Exactly from the very first episode he was the biggest know it all in the entire series. Here in this episode, he gets a taste of his own hypocrisy seeing how he’s only open minded and tolerant to opinions that are exactly the same as his. He finally sees that he’s not always the smartest person in the room.
Always brilliant how the show was willing to sometimes show Mike wasn't so great himself. Archie had some terrible ideas, and deserved to be challenged over them, but Mike could be just as close-minded. Also, this seems like such a 1970s kind of game...
Mike was never great, he was at the age of being a parent to gen X'ers and eventually lead to this woke gen Z, so no, he was bad and delusional like most hippies of his generation (character and real life)...oh and I find it kind of ironic that he made fun of the old man's body when his body (at mid 20s mind you) looks like a bean bag filled with cookie dough and probably smells like an Italian dumpster.
Sorry but even if Mike was right he was still wrong. What idiot starts a fight with his father in law? Remember Mike lives under his roof rent free, eats food that Archie pays for and instead of a thank u, he just bitches and moans. This from the guy with no job, cannot provide for his wife who is Archie’s daughter (when u get married, u typically make a vow to take care of your wife) and acts like he has the moral high ground?!?!
Liberal/conservative what difference does it make? both are wack jobs,constantly bickering over some social issue ,so I'll just stick to be an American period.
@@matthewbrice6202 oh, I remember the show... How about when Archie sees the picture of his niece and Lionel sitting together and going ballistic after Edith tried to hide it from him several times.
That’s the beautiful thing about this show. Archie’s of course always portrayed as the ignoramus, as intended of course, but Mike’s role is written almost in sympathy to Archie, as he’s often the one who “should know better” and it makes him often harder to align with
Yes indeed---it exposed him as being just as narrow-minded and intolerant as Archie in many respects--and he (to slightly paraphrase Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men") COULDN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH LOL!!
@@nyterpfan The writers continuously showed that Archie was a bigot, and Mike was a hypocritical liberal. The best example was Mike breaking the window on the door of his boss' office, after he was beaten out for a job by a Black colleague.
Every episode mike was in showed his shortcomings. I would take Archie over Mike any day as Archie was upfront about his bigotry etc whereas mike tried to say he wasn't at all bigoted...oh yes he was
One of my all-time favorite episodes--this really exposed Mike Stivic--a classic "dish it out but can't take it" lefty!! (He always loved to preach and show how holier than thou his positions were but couldn't BEAR to have ANY criticism thrown back at him!!)
Meathead turned out to be a real a-hole in the end when we found in the Gloria spinoff series that he left his wife and kid to run off with one of his students to join a commune.
@@harrylongabaugh7402there are a lot of negative comments about Rob Reiner among the comments, not just about this video, but other videos about "All in the Family". I mean Rob Reiner the actor/director, not just Mike "Meathead" Stivic. there seems to be a lot of anti-liberal & anti-progressive bias in current American culture. Carroll O'Connor was actually a liberal/progressive in real life, even though he obviously played a conservative right-winger traditionalist Archie Bunker. but most of the comments on these videos defend Archie & attack Meathead, even though Meathead was right most, yet not all, of the time. Norman Lear, who created this show, among other great sitcoms, was also a liberal/progressive who liked to male fun of conservatives/right-wingers/traditionalists.
@@johnbrennan4449 If you have heard the real Rob Reiner speak. It's all anti-conservative hate. That's why you see the anti-Rob Reiner comments. He is extremely biased and always has been.
When I first saw this episode I thought Gloria was really going tell Edith how her wardrobe makes her look older hahahahahaha. The funniest part of the episode was Mike throwing the game board on the floor “I DON’T WANT TO PLAY ANYMORE!”
