Till Death Us Do Part episodes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Alan Brady's Hair · 03-01-2024, 01:07 PM

I've been meaning for quite a while to watch "Till Death Us Do Part," the UK original of All in the Family, to see what was kept for the American version, and what was left out. These are my notes/impressions of the first series of 7 episodes. Most of the early episodes were preserved on audio only - I think some of these were found intact recently.

Bold text implies carried over to All in the Family

1.1 Arguments, Arguments (06/06/1966)

B&W episode. Anthony Booth is billed second after Warren Mitchell. Picture of Churchill on wall. Alf calls Else "a silly mare." Outdoor or common loo? Mike wears a tie at home. Alf's cadence reminds me a bit of Russell Brand doing his "wet market'" routine:

https://youtu.be/56eQrf62gFc?si=0P7BV6iRpgnZVQSp

Alf and Mike argue until Mike calls the house a "muck-hole" and Else and Rita turn on him. He goes to the pub, followed by Alf. They argue there, too, but then make up and end up singing drunk together. They arrive home drunk and amorous, but are rejected by the ladies and end up sharing a bed.

1.2 Hair Raisin (06/13/1966)

Audio only. Alf calls Else "silly mare" once, then switches to "silly moo.". Mike calls Alf "Dad."

Alf and Mike argue about ways of dress. Alf points out that the Labour PM wears a tie to Parliament, and Mike doesn't argue the point. Then Mike razzes Alf about his lack of hair. Alf talks about when "men was monkeys," hinting he accepts evolution. Alf goes in search of hair restoration - tough to tell what's going on in audio because it seems heavy with baldness sight gags. Mike paints the sleeping Alf's head with a funny face, and Alf goes to the pub like that.

1.3 A House With Love in It (06/20/1966)

B&W episode. Alf starts the episode calling Else a "great old Moo." Beginning of the episode is similar to "Meet the Bunkers,":with the kids setting the table for Alf & Else's 25th anniversary breakfast.

Else calls Alf "an ill-mannered, drunken pig" for forgetting their anniversary. The kids get a card and brooch for Alf to give Else.The kids say they're going to take Alf and Else out for a posh dinner. Milkman comes through to settle bill which includes gambling debts and other errands (early Lionel?).Mike takes Alf to the pub. Rita makes up Else to go out. Alf doesn't go because he's embarrassed by his and Else's dress, but catches up by the time they're ready to order. French restaurant - basic puns about French words on the menu. Jokes about snails, tasting the wine. End of meal - Alf and Mike are drunk, and Else's girdle is too tight. Alf addresses the whole restaurant about their courtship. Mike's short on the bill, and a lot of squabbling ensues. Rita lets slip the kids bought Else's gift, and things continue downhill.

1.4 Intolerance (06/27/1966)

B&W episode. Mike calls Else "silly old moo."

Alf and Mike are drunk and rowdy at the soccer match. Alf's hat gets tossed on the pitch, and he gets in a fight retrieving it. Gets a black eye. Loses his voice shouting at the match, and goes to the doctor. Gets a black doctor, and doesn't want to be touched by him. Refers to specialist, who marks up his neck with students. Argument about NHS. Argument about Alf's use of racial descriptor leads to arguments about race. Else gets after Mike for always siding against Alf and Else. (AITF bit about Archie being Jewish - talking w/ hands). Physical altercation - Mike pushes Alf around. Mike tells Else and Rita that Alf's black eye came when he insulted a couple Irish after the match.

1.5 Two Toilets?...That's Posh! (07/04/1966)

Audio only. "Silly moo." Alf calls Mike a "Shirley Temple" (actor?).

Argument about Stalin as an American spy (Alf). Russians as "whitish" Orientals. Let foreigners live in countries allocated to them. Threat of jobs competition if UK joins the Common Market. Kids go off for sex, Else says, "They're only married for eight weeks."

Mike wants Alf to sell house, for a deposit on a new one. Alf taking a bath in the kitchen, no privacy. Mike brings in R/E agent, pretends he owns it and Alf/Else are dependent on him. Mike puts it on the market. Alf overhears and goes wild - throws water on him.

