All in the Family

Season 4 Episode 10

Archie in the Cellar

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8.5
out of 10
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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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Archie in the Cellar
AIRED:
Irene installs the new lock on the cellar door just as Mike and Gloria go away for the weekend and Edith leaves for a baby shower leaving Archie home alone. Not having paid attention to Irene's instructions, Archie locks himself in the basement. After finding a bottle of Polish vodka, Archie spends a long night contemplating his life through the haze of a drunken stupor.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • Archie has the house to himself for the weekend as Michael and Gloria leave for a vacation and Edith leaves for a baby shower. Right after they leave Archie accidentally locks himself in the basement. Archie finds a bottle of vodka and....moreless

    10
    By meathead704, Mar 11, 2011
    "Archie in the Cellar" is the funniest episode of the entire series. The classic episode "Sammy's Visit" is a very close second. The late Carrol O'Connor carries this episode for all intents and purposes and does an excellent job. The scenes of Archie recording his last will and testament are very well done. You will be laughing and you might find your heart bleeding for Archie. This episode concludes with definitely the most hilarious scene of the whole series. When the man from the oil company enters, Archie's reaction to him will have you laughing long after the episode ends.moreless

  • This episode revolves around Archie being locked in the cellar of his house for a weekend while the family is away. Confronted with the cold of the cellar Archie indulges in a bottle of Gin he finds and hilarity ensues.moreless

    10
    By 8kix, May 14, 2010
    This episode of All in the Family ranks as one of the funniest things I have ever seen on television or in the movies. The humor of the episode rests in its subtle and somewhat silly exploration of Archie’s character when he is confronted with the prospect of death. While Archie only imagines the prospect of death in his drunken state, the writers allow us to get a sense of Archie’s true character in a purely amusing way. As with all great AITF episodes the humor is very tongue in cheek.



    I have shown it to many of my friends and those who are not familiar with AITF are a bit confused as to what I find so amusing about this episode. Those who are familiar with the show however laugh in hysterics along with me. A great deal of the humor is tied up in the closing gags and to give them away would take away greatly from the effectivness of the episode. So watch this one, and I guarantee that if you love all in the Family, you will be utterly thrilled with this episode.moreless

  • Funniest episode EVER!

    9.7
    By therealdavo, May 14, 2010
    This All in the Family episode is the BEST ONE EVER! Archie was so funny this time. He gives a good point, too. Nobody wants to be locked in the cellar with only a vodka bottle for survival. It was really funny when he was drunk, too. He believed that the workman was God. Carroll O' Connor sure is a great actor for Archie Bunker. He can yell like a Bunker, act like a Bunker, hurt like a Bunker, and just BE a Bunker. His work will be remembered for years to come...especially after his acting on All in the Family. Rest in peace, Carroll.moreless

  • A seminal episode in establishing the strengths and weaknesses of Archie Bunker.

    8.5
    By Mac-Ale, May 14, 2010
    A series of mishaps results in Archie being trapped in his own basement.



    Having watched almost all episodes of "All in the Family" when they first aired, this one struck me as most memorable and real, it has a lot of the sitcom schtick setting up the situation and at the same time it drives straight into the thinking of the main protagonist.



    It's probably a good idea that Archie becomes drunk as part of the plotline, it allows the writers to investigate a "stream of conscience" that makes Archie Bunker more than "America's favorite bigot". What results are solitary musings that range across the board - from anger and fear to wise and practical - and all paving new ground for the character's thoughts while not negating anything the viewer has seen before. At this relatively early stage in the program, people can still hate Archie but realize there is something underneath, before the later pressures by O'Connor himself to make the character TOO complex and nuanced.



    The staging works here, Archie is well set-up barking into a tape recorder, and of course, his resolve to accept his demise dovetails perfectly into the series as a whole.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

Carroll O'Connor

Carroll O'Connor

Archie Bunker
Jean Stapleton

Jean Stapleton

Edith Bunker
Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner

Michael Stivic (1971-1978)
Sally Struthers

Sally Struthers

Gloria Stivic (1971-1978)
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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

Juan DeCarlos

Juan DeCarlos

Oil Man

Guest Star

Betty Garrett

Betty Garrett

Irene Lorenzo

Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (2)

    • Archie says his address quite a few times "704 Hauser Street" and the reason I bring that up is that the number "704" is the date for Indepedence Day and I am sure Archie, being a war veteran, wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

    • When Archie plays a tape recording of Stretch Cunningham telling a joke, Stretch's voice is different than what we witness in later episodes.

  • QUOTES (4)

    • Archie: (still in a drunken stupor) Hey Lord, I don't wanna stay here. If you're gonna take me, come on, take me out of this joint!
      (Immediately afterwards, there's a knock on the cellar door)
      Voice from above: Are you down there, Mr. Bunker?
      Archie: Geez that was fast.

    • Archie: (Drunk, talking into a tape recorder) My last will and tentacle. This is Archie Bunker, from the house at 704 Hauser Street, in the basement of the house at 704 Hauser Street. To my wife, Edith Bunker, I leave you the house at 704 Hauser Street and all of its contents, excluding the following. Michael Stivic, I leave you my original American flag with 48 stars, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. To my dear daughter, Gloria, who I forgive for marrying the above, I leave you my favorite easy chair, which I hope you will use as a decoration in your own living room. To Irene Lorenzo, who killed me….*blows raspberry*

    • Archie: Boy, that's a blanket in a bottle!

    • Archie: Forgive me Lord.....The Jeffersons was right!
      (A drunken Archie upon seeing the black furnace man whom he thinks is God)

  • NOTES (2)

    • This episode was videotaped on October 05, 1973.

    • This episode was almost the only time we ever saw the Bunkers' basement. It was seen again in an episode of Archie Bunker's Place, where Billie and Stephanie convinced Archie to have a much needed second bathroom built.

  • ALLUSIONS (0)

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Watch Full Episodes: All in the Family

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Season 4 Episodes

See All
Ep 24
Mike's Graduation
Ep 23
Pay the Twenty Dollars
Ep 22
Gloria Sings the Blues
Ep 21
Archie Eats and Runs
Ep 20
Lionel's Engagement
Ep 19
Gloria's Boyfriend
Ep 18
Et Tu, Archie?
Ep 17
Archie Feels Left Out
Ep 16
Mike and Gloria Mix it Up
Ep 15
Edith's Christmas Story
Ep 14
Archie is Cursed
Ep 13
The Taxi Caper
Ep 12
Second Honeymoon
Ep 11
Black is the Color of M...
Ep 10
Archie in the Cellar
Ep 9
Edith's Conversion
Ep 8
The Games Bunkers Play
Ep 7
Archie and the Computer
Ep 6
Henry's Farewell
Ep 5
Archie, the Gambler
Ep 4
Archie and the Kiss
Ep 3
Edith Finds an Old Man
Ep 2
We're Still Having a He...
Ep 1
We're Having a Heat Wave

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