This video clip ended too soon. I was hoping it would get to the point where Mike tosses the game, yells "I don't want to play anymore!" and runs up the stairs. I remember Edith gets a question and selects Mike, telling him how he always tries to make himself look superior to Archie, and what a difficult life Archie had growing up. Everyone votes with her, except Mike. I forget if there was another moment where Frank or Irene also questions him. As I recall the camera did an extreme closeup of Mike's face when he finally loses it.😂
"I wish you would talk to me like a normal person instead of seeing me as a representative of the whole black race" And people still doing it to this day
Games like this would had started a chain reaction of world wide devastation and destruction felt to this day if we had played it in our house and if my mother was involved
Yes Mike learned that the Cop Out game is not always fun to play. But also simple games like Connect Four, Sorry! and even Monopoly isn't always fun either. Me I always lose. It's why I don't like to play good board games.
The next-to-last scene, in the Bunker's kitchen, between 'Edith' and 'Mike' always tears me up! To me, it was one of the best scenes of the entire series!
Surprisingly enough although this game seems to have been created to cause fights, discord and embarrassment, it was not made up for the show. It actually was a real game back then that was popular among the "meathead" type crowd. There are games called group therapy today but they are nothing remotely like this one.
I remember playing this in high school and a job I once worked. The motive was to tell each person what you thought of each other their flaws or whatever. People almost got into fist fights playing it. Some of them acted just like Mike they can dish it but they can't take it.
The episode 'Everybody Tells the Truth' from season 3, both Archie and Mike tell 2 different sides of the same story! A black repairman came to the house and Mike basically thought he was a 'Uncle Tom!'
@@KT72273Rob Reiner, Carroll O'Connor & series creator Norman Lear all share similar political views. so do I, even though I am actually to the left (more progressive) than all 3 of them.
He was an idealist and then he’s human. It’s great to have ideals but often our humanness can’t live up to our ideals. But it’s still great to have ideals. Idealists are the more loving than most
Fred Sanford would had said Archie is totally right that he is big dumb stupid self-righteous meathead just liked his own lifetime nemesis meathead Esther! Michael would not get along with Fred anymore than he does with Archie! Heck , Michael wouldn't get along with George either if Jefferson had stay on the show! George and Fred are exactly other versions of Archie! It would be amazingly hilarious if we had them all together going off on Michael in shocking surprised of agreeing on exactly same opinion about Michael! I had loved hilarious looks on Archie and George faces when they realized that they are agreeing with each other against different people together in scenes after fighting each other on different topic sides originally! It is extremely hilarious to see their faces as they have strange looks on their faces towards each other after realizing they were now agreeing on exactly same side of the discussion topics against other people! Best hilarious times when Archie and George will ultimately agree with each other and they do realize that they're very similar in their beliefs! They will both get shocking "what the hell" looks on their faces awhile Edith and Louise will be smiling , laughing and hugging each other in background scenes watching Archie and George realization of agreeing with each other reactions! Those two women were pure golden grace as spouse counterbalance to Archie and George back in days of All In the Family and The Jeffersons! 😂❤
I liked Micheal Evens a lot better as Lionel than the skinny guy with the high pitched voice that replaced him later on in The Jefferson’s. I could not stand that guy.
This is a message to all those white kids these days who say black people are oppressed and they need "our help". Black people are strong and can make it on their own they don't need you or your white guilt kindness.
I remember playing a board game in school then that was along the same idea. I was probably 11 and the game had us hugging other boys. I said no next time someone suggested it.
Mike Evans played the part of Lionel so well, I really like him and of course Sherman Hemsley as George. And if it matters, which it shouldn't, I am a white guy.
What I liked about this episode was how it (finally) revealed how childish, immature Mike is and how he can dish it but can't take it. You know, like your standard and typical Liberal lol
Technically Mike is wrong, Edith is closer to Gloria then he is. He just married her Edith gave life to her which made it possible for Mike to marry her. You can't trump blood Mike with marriage sorry.
you are incorrect !! Marriage trumps immediate family .At a funeral ,the spouse and children are considered the "immediate family " over the parents or siblings
@@nicholasschroeder3678 Carroll O'Connor did a bigotry PSA that can be seen on TH-cam. Wearing Archie's trademark white shirt and black pants, O'Connor talked about how bigotry had spoiled Archie's life. Someone should tie you up and make you watch that PSA about 1,000 times.
