Archie Bunker Was Nobody Without Jerry Mayer

10 replies
Jerry Mayer? Who?

Archie Bunker, that lovable (???) bigot, was nobody without people like
Jerry Mayer.

Who was Jerry Mayer? He was just one of the many writers who put the
words into Archie Bunker's mouth week after week.

Don't get me wrong, Carol O'Connor was a great actor and he will always
be remembered as Archie Bunker...but he couldn't have done it by himself.

He needed great writers to come up with scripts that made us laugh and
think about our own prejudices. He needed a terrific group of co stars to
play off of. Jean Stapleton was pure genius in the role of the "dingbat"

Point is, Archie Bunker didn't do it himself. For that matter, Norman Lear,
the genius who created this show, also didn't do it himself. His words (he
wrote many episodes himself) would have meant nothing without such
talented people to deliver them.

The bigger point is this, and it's an important one.

In our business, there are many things that have to get done on a daily
basis. I won't get into them all. You know what they are, including web
design, graphic design, copywriting, article writing, list building and on and
on. Some of these things we're going to be very good at. But some of
them, we're about as inept as the sound man on the All In The Family set
trying to write an award winning script.

If Norman Lear tried to do it all himself, he would have had a total failure
on his hands. For that matter, had he not had the sense to get Carol O'
Connor, he still might have had a failure on his hands...with all the other
talent that show had, in front of and behind the camera.

If YOU try to do it all, well, you might be able to get away with it. After
all, running a small home business isn't quite as involved as putting on a
TV show, but with each thing that you insist on doing yourself, especially
things that you're not that good at, you have more of a chance of
failure.

The key is to take stock of what you do well and what you do not so well.
The things that you do not so well, get somebody else to do them for you.

Heck, for that matter, if you have the money, even things you CAN do well,
you're probably better off getting somebody else to do them for you in
order to free up more of YOUR time to do things that will bring you in
more money.

Think some of the top copywriters don't hire other copywriters to write
their sales letters for them simply because they want to spend the time
doing something that will make them money instead of slaving over a sales
letter? Go ask them. They'll tell you.

Were it not for people like Jerry Mayer (go look up what classic episode
he wrote) Archie Bunker would have just been a character name.

Think about what you might become with people LIKE Jerry Mayer.

It's certainly worth considering.
#archie #bunker #jerry #mayer
  • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
    I will not be your Jerry Mayer dude..

    I told you..no JV.. it ain't gonna happen...

    Jus playin..I have absolutely no clue who you are talkin about and I am now off to YouTube to discover..

    Peace

    Jay
    Signature

    Bare Murkage.........

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    • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
      Jay,

      You're probably too young to remember either Archie Bunker or Alf Garnett, the BBC character that Bunker was based on. Don't worry about it, Steven's point still stands.

      No need to be the expert of everything in your business, just be the expert that runs the business.

      Nice one Steven.

      Peter
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      • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
        Originally Posted by Peter Bestel View Post

        Jay,

        You're probably too young to remember either Archie Bunker or Alf Garnett, the BBC character that Bunker was based on. Don't worry about it, Steven's point still stands.

        No need to be the expert of everything in your business, just be the expert that runs the business.

        Nice one Steven.

        Peter
        See now Alf Garnett I have heard of.. but I understood the point anyhow...

        Peace

        Jay
        Signature

        Bare Murkage.........

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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    It would be nice though, if you didn't make those guys out be, and even use the term, geniuses. And Norman Lear did NOT create "all in the family". The show really WAS close to till death do us part. A look at the opening credits for "all in the family" makes it clear that they took the format from "till death do us part".