Alf: Mike typical socialist, grasping someone else's capital. Mike enlists Else for the new house with more room. Argument about what happens if Rita has a baby. Alf says they can't take a mortgage, Mike's in and out of work. Two toilets makes Alf consider it. Mike says he'd have to take title, because Alf couldn't get a mortgage at his age. Alf overhears again, and goes wild. Throws out R/E agent.

1.6 From Liverpool With Love (07/18/1966)

Audio only - poor sound.

Argument over looking at neighbors mail. Mike's parents coming to visit from Liverpool.Irish Catholics. Alf says won't talk to them, but does when they arrive.

Argument about Common Market and unions. Is "silly moo" swearing? Alf: Else calls him a pig. Alf calls her a bitch. Mike's dad says the Irish fairies besotted his dad. Mike tells Rita his dad's a big liar.

Loud snoring in house (sight gags re breakfast). Mike's dad at pub - they live at South Port, not Liverpool. Tells owner Mike has complicated wartime parentage.

Back home, argument about unions. Mike's dad hates Tories. Alf says "micks" and calls Irish savages. Fight breaks out and Alf says to leave the house. Mike says his dad's a fraud.

1.7. Claustrophobia (08/01/1966)

Audio only. "Silly moo." A lot of sight gags. Where's Bogner? [Seaside resort Bognor Regis]

All yelling while driving - they're going to Cornwall. Alf hasn't driven since the war. Alf has had a few while driving. Cows on road. Arrive at vacation cottage. Alf distressed by the isolation - would have preferred "Bogner," where they usually go. Alf distressed by primitive cottage. Big laugh! They broke some plumbing (?).

Alf and Mike at the pub. Eccentric pubkeeper, going on about William the Conqueror. Mike and Alf arguing about the House of Lords. "Look," by Alf sounds like Russell Brand again. Sight gag (Alf falls over)

Alf thinks all the open space is claustrophobic. A Lord and Lady arrive at the cottage (funny bows/curtsies?). Rooting around for refreshments (sight gags). Mike complaining about fox hunting. Alf calls Mike a socialist, and the Lord says he's a socialist, too. Fades out with argument.

I'll try to follow up with these as I go through the series. I know cousin Maude eventually visits.