This episode showed what an emotionally immature person Mike is, what did Gloria ever see in him? he has no redeeming qualities, he is narcissistic, selfish and arrogant too
The character dynamics and conflicts here were so brilliant. One of the best episodes of the series in my view.
The absence of Archie (the bogeyman/strawman) is key.
I agree!!
Always soothing, when a Know-It-All gets put in their place, and humbled. LOL
Exactly from the very first episode he was the biggest know it all in the entire series. Here in this episode, he gets a taste of his own hypocrisy seeing how he’s only open minded and tolerant to opinions that are exactly the same as his. He finally sees that he’s not always the smartest person in the room.
Always brilliant how the show was willing to sometimes show Mike wasn't so great himself. Archie had some terrible ideas, and deserved to be challenged over them, but Mike could be just as close-minded. Also, this seems like such a 1970s kind of game...
It was
Mike was never great, he was at the age of being a parent to gen X'ers and eventually lead to this woke gen Z, so no, he was bad and delusional like most hippies of his generation (character and real life)...oh and I find it kind of ironic that he made fun of the old man's body when his body (at mid 20s mind you) looks like a bean bag filled with cookie dough and probably smells like an Italian dumpster.
Meathead was a lefty idiot
Complete with "With It" and "Cop Out" cards
Sorry but even if Mike was right he was still wrong. What idiot starts a fight with his father in law? Remember Mike lives under his roof rent free, eats food that Archie pays for and instead of a thank u, he just bitches and moans. This from the guy with no job, cannot provide for his wife who is Archie’s daughter (when u get married, u typically make a vow to take care of your wife) and acts like he has the moral high ground?!?!
Great episode showcasing that Liberals can be just as hard headed as Conservatives.
But liberals are hard headed for the right reasons
Most liberals are the real bigots, not conservatives.
Both sides are really just as terrible 🤦🏽♀️
Liberal/conservative what difference does it make? both are wack jobs,constantly bickering over some social issue ,so I'll just stick to be an American period.
Translation: All people are bad@@mbyrd6713
Michael well what you want me to talk about the weather Lionel Well sometimes yeah I mean Black people have weather too you know 😆
..."Black people have weather too, ya know!" :P! PRICELESS!
Love Lionel... Wish he was married to Gloria instead of Meathead
@@JerGer918Now that’s funny! Archie’s daughter marrying a black man!! Maybe your to young to remember the show.😂
@@matthewbrice6202 oh, I remember the show... How about when Archie sees the picture of his niece and Lionel sitting together and going ballistic after Edith tried to hide it from him several times.
@BethHarmon-uv7tl but he'd sure toast a marshmallow on it.
Meathead is a big baby in this episode.
I Agree!
He usually is.
He is always a big baby . The typical liberal
That’s the beautiful thing about this show. Archie’s of course always portrayed as the ignoramus, as intended of course, but Mike’s role is written almost in sympathy to Archie, as he’s often the one who “should know better” and it makes him often harder to align with
A lot of liberals are.
It doesn't matter how many times I've seen this episode, I still laugh and remember the good days of sitcoms.
This was a great episode because it shows Mike's shortcomings.
Yes indeed---it exposed him as being just as narrow-minded and intolerant as Archie in many respects--and he (to slightly paraphrase Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men") COULDN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH LOL!!
@@nyterpfan The writers continuously showed that Archie was a bigot, and Mike was a hypocritical liberal. The best example was Mike breaking the window on the door of his boss' office, after he was beaten out for a job by a Black colleague.
It also showed that he thought he was superior to most of friends and his family.
