Focusing on Rob Reiner’s politics misses the point, fails to understand TV’s fabled duo, Archie Bunker and 'Meathead'
Rob Reiner was a highly accomplished actor, writer, director and producer. He was in the cast of “All in the Family,” a truly landmark TV series, and directed several memorable films.
But to a lot of people, he will forever be “Meathead.” That was the derogatory nickname his character Michael Stivic was given by his bigoted, short-tempered father-in-law, Archie Bunker on “All in the Family.” It stuck.
“I could win the Nobel Prize and it would say, ‘Meathead wins Nobel,’ he told “60 Minutes” in 1994.
In the wake of the tragic death of Reiner and his wife Michele on Dec. 14, he has been discussed in the news and on social media. Many mourned the horrid nature of their murders, with their troubled son Nick facing two counts of first-degree murder.
Others noted his long and highly successful career, as an actor and more prominently as the director of “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand by Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “A Few Good Men” and other films. Reiner accomplished a great deal in his 78 years, and was still productive, having just released “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”
However, there has been a foul undercurrent of hate and even pleasure at his death. President Trump was a frequent target of online barbs from Reiner, a lifelong liberal. In 2017, Reiner said Trump was “mentally unfit” for the presidency.
Trump issued a bizarre, even for him, statement on his ironically named Truth Social platform a few hours after the Reiners’ deaths were announced.
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS.”
Two people are dead, apparently at the hands of their son. And Trump makes it about him.
When given a chance to back away from that post, he instead doubled down.
“I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way, shape or form,” Trump told reporters.
This was in keeping with his earlier statements on the deaths of his political opponents and critics.
When Sen. John McCain died in 2018, Trump later said he “was never a fan” and “never will be.” This from a man who ducked and dodged military service, claiming he suffered from “bone spurs.”
Trump attacks. He never backs down, never apologizes and never takes the high road. He goes for the throat, even when his rival is already down.
His most fervent admirers have learned to copy that style. They did so after the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner, posting truly despicable comments on social media. One favorite phrase was referring to Rob as a “meathead.”
He heard that for half a century, especially in recent years as his political views became even more prominent. For some, that will be how he is forever remembered.
The sad thing, aside from such a vicious and uncaring attitude about a tragedy, is that they missed a central theme on “All in the Family.”
Archie and Mike loved each other. Yes, they were far apart politically and shared vastly divergent views on many social issues. One was a middle-aged working man, with a limited education and a deep well of prejudice against almost everyone.
The other was a young man completing his studies and adapting to married life with Gloria, the beloved daughter of Archie and Edith.
It’s worth noting Archie was deeply devoted to his wife, but he also used a disparaging nickname for her — “Dingbat.”
Like Trump, Archie Bunker had a talent for cruel taunts and enduring insults. But he also had a heart, as the brilliant actor Carroll O’Connor slowly revealed during the run of the series. Archie was, despite his numerous flaws, a good man.
In their final scene together, Mike thanked Archie for everything he did for him over the years. “You’ve been like a father to me,” he said.
“Well, you’ve been just like a son to me,” a clearly emotional Archie replied. “You never did nothing I ever told you to do.”
It was a deeply moving scene, an example of why “All in the Family” was such a ratings and cultural juggernaut. Yes, it was often funny, even hilarious, but it also sent a clear message of vastly different people learning to live together and love each other.
We sure could use more of that now. You’d have to be a meathead to disagree.
Fourth-generation South Dakotan Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states for four decades. He has contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The London Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Do not republish without permission.
Photo: Reiner and wife Michelle, 2016, public domain, wikimedia commons
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