704 Hauser

704 Hauser
GenreSitcom
Created byNorman Lear
Directed by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6 (1 unaired)
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseApril 11 (1994-04-11) –
May 9, 1994 (1994-05-09)
Related

704 Hauser is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of All in the Family (the final of several) that aired on CBS from April 11 to May 9, 1994. The series is built around the concept of a black family, the Cumberbatch Family, moving into the former Queens home of Archie Bunker after Bunker had sold the house located at 704 Hauser Street.

Overview

The 704 Hauser living room set.
The 704 Hauser living room set.

Norman Lear created the series during the time when conservative talk radio was experiencing its initial upswing in popularity in the United States, particularly in the form of Rush Limbaugh. Lear felt that the time was right for a new show to explore new issues, making 704 Hauser even more explicitly political than All in the Family. John Amos, a veteran of the earlier Lear sitcom Good Times (itself a spin-off of the All in the Family spin-off Maude), starred as Ernie Cumberbatch, while Lynnie Godfrey played his wife, Rose.[1] The show features a reversal of the original All in the Family formula. Ernie and Rose Cumberbatch are working class Democrats, while their son Goodie is a conservative activist and his girlfriend, Cherlyn Markowitz (Maura Tierney), is white and Jewish.

The show attracted middling ratings, and was cancelled after five episodes (with one episode remaining unaired).

Cast

Casey Siemaszko plays Joey Stivic, Archie's grandson, in the first episode.[2] CBS anchor Bob Schieffer appears in the first episode as himself.

List of episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
1"Meet the Cumberbatchs"Norman LearStory by : Norman Lear
Teleplay by : Norman Lear and Kevin Heelan		April 11, 1994 (1994-04-11)16.8[3]
A pair of liberal black parents struggles with their conservative son and his white girlfriend.
2"Here's Why Ernie Should Never Be Left Home Alone"Jack SheaJohn Baskin and Roger ShulmanApril 18, 1994 (1994-04-18)15.2[4]
Ernie conspires to find Goodie a new girlfriend.
3"Ernie Live on Tape"Jack SheaJanet Lynne JacksonApril 25, 1994 (1994-04-25)13.5[5]
Ernie and Goodie disagree over an incident of alleged racial harassment.
4"Triskaidekaphobia"Jack SheaGreg Cope and Sean DwyerMay 2, 1994 (1994-05-02)13.2[6]
Friday the 13th brings bad luck to the Cumberbatchs.
5"All That Jasmine"Jack SheaAndrea Allen-WileyMay 9, 1994 (1994-05-09)13.7[7]
Rose's sister interferes with Ernie's birthday surprise.
6"Revelations"Jack SheaWalter Allen Bennett, Jr.Unaired (Unaired)N/A
Ernie discovers a master plan to reduce his taxes by becoming a minister.

Home media

The pilot episode, "Meet the Cumberbatchs", was included as a bonus feature on the All in the Family: The Complete Series DVD box set released by Shout! Factory on October 30, 2012.

References

  1. ^ "704 Hauser Street TV Show - Reviews, Cast, Schedule & Times and More. Television Shows at Film.com". May 4, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-05-04.
  2. ^ Svetkey, Benjamin (April 15, 1994). "Norman Lear's new sitcom 704 Hauser". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  3. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 20, 1994. p. 3D.
  4. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 27, 1994. p. 3D.
  5. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 4, 1994. p. 3D.
  6. ^ DeRosa, Robin (May 11, 1994). "ABC keeps hammering away". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  7. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 18, 1994. p. 3D.