    From the MSN site:

    "The program you are about to see is All in the Family. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show -- in a mature fashion -- just how absurd they are." With this carefully worded disclaimer, the CBS television network ushered in a new era of television comedy on January 12, 1971, with the premiere of All in the Family. Inspired by the British sitcom Till Death Do Us Part, the series was proposed by... Read more producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin in early 1968, and a pilot episode titled "Those Were the Days" was commissioned by ABC. From the beginning, Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton were "set" as leading characters Archie and Edith Bunker (original last name: Justice), though two unknowns were cast as the couple's daughter, Gloria, and son-in-law, Mike Stivic. Also from the beginning, it had been decided to retain the controversial nature of the original British series, with bigoted hard-hat Archie forever at odds with his flaming liberal son-in-law.
    I wouldn't be a BIT surprised if Alf Garnet ALSO used the wrong words, etc... If not, maybe they were suggested simply to make archie appear even dumber.

    In any event, you would think ANYONE would realize the potential of this format. One that was towing the nationalistic line for his benefit, and another EQUALLY die hard and misled liberal, FORCED to stay in the same home together because of a daughter(It just works out better for a father/daughter tie, as it would be harder to break). A wife that puts up with her husband, and causes him grief could also be expected. A homogenous neighborhood with one or two "interlopers" also wouldn't be hard to imagine. HECK, I have seen REAL people that were similar. BOTH shows seem to have followed the same kind of style.

    BTW Archie played 3 distinct roles...Shop Worker, Taxicab driver, barkeeper. Only ONE required a hardhat.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      It would be nice though, if you didn't make those guys out be, and even use the term, geniuses. And Norman Lear did NOT create "all in the family". The show really WAS close to till death do us part. A look at the opening credits for "all in the family" makes it clear that they took the format from "till death do us part".

      From the MSN site:



      I wouldn't be a BIT surprised if Alf Garnet ALSO used the wrong words, etc... If not, maybe they were suggested simply to make archie appear even dumber.

      In any event, you would think ANYONE would realize the potential of this format. One that was towing the nationalistic line for his benefit, and another EQUALLY die hard and misled liberal, FORCED to stay in the same home together because of a daughter(It just works out better for a father/daughter tie, as it would be harder to break). A wife that puts up with her husband, and causes him grief could also be expected. A homogenous neighborhood with one or two "interlopers" also wouldn't be hard to imagine. HECK, I have seen REAL people that were similar. BOTH shows seem to have followed the same kind of style.

      BTW Archie played 3 distinct roles...Shop Worker, Taxicab driver, barkeeper. Only ONE required a hardhat.

      Steve, you obviously missed the point of the whole thread.

      But thanks for the in depth analysis of this classic show.

      Even if you apparently think it sucked.
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  • Profile picture of the author tommygadget
    Still, that show was brilliantly written. Incredibly unpolitically correct, wow, I can't believe some of the things they got away with. Also, it stands the test of time as it is just as funny now as it was then. Oh, and as a side note, Steve's point is well taken. If you have the money, delegate, delegate, delegate the grunt work. It will leave you with more time and energy to actually run your business.

    TomG.
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  • Profile picture of the author Terry Hatfield
    I loved the song they played whenever it came on. That is what would get me watching it every time it came on.

    Terry
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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      I want to report that someone or something (probably that fuzzy alien ALF) has taken over Steven Wagenheim's body and is controlling it. Now where is the real Steven Wagenheim and you better not have been doing that anal probing thing!
      No Mike, I'm just trying to get away from all the nonsense and BS and
      maybe add something of substance to this place, that's all.

      Besides, ALF is a lot furrier than I'll ever be. I just shaved for the first time
      in a week and you can't tell the difference.
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      • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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        • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
          Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

          LOL...I was just thinking back to the old days when I remember a certain enthusiastic marketer I said something like this too
          Mike.... you said "Alf is a lot furrier than me?"
          Not your usual brand of enlightening post.
          Signature
          eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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  • Profile picture of the author Terry Hatfield
    Mike,

    I think it is a case of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers!".

    These last couple months Steven's posts seem as if he is a changed marketer for the better.

    I guess you guys pounding on him over and over and over is starting to get through.

    Terry
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