Every episode mike was in showed his shortcomings. I would take Archie over Mike any day as Archie was upfront about his bigotry etc whereas mike tried to say he wasn't at all bigoted...oh yes he was
One of the best episodes. When Edith gives Mike a talking to is classic and Archie's reaction to the hug.
And that same speech was referred to later when Archie wanted to buy the bar.
This was the perfect episode to reveal some ugly truths about Mike.
One of my all-time favorite episodes--this really exposed Mike Stivic--a classic "dish it out but can't take it" lefty!! (He always loved to preach and show how holier than thou his positions were but couldn't BEAR to have ANY criticism thrown back at him!!)
@@nyterpfan True.
He has ideals and his humanness couldn’t always live up to them, because like all of us, our emotions get the best of us sometimes
It already has
Meathead turned out to be a real a-hole in the end when we found in the Gloria spinoff series that he left his wife and kid to run off with one of his students to join a commune.
"we get rained on and everything"😂😂😂
Lol!
Rob Reiner won an Emmy for his performance in this episode.
I was gonna say! I hope he did because his face was beet red and he was dripping sweat by the end of the episode from yelling so much .
Why? He wasn't acting. That's the real Rob Reiner.
@@harrylongabaugh7402there are a lot of negative comments about Rob Reiner among the comments, not just about this video, but other videos about "All in the Family".
I mean Rob Reiner the actor/director, not just Mike "Meathead" Stivic. there seems to be a lot of anti-liberal & anti-progressive bias in current American culture.
Carroll O'Connor was actually a liberal/progressive in real life, even though he obviously played a conservative right-winger traditionalist Archie Bunker.
but most of the comments on these videos defend Archie & attack Meathead, even though Meathead was right most, yet not all, of the time.
Norman Lear, who created this show, among other great sitcoms, was also a liberal/progressive who liked to male fun of conservatives/right-wingers/traditionalists.
@@johnbrennan4449 If you have heard the real Rob Reiner speak. It's all anti-conservative hate. That's why you see the anti-Rob Reiner comments. He is extremely biased and always has been.
This right here is why i loved lionel being on this show
When I first saw this episode I thought Gloria was really going tell Edith how her wardrobe makes her look older hahahahahaha. The funniest part of the episode was Mike throwing the game board on the floor “I DON’T WANT TO PLAY ANYMORE!”
Yeah, and proving everyone right about him.
Exactly.
Typical liberal.
This video clip ended too soon. I was hoping it would get to the point where Mike tosses the game, yells "I don't want to play anymore!" and runs up the stairs. I remember Edith gets a question and selects Mike, telling him how he always tries to make himself look superior to Archie, and what a difficult life Archie had growing up. Everyone votes with her, except Mike. I forget if there was another moment where Frank or Irene also questions him. As I recall the camera did an extreme closeup of Mike's face when he finally loses it.😂
@@swlc5555 You’re right about everything.
"I wish you would talk to me like a normal person instead of seeing me as a representative of the whole black race"
And people still doing it to this day
Oh God yeah. White liberals talk down to blacks all the time.
💯💯💯
Mike REALLY did not cope with the truth about himself well in this game.😢
One of the symptoms of white guilt is worried about saying the wrong thing to black people. It comes across as phony.
He could've even mentioned as an example what happened when he walked in the door.
Mike thought he was perfect and he got his nose out of joint when everyone revealed his faults.
Rob Reiner and Mike Evans really shined in this episode.
Games like this would had started a chain reaction of world wide devastation and destruction felt to this day if we had played it in our house and if my mother was involved
Yes Mike learned that the Cop Out game is not always fun to play. But also simple games like Connect Four, Sorry! and even Monopoly isn't always fun either. Me I always lose. It's why I don't like to play good board games.
One of the best episodes of the series!
The ending of this episode is *beautiful* . One of my favorite moments from the show .
Yes one of my fav scenes!!!! 😂
Omg... Meathead's face got redder than a rare steak when he became enraged!
