Surprising Stories from the Set of All in the Family

As scripts for the first 13 episodes were being written, Norman Lear received a memo from CBS’s Program Practices department outlining words and phrases the network wanted avoided. Based on focus group research, executives urged caution around language dealing with homosexuality and other sensitive topics.

The memo even suggested replacements, recommending “regular fella” instead of “straight,” and asking that words like “queer” and “fairy” be used sparingly. Lear largely ignored the guidance, something viewers could plainly see by the fifth episode, where the show’s blunt language and intent were impossible to miss.