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| Season 3, episode # 7 | ||||
 In search for new "friends", Edith answers an magazine ad and invites a couple, the Rempleys, over to meet Archie, not knowing they are into swinging, wife-swapping, as the four dance in "The Bunkers and the Swingers" in Season 3 (ep.#7). | ||||
| "All in the Family" episode | ||||
| Series: | All in the Family | |||
| Network/Country: | CBS-TV | |||
| Air date | October 28, 1972 | |||
| Production code | 306 (3x7) | |||
| Teleplay by: | Michael Ross, Bernie West & Lee Kalcheim | |||
| Story by: | Norman Lear | |||
| Directed by: | John Rich and Bob LaHendro | |||
| Guest starring: | Rue McClanahan Vincent Gardenia Isabel Sanford | |||
 IMDb:
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The Bunkers and the Swingers | |||
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List of All in the Family episodes | ||||
The Bunkers and the Swingers is the 7th episode of Season 3 of All in the Family, and the 44th overall episode in the series, which first aired on CBS-TV on October 28, 1972. Co-directed by John Rich and Bob LaHendro, the original story was written by Norman Lear; the teleplay was scripted by Michael Ross with Bernie West and Lee Kalcheim.
| "The Bunkers and the Swingers" | ||
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Synopsis[]
Edith is on the search for new friends and seems to have met the perfect pair through a magazine article. She invites them over to meet Archie, unaware that they are into swinging, wife-swapping style!
Full summary[]
While riding on the subway, naïve Edith finds an ad she finds in a magazine she found on the subway called New Family, and later, at home, answers the article requesting a pair of "fun pen pals.", which she read in the "swap" section. Not realizing what is actually being asked for, Edith assumes the couple is looking for friendship. Mike and Gloria, in a rush, try to explain what they really want, as Edith warns that the couple would be by anytime to meet she and Archie.
Before long, the Bunkers are visited by the couple, Curtis Rempley (Vincent Gardenia) and his wife Ruth (Rue McClanahan), a really "live-wire" middle-aged couple who responded to Edith's answering their ad, as, after Archie takes Edith in the kitchen to try to get her to tell them to leave, the four start to get to know each other.
After Archie opens the gift that Curtis has given him, he's softened when he discovers that it's a box of expensive cigars. All seems to be going well after Curtis pulls out his portable AM/FM radio, as the four begin dancing. When the Rempleys begin sending signals as to why they dropped by so eagerly, Archie and Edith both still can't get the signals as Louise Jefferson, on an errand, drops by and quickly gets the signal as Curtis practically tries to come on to her as he, in trying to get her to "join in" and dance with him, says to her, "The more, the merrier!"
It isn't very long until after that Edith realizes, with a little help from Louise, whom, after taking Edith into the kitchen to warn her and then after being shown a passage from the article herself, that they are "swingers" and that it's more than just "dancing" that they want Archie and Edith to engage in with them, as Edith finally realizes that the Rempleys are really swinging wife-swappers who want to "swap" with she and husband Archie.
Louise jets out the Bunkers' home quickly, wanting no part of the goings-on. Before Edith, now horrified about finding out the truth of the Rempleys intentions, can explain to Archie what's happening, Curtis shows Archie a nude photograph – of his wife, Ruth. Curtis is about to show Edith one of himself when Archie, now shocked and offended himself, intervenes.
Angrily, Archie, asserting that he doesn't want any "weirdos and sexos" in his home, demands that the Rempley's leave right away. Ruth tries to explain to Archie and Edith that swinging "saved" their marriage as Curtis adds that prior to their new hobby, the marriage had become "listless". Sheepishly, the Rempleys, now embarrassed over being rejected by the Bunkers, leave after Archie gives them a disapproving look and Edith simply looks shocked. Moments later, Archie derisively warns Edith not to "read no more magazines!"
Trivia/Notes[]
- This episode featured Rue McClanahan, who would go on to play Maude Findlay's best friend Vivian Harmon on the spin-off Maude, and Vincent Gardenia, who played the part of neighbor Jim Bowman in the episode "Lionel Moves Into the Neighborhood" in Season 1 (episode #8); he would go on to play the recurring role of Frank Lorenzo in Season 3, the following season.
Cast (in credits order)[]
Main cast[]
- Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker
- Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker
- Rob Reiner as Michael Stivic
- Sally Struthers as Gloria Bunker Stivic
Recurring cast/characters[]
Guest starring[]
- Vincent Gardenia as Curtis Rempley
- Rue McClanahan as Ruth Rempley, Curtis's wife
More External Links[]
