Interesting story. The Larry Grundy character, described as Archie's best friend, was seen only in this episode. Towards the end, Archie and Grundy start turning on each other. When Grundy starts criticizing Mike, Archie seems to be actually defending Mike, even to the point of coming to blows. In this episode, we see that Archie, like most people, may not be quite what he appears to be.
5 Reviews
The Monsters Are Due on Hauser Street
GaryPeterson6710 January 2018
What sprang to mind watching "Archie and the F.B.I." were a couple episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE: "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" and "The Shelter." Both dealt with neighbors being chummy and nice until a crisis hits, then everyone's mask slips and the veneer of neighborliness is stripped away, uncovering all manner of ugliness, suspicion, and pent-up prejudice. It was a strange theme to adapt for a sitcom, and it resulted in a not wholly successful or satisfactory episode of ALL IN THE FAMILY.
One mistake was introducing Larry Grundy as Archie's "best buddy" when we've never met or heard of this guy until now. The story would have had more impact if it were Stretch Cunningham or Jimmy McNab. And wasn't it coincidental that virtually all of Archie's neighbors work at the same factory? Other episodes imply Archie has a commute to and from work, so why would so many plant employees settle along Hauser Street in Flushing? Sitcoms aren't held to the rigid rules of continuity like dramas, so that coincidence can be overlooked to allow the story to unfold as it did, with Mr. Bradford sparking fear and paranoia at every house he visited.
Archie comes off poorly in this episode, from slamming the door on Bradford's face before learning he's a G-Man (Air Force, not FBI as it turned out) to--despite his protesting otherwise--turning on his friend Larry Grundy by not wanting to be seen with him. The characterization of Archie thus far has been like a roller coaster, with some episodes presenting him sympathetically--"The Saga of Cousin Oscar" and "Edith's Problem," for example--and others, like this one, as a man possessing few redeeming qualities. At some point the series struck a good balance, then Archie was softened too much and robbed of his edge in the final season.
Graham Jarvis, making his sole series appearance as Archie's "best buddy," went on to a regular role in Norman Lear's soap opera satire MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN. He was very funny trading barbs with Archie before stomping off to bugle practice. Lionel makes his typical walk-on appearance, and one refreshingly free of his tired Stepin Fetchit routine. Jon Korkes is good as investigator Bradford, playing the part as if he were Jack Webb's protégé. Edith's mentioning Efram Zimbalist, star of the long-running ABC drama THE F.B.I., was a nice touch and noteworthy since ALL IN THE FAMILY was a CBS show.
And speaking of mentions, the 1972 setting was firmly established when Mike dropped the names of Fr. Berrigan, Huey Newton, and Abbie Hoffman in the epilogue. Names that once captured headlines, but which today would be recognized by few viewers under 50. But no matter, because just the look on Archie's face would tell the audience that whomever these people were they didn't rate high on his hit parade.
One mistake was introducing Larry Grundy as Archie's "best buddy" when we've never met or heard of this guy until now. The story would have had more impact if it were Stretch Cunningham or Jimmy McNab. And wasn't it coincidental that virtually all of Archie's neighbors work at the same factory? Other episodes imply Archie has a commute to and from work, so why would so many plant employees settle along Hauser Street in Flushing? Sitcoms aren't held to the rigid rules of continuity like dramas, so that coincidence can be overlooked to allow the story to unfold as it did, with Mr. Bradford sparking fear and paranoia at every house he visited.
Archie comes off poorly in this episode, from slamming the door on Bradford's face before learning he's a G-Man (Air Force, not FBI as it turned out) to--despite his protesting otherwise--turning on his friend Larry Grundy by not wanting to be seen with him. The characterization of Archie thus far has been like a roller coaster, with some episodes presenting him sympathetically--"The Saga of Cousin Oscar" and "Edith's Problem," for example--and others, like this one, as a man possessing few redeeming qualities. At some point the series struck a good balance, then Archie was softened too much and robbed of his edge in the final season.
Graham Jarvis, making his sole series appearance as Archie's "best buddy," went on to a regular role in Norman Lear's soap opera satire MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN. He was very funny trading barbs with Archie before stomping off to bugle practice. Lionel makes his typical walk-on appearance, and one refreshingly free of his tired Stepin Fetchit routine. Jon Korkes is good as investigator Bradford, playing the part as if he were Jack Webb's protégé. Edith's mentioning Efram Zimbalist, star of the long-running ABC drama THE F.B.I., was a nice touch and noteworthy since ALL IN THE FAMILY was a CBS show.
And speaking of mentions, the 1972 setting was firmly established when Mike dropped the names of Fr. Berrigan, Huey Newton, and Abbie Hoffman in the epilogue. Names that once captured headlines, but which today would be recognized by few viewers under 50. But no matter, because just the look on Archie's face would tell the audience that whomever these people were they didn't rate high on his hit parade.
Archie is paranoid over a government investigation
Jimmy_the_Gent43 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A government investigator asks Archie questions about his buddy Larry Grundy and then finds out his neighbors are asked about Archie himself.
A often hilarious episode with Jon Korkes playing a the young investigator with a deadpan style and a few little smiles.Edith arrives while he is there and tells Archie about the Fruit of the Loom underwear she bought for him, taking them out and showing how they have little red hearts! Grundy (Graham Jarvis) shows up and he and Archie argue about who is the more loyal American. Funniest moment is when Grundy says Archie is suspicious because he has Mike living in the same house with him and Mike is a dangerous subversive. Archie says "You're nuts Grundy, the kid's stupid but he's not dangerous!"
A often hilarious episode with Jon Korkes playing a the young investigator with a deadpan style and a few little smiles.Edith arrives while he is there and tells Archie about the Fruit of the Loom underwear she bought for him, taking them out and showing how they have little red hearts! Grundy (Graham Jarvis) shows up and he and Archie argue about who is the more loyal American. Funniest moment is when Grundy says Archie is suspicious because he has Mike living in the same house with him and Mike is a dangerous subversive. Archie says "You're nuts Grundy, the kid's stupid but he's not dangerous!"
Some huge laughs
vitoscotti26 October 2021
Last line is always eye-opening
xxrtxxemail23 April 2023
Best Friends....
That's only for kids anyways...
I love Archie, he's so blunt and honest...
you'd know where you stood with him,
true, he's a bigot, but he's honest about it, and he speaks his mind.
He loves Edith, and would be nowhere without her... and Edith is such a Saint.
She puts up with his views, and stands up to him at rare times, that we all applaud. This program aired in the '70s and was mirroring the times, it would never pass muster today. It is a masterful study of everyday life then, and is brilliant in it's depiction. It's sad that there's hardly any new programs that can compare.
He loves Edith, and would be nowhere without her... and Edith is such a Saint.
She puts up with his views, and stands up to him at rare times, that we all applaud. This program aired in the '70s and was mirroring the times, it would never pass muster today. It is a masterful study of everyday life then, and is brilliant in it's depiction. It's sad that there's hardly any new programs that can compare.
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