by Billy Ingram
Perhaps the most famous - and most hysterically funny - episode of All in the Family is 'Sammy’s Visit', guest starring Sammy Davis, Jr.
In this unusual episode, legendary Las Vegas headliner has left his briefcase in Archie Bunker’s cab and will be swinging by (like only a Rat Packer can swing, baby) Archie’s home to pick it up.
This is a second season episode so viewers (and there were many, this was the top rated TV show in the nation) were well-versed on Archie Bunker’s views about African-Americans. Spoiler alert: he didn’t care for them, the series was littered with slurs against Black people although Archie himself never uttered the ’N’ word.
Here are some memories about producing that episode from the folks behind the scenes and in front of the camera, starting with the writer Bill Dana , himself a TV legend!
The Television Academy interviewed Bill Dana and the others about the week shooting 'Sammy’s Visit', Sammy Davis Jr ’s reaction to the script, and how that infamous kiss came about:
VIDEO
All in the Family star Carroll O’Connor on the episode:
VIDEO
The director John Rich’s take on shooting 'Sammy’s Visit' and the spontaneous way the famous kiss that rocked the 1970’s TV world happened:
VIDEO
Hit
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Ten 1970-76 / The
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in the Family / Sam Hall (Dark Shadows) Interview / Actor Ed Nelson / Death of Archie / Battlestar
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of '74 / Happy
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Times / Mr.
Bill / Dinah! / Maude / Doris
Day Show / Pamelyn
Ferdin Interview / The
Bicentennial Minute / Jingles & Catch Phrases of the 1970s / Early
Cable TV 1970s / TV
commercials for Women / TV Moms / Red Skelton / George Lindsay / Country Music TV Shows of the 1960s & 1970s / Betty White Show / Shirley Jones Interview / Tom Bosley / Rodney Dangerfield / How Sanford & Son Ended / Sanford & Son Spin-Off Grady / Great Memoirs / Virginia Graham Show / The "N" Word on TV / 10 Classic Comedy Routines You Have To Laugh At Before You Die / Hollywood Squares / 1970's Teen Idols & The Hudson Brothers / TV Stars with 3 Hit Shows / The Rookies / Unsold Pilots / Jackie Cooper / The Good Guys / Match Game / Make Room For Granddaddy / Mannix & Gail Fisher / Bette
Midler in the 1970s / Bonus 1970's Stuff: Silent Star Marion Mack / Biff Burger / 1970s Fast Food Chains / Latin Casino / Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire / 1970's Daytime Talk Shows / The Fess Parker Show / Brady Bunch Sex Dungeon? / Love, Loss & What I Watched
It is what it is!
When Sammy
Davis Jr
Kissed Archie Bunker!