Good Ol' Archie Bunker! I identified with him more than any other character in the series. The one I really disliked was his super-liberal son-in law! Hal
He may have been a genius, but you DO know he was making fun of people like Archie, right? "Meathead" was the one who was supposed to be intelligent and represented Lear's point of view.
IMO he was making fun of America, making us feel uncomfortable and challenge our beliefs. He helped start many conversations around the water coolers of America the day after his shows aired on TV. Not many people have the ability to do that and be almost universally accepted.
Beatrice, I've seen pictures of Mount Pilot, and have heard it referred to many times on the Andy Griffith show. It's really a dramatic sight, no less so than Wyoming's Devils Tower! Is the neighboring town of Mayberry fictitious? I don't find it on the map of North Carolina. Hal
As far as I know, Mount Pilot and Mayberry are both fictional places. Some folks believe that they were modeled after places like Pilot Mountain, North Carolina. I'm not really sure I only live in Mount Pilot when I'm on the internet the rest of the time I live in central New York state.
@Hal Pollner, I always heard Mayberry was modeled after Mount Airy, NC, birthplace of Andy Griffith, but some claim the town of Pilot Mountain. I've been as close as a car can drive to Pilot Mt, when I lived in Raleigh. You park on a nearby hill, then hike over to the base of the rock dome. As far as I know you have to do some rock climbing to get to the very top now, although there is some evidence that there were some old wooden steps to the top at one time. It's a pretty sight, from several roads in the area. Sorry, I guess this is off topic.
Old Archie said some things, like George Jefferson did, that wouldn't be said on regular tv today. Really don't know what's worse, what them two said or the "F" type language and other words that are heard, and "bleeped out" (when they can do it) of today. The words that old George Carlin said couldn't be used on tv, but definitely are today. I sure wouldn't want anyone calling me "Meathead"!