03-01-2024, 01:07 PM	#1
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,822	Till Death Us Do Part episodes I've been meaning for quite a while to watch "Till Death Us Do Part," the UK original of All in the Family, to see what was kept for the American version, and what was left out. These are my notes/impressions of the first series of 7 episodes. Most of the early episodes were preserved on audio only - I think some of these were found intact recently. Bold text implies carried over to All in the Family 1.1 Arguments, Arguments (06/06/1966) B&W episode. Anthony Booth is billed second after Warren Mitchell. Picture of Churchill on wall. Alf calls Else "a silly mare." Outdoor or common loo? Mike wears a tie at home. Alf's cadence reminds me a bit of Russell Brand doing his "wet market'" routine: https://youtu.be/56eQrf62gFc?si=0P7BV6iRpgnZVQSp Alf and Mike argue until Mike calls the house a "muck-hole" and Else and Rita turn on him. He goes to the pub, followed by Alf. They argue there, too, but then make up and end up singing drunk together. They arrive home drunk and amorous, but are rejected by the ladies and end up sharing a bed. 1.2 Hair Raisin (06/13/1966) Audio only. Alf calls Else "silly mare" once, then switches to "silly moo.". Mike calls Alf "Dad." Alf and Mike argue about ways of dress. Alf points out that the Labour PM wears a tie to Parliament, and Mike doesn't argue the point. Then Mike razzes Alf about his lack of hair. Alf talks about when "men was monkeys," hinting he accepts evolution. Alf goes in search of hair restoration - tough to tell what's going on in audio because it seems heavy with baldness sight gags. Mike paints the sleeping Alf's head with a funny face, and Alf goes to the pub like that. 1.3 A House With Love in It (06/20/1966) B&W episode. Alf starts the episode calling Else a "great old Moo." Beginning of the episode is similar to "Meet the Bunkers,":with the kids setting the table for Alf & Else's 25th anniversary breakfast. Else calls Alf "an ill-mannered, drunken pig" for forgetting their anniversary. The kids get a card and brooch for Alf to give Else.The kids say they're going to take Alf and Else out for a posh dinner. Milkman comes through to settle bill which includes gambling debts and other errands (early Lionel?).Mike takes Alf to the pub. Rita makes up Else to go out. Alf doesn't go because he's embarrassed by his and Else's dress, but catches up by the time they're ready to order. French restaurant - basic puns about French words on the menu. Jokes about snails, tasting the wine. End of meal - Alf and Mike are drunk, and Else's girdle is too tight. Alf addresses the whole restaurant about their courtship. Mike's short on the bill, and a lot of squabbling ensues. Rita lets slip the kids bought Else's gift, and things continue downhill. 1.4 Intolerance (06/27/1966) B&W episode. Mike calls Else "silly old moo." Alf and Mike are drunk and rowdy at the soccer match. Alf's hat gets tossed on the pitch, and he gets in a fight retrieving it. Gets a black eye. Loses his voice shouting at the match, and goes to the doctor. Gets a black doctor, and doesn't want to be touched by him. Refers to specialist, who marks up his neck with students. Argument about NHS. Argument about Alf's use of racial descriptor leads to arguments about race. Else gets after Mike for always siding against Alf and Else. (AITF bit about Archie being Jewish - talking w/ hands). Physical altercation - Mike pushes Alf around. Mike tells Else and Rita that Alf's black eye came when he insulted a couple Irish after the match. 1.5 Two Toilets?...That's Posh! (07/04/1966) Audio only. "Silly moo." Alf calls Mike a "Shirley Temple" (actor?). Argument about Stalin as an American spy (Alf). Russians as "whitish" Orientals. Let foreigners live in countries allocated to them. Threat of jobs competition if UK joins the Common Market. Kids go off for sex, Else says, "They're only married for eight weeks." Mike wants Alf to sell house, for a deposit on a new one. Alf taking a bath in the kitchen, no privacy. Mike brings in R/E agent, pretends he owns it and Alf/Else are dependent on him. Mike puts it on the market. Alf overhears and goes wild - throws water on him. Alf: Mike typical socialist, grasping someone else's capital. Mike enlists Else for the new house with more room. Argument about what happens if Rita has a baby. Alf says they can't take a mortgage, Mike's in and out of work. Two toilets makes Alf consider it. Mike says he'd have to take title, because Alf couldn't get a mortgage at his age. Alf overhears again, and goes wild. Throws out R/E agent. 1.6 From Liverpool With Love (07/18/1966) Audio only - poor sound. Argument over looking at neighbors mail. Mike's parents coming to visit from Liverpool.Irish Catholics. Alf says won't talk to them, but does when they arrive. Argument about Common Market and unions. Is "silly moo" swearing? Alf: Else calls him a pig. Alf calls her a bitch. Mike's dad says the Irish fairies besotted his dad. Mike tells Rita his dad's a big liar. Loud snoring in house (sight gags re breakfast). Mike's dad at pub - they live at South Port, not Liverpool. Tells owner Mike has complicated wartime parentage. Back home, argument about unions. Mike's dad hates Tories. Alf says "micks" and calls Irish savages. Fight breaks out and Alf says to leave the house. Mike says his dad's a fraud. 1.7. Claustrophobia (08/01/1966) Audio only. "Silly moo." A lot of sight gags. Where's Bogner? [Seaside resort Bognor Regis] All yelling while driving - they're going to Cornwall. Alf hasn't driven since the war. Alf has had a few while driving. Cows on road. Arrive at vacation cottage. Alf distressed by the isolation - would have preferred "Bogner," where they usually go. Alf distressed by primitive cottage. Big laugh! They broke some plumbing (?). Alf and Mike at the pub. Eccentric pubkeeper, going on about William the Conqueror. Mike and Alf arguing about the House of Lords. "Look," by Alf sounds like Russell Brand again. Sight gag (Alf falls over) Alf thinks all the open space is claustrophobic. A Lord and Lady arrive at the cottage (funny bows/curtsies?). Rooting around for refreshments (sight gags). Mike complaining about fox hunting. Alf calls Mike a socialist, and the Lord says he's a socialist, too. Fades out with argument. I'll try to follow up with these as I go through the series. I know cousin Maude eventually visits.