Surprising Stories from the Set of All in the Family

Carroll O’Connor and Sammy Davis Jr. were close friends, and All in the Family was reportedly Davis’ favorite television show. At his request, the producers arranged a guest appearance in season two’s “Sammy’s Visit,” instantly making the episode an event.

The episode’s famous ending moment was O’Connor’s idea. When Davis planted a kiss on Archie, the studio audience erupted. That reaction became the longest and loudest laugh ever recorded on the series, perfectly capturing the show’s shock-and-release brilliance.