Carol Burnett & her gang would’ve been busting up big time.
Too bad this scene was cut short. It got even funnier when Irene and Edith had their turns reading the cards, and both took shots at Mike.
I love when Mike gets so frustrated he throws the board and runs up the stairs like a six year old. One of the funniest moments EVER on this show.
@@gargantuaism And he actually believes he's more mature than Gloria and the others. Not in this instance.
My favorite episode because it showed that Mike wasn't perfect either.
The next-to-last scene, in the Bunker's kitchen, between 'Edith' and 'Mike' always tears me up! To me, it was one of the best scenes of the entire series!
If “Keep it Real Sessions” was a board game.
One of my all time favorites.😅😅
"Yeah, I mean Black people have weather too!" 🙂
The best line🤣🤣🤣👍
Meatheads open minded all right, but only to those he agrees with
Nothing's changed with him.
@@evoman1776 Yeah, why can't Michael be like Archie? He's always respectful of opposing viewpoints.
I think most people DO prefer it when people agree with them, Archie especially liked to be agreed with
No matter how great the cast, and this ensemble brilliant, the writers deserve as much credit.
Top 5 all time episode. Truths revealed. Jean Stapleton is amazing in this one as she first gives Mike some tough love.
Surprisingly enough although this game seems to have been created to cause fights, discord and embarrassment, it was not made up for the show. It actually was a real game back then that was popular among the "meathead" type crowd. There are games called group therapy today but they are nothing remotely like this one.
They once played this game on The Jeffersons too
I remember playing this in high school and a job I once worked. The motive was to tell each person what you thought of each other their flaws or whatever. People almost got into fist fights playing it. Some of them acted just like Mike they can dish it but they can't take it.
I never thought it was a real game. I thought it was just made up for this episode. It's not a game that I would ever play.
@@canadianfortrump4057you must have contempt for honesty.
@@johnbrennan4449 I must have contempt for honesty? Care to elaborate?
The episode 'Everybody Tells the Truth' from season 3, both Archie and Mike tell 2 different sides of the same story! A black repairman came to the house and Mike basically thought he was a 'Uncle Tom!'
And that says a lot about his attitudes towards black people, I think. He was as bad as Archie, in his way.
@@gwenfluker3436 Rob Reiner is still the same with his politics!
@@KT72273 I know he hasn't changed just like a lot of people left and right
@@KT72273Rob Reiner, Carroll O'Connor & series creator Norman Lear all share similar political views. so do I, even though I am actually to the left (more progressive) than all 3 of them.
Michael rarely practices what he preaches.
And rarely works to
I liked him as a kid when this show was brand new, but today not so much.
He was an idealist and then he’s human. It’s great to have ideals but often our humanness can’t live up to our ideals. But it’s still great to have ideals. Idealists are the more loving than most
Would be funny to see Fred Sanford in this game.
Wonder if he would have said “YOU BIG DUMMY” to Meathead.
Fred Sanford would had said Archie is totally right that he is big dumb stupid self-righteous meathead just liked his own lifetime nemesis meathead Esther! Michael would not get along with Fred anymore than he does with Archie! Heck , Michael wouldn't get along with George either if Jefferson had stay on the show! George and Fred are exactly other versions of Archie! It would be amazingly hilarious if we had them all together going off on Michael in shocking surprised of agreeing on exactly same opinion about Michael! I had loved hilarious looks on Archie and George faces when they realized that they are agreeing with each other against different people together in scenes after fighting each other on different topic sides originally! It is extremely hilarious to see their faces as they have strange looks on their faces towards each other after realizing they were now agreeing on exactly same side of the discussion topics against other people! Best hilarious times when Archie and George will ultimately agree with each other and they do realize that they're very similar in their beliefs! They will both get shocking "what the hell" looks on their faces awhile Edith and Louise will be smiling , laughing and hugging each other in background scenes watching Archie and George realization of agreeing with each other reactions! Those two women were pure golden grace as spouse counterbalance to Archie and George back in days of All In the Family and The Jeffersons! 😂❤
I agree
I wish I could find the full episode of this.
