes' Louise was much more caustic, much as Wanda is. Still she was very funny.
Jamie Fox was an excellent George, pompous with a machine gun mouth. He was just taller than the original George who suffered from a comical Napoleon complex.
Jennifer Hudson, looking slim and fantastic in a short tight dress, has a big set of pipes and she gave a great live rendition of the 'Moving On Up' theme song.
The one huge and pleasant surprise was the appearance of Marla Gibbs, now 88 years old and looking decades younger, in her original series role as Florence the sharp witted, nemesis of George, housekeeper. She still has great comic timing and she still is Florence!
Something happened when we traveled back in time watching the All In The Family remake, the humor was lost in the translation. Was it that the stories did not transfer or was it that the majority of actors were amazingly inferior to the original.
The acting was often horrible. Woody Harrelson was as bad as any third grader would be playing Archie. He was so obviously campy and pretentious it was like watching a train crash. I kept turning my head hoping to miss the carnage.
Marisa Tomei was acting like a cartoon character. Edith Bunker may have been naive but she was not stupid. Marisa Edith was pitifully idiotic. At least Marisa's Queen's NY accent was fun to listen too.
The Jeffersons remake was a fair amount better. The acting was on point and humor was still funny. Wanda Sykes was a hilarious, but different Louise Jefferson. The original was the calming influence on her husband George while Skyes' Louise was much more caustic, much as Wanda is. Still she was very funny.
Jamie Fox was an excellent George, pompous with a machine gun mouth. He was just taller than the original George who suffered from a comical Napoleon complex.
Jennifer Hudson, looking slim and fantastic in a short tight dress, has a big set of pipes and she gave a great live rendition of the 'Moving On Up' theme song.
The one huge and pleasant surprise was the appearance of Marla Gibbs, now 88 years old and looking decades younger, in her original series role as Florence the sharp witted, nemesis of George, housekeeper. She still has great comic timing and she still is Florence!