The Best Episodes Directed By John Rich

Archie's dream of becoming a grandfather is dashed when Gloria suffers a sudden miscarriage.

Louise Jefferson makes her first appearance, through husband George will remain an offscreen character for another two seasons. Their son, Lionel, had been a regular visitor to the Bunkers since the pilot episode, when the writers discovered how effective the street-smart black youth was at gently letting the air out of Archie's sails.

The Jeffersons arrive for dinner at the Bunkers'--minus husband George, who refuses to socialize with his white neighbors.

Mike writes a letter to President Nixon, protesting everything that's wrong with America, including the state of the environment and the nation's involvement in Vietnam. Archie finds out, and to refute his son-in-law's claims he decides he too will write a letter praising the nation's chief and attempting to explain the Meathead as an ignorant. While penning the letter, Archie pictures the family all standing behind him, dressed in his Sunday best, all supporting his positions.

Archie is convinced he'll collect a large settlement from a petty traffic accident if a Jewish lawyer handles the case. The stylistic minimalism of the Bunkers' sparsely furnished set is on full display in this early episode. According to director John Rich, who grew up not far from Archie's neighbood, the Spartan look of the Bunkers' living room deco was achieved as a result of painstaking efforts. The director remembers personally supervising the cracking of windows and repainting of walls to give the place a run-down, lived-in look. "I told the set designers to take all the color out of it," remembers Rich. "Norman and I wanted to do the show in black and white, but CBS nearly went into a coma. So we decided to do the next best thing and shoot the entire show in muted sepia tones."

Archie refuses to donate blood because he's afraid that his vital fluids might get mixed in with those of a different race.

Mike invites one of his hippie friends to spend the night in his living room, despite Archie's strenous ojections.

Edith abandons the kitchen for the courtroom when she is chosen for jury duty, leaving Archie to fend for himself.

No one in the family gets any sleep when Archie spends the night worring that he might lose his job.

Gloria leaves the house in a rage after Mike refuses to recognize her as an equal partner in their marriage.

Archie reevaluates his definition of success after he meets an old army buddy who's become wealthy in the used-car trade.

Rob buys Laura a hideous necklace but Laura can't bring herself to tell Rob how she really feels about it. When Rob invites his parents to see the necklace, his mother has a surprising reaction.

Sally doesn't have a date for her birthday, then an old friend from high school (Leo Fassbinder) calls. Sally invites Leo to her apartment for a quiet evening, but Rob, Laura, Buddy and Mel think Leo is just a made up friend and plan to bring a loud party to Sally's apartment.

Rob brings home two baby ducks left over from the show, and Ritchie becomes attached to them. When one dies and the other becomes ill, Rob must convince him that wild animals are happier when left in the wild.

Ritchie claims he is being attacked by a giant woodpecker, but Rob and Laura are convinced it’s just a bid for attention.

Rob recounts the day he became convinced that they brought home the wrong baby from the hospital.

Rob recalls directing last year’s PTA variety show, when jealousy interfered as he tried to pair the perfect Cleopatra with an amorous Mark Antony.

Archie can barely contain himself when the attractive young wife of an old army buddy spends an eventful night in the Bunker's household.

Edith unwillingly invites a pair of wife-swapping swingers to dinner when she responds to a newspaper ad for pen pals.

Mike sparks the latest family feud when he donates two hundred dollars to George McGovern's presidential campaign instead of paying Archie for room and board.

On the Stivics' second anniversary, the family recalls the comedy of errors that transpired on their wedding day.

The Stivics' wedding is jeopardized when Michael's uncle insists, over Archie's virulent objections, that the marriage be performed by a Catholic priest.

Archie befriends the other patient in his semiprivate room, unaware that he's black.

Edith and Gloria end the latest family brawl when they storm out of the house to spend the night on their own.

Archie refuses to tag along to Edith's thirtieth high school reunion-- until he finds out that one of her beaus will be attending.