I liked Micheal Evens a lot better as Lionel than the skinny guy with the high pitched voice that replaced him later on in The Jefferson’s. I could not stand that guy.
Agree, he was the better Lionel. And he helped create the the show Good Times. Unfortunately he wasn't such a great person in real life.
@@jonlate4581how was he not a good person in real life?
This is a message to all those white kids these days who say black people are oppressed and they need "our help". Black people are strong and can make it on their own they don't need you or your white guilt kindness.
Rob Reiner is still the same. Always convincing you and himself that he’s not racist.
Mike was acting like a baby.
The Meathead was all bologna on this episode! 😂🤣
I remember playing a board game in school then that was along the same idea. I was probably 11 and the game had us hugging other boys. I said no next time someone suggested it.
Mike Evans played the part of Lionel so well, I really like him and of course Sherman Hemsley as George. And if it matters, which it shouldn't, I am a white guy.
I found Mike annoying
This is a great scene. I wanna slap Michael. But still great.
This show could never be made today. And especially this episode.
just think how many families will break up if they play this game,
Funny how Mike had time for all this nonsense, but no time for a part time job while he was in school?
he was too busy trying to " save the world " with all his Liberal demonstrations instead of working and taking care of his wife and in laws
Mike Was So Childlessness In This Episode!
I Know, Right! He Couldn't Even Spell "Childish!"
Really great and exposing scene...😂
Politically correctness in the ‘70 !!
What I liked about this episode was how it (finally) revealed how childish, immature Mike is and how he can dish it but can't take it. You know, like your standard and typical Liberal lol
"Women should be punished" - DJT
rip norman!
"Black people have weather too, you know! We get rained on and everything!"
That hair style wasn't doing Mike any favors.
Mike was a big pill here.
I can see why Archie gives meathead a hard time. He's a big crybaby sometimes and quiet dismissive. I guess Archie can be dismissive as well haha
Without Meathead, no show. It just wouldn't work.
And Liberals, whenever they don't get their way have been flipping over board games as a lifestyle choice ever since.
And Conservatives be storming the capital trying to overthrow the gov when their man loses the election
Cult member comment.
"I wish we didn't play that stupid game"
Technically Mike is wrong, Edith is closer to Gloria then he is. He just married her Edith gave life to her which made it possible for Mike to marry her. You can't trump blood Mike with marriage sorry.
you are incorrect !! Marriage trumps immediate family .At a funeral ,the spouse and children are considered the "immediate family " over the parents or siblings
Sally Struthers Gloria Bunker Was 🔥 Hot Back Then a Cutie 💓 😍
Can you imagine Archie playing this game, and he picks the card that says, “Stand up and tell the group what makes you mature.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
He would answer: "My age".
He’d say “Im the breadwinner of the family”
"I face reality every day, go out and work, and bring home the money to feed, cloth, and shelter all of you."
@@nicholasschroeder3678 Carroll O'Connor did a bigotry PSA that can be seen on TH-cam. Wearing Archie's trademark white shirt and black pants, O'Connor talked about how bigotry had spoiled Archie's life. Someone should tie you up and make you watch that PSA about 1,000 times.
He'd misread the card and say "manure" instead of "mature".
There were plenty of times I thought Gloria was too hot for Mike - like here.
Yeah! Mike deserved an UGLY woman!
This episode showed what an emotionally immature person Mike is, what did Gloria ever see in him? he has no redeeming qualities, he is narcissistic, selfish and arrogant too
And as the story on the show goes, he ended up leaving his family to have an affair with one of his students.
@@jonlate4581 The writers should have just had the two of them split up for good when Archie and Edith went to visit them in California.