Edith's faith is severely shaken when their friend Beverly, a female impersonator, is murdered saving Mike at Christmastime.Edith's faith is severely shaken when their friend Beverly, a female impersonator, is murdered saving Mike at Christmastime.Edith's faith is severely shaken when their friend Beverly, a female impersonator, is murdered saving Mike at Christmastime.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the fourth and final time a Bunker guest would die. In this case, Beverly LaSalle. The first was Cousin Oscar, The second was Paul Benjamin and the third was Bernard Bernstein. While Oscar and Bernard die peacefully, Paul and Beverly were killed. Only Bernard died on-screen.
- Quotes
Archie Bunker: [Edith tells Archie to close his eyes; she has a surprise for him. He sits at the dining room table and shuts his eyes. Edith and Beverly come out of the kitchen; Beverly moves behind him, presses up against him, covers his closed eyes with his hands, then kisses him on top of his head, then removes his hands. Archie then opens his eyes and sees Edith on the opposite side of the table. He then moves his head back and forth, feeling the breasts behind him] I got a rubbery feeling it's Beverly La Salle.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Visible: Out on Television: The Dark Ages (2020)
- SoundtracksDeck The Halls
(uncredited)
Welsh Carol
Traditional tune, lyrics by Thomas Oliphant
Portion sung by Lori Shannon
Though you'll obviously want to watch both, Part 1 of this two-part episode is the stronger of the pair. It's nowhere near as powerful as the 1976 "Draft Dodger" episode, but this one is a good showcase for Jean Stapleton.
In the opening scene with Beverly, Edith fiddles with the feather boa, and gets Bette Davis and Mae West confused. There is some sweet dialog where Edith says she considers Beverly "like family". Even though Archie continually mixes up the pronouns (the CC mob would have him canceled for sure in 2023), he tolerates Beverly because of Edith's fondness.
When Barney (Allan Melvin) bursts in with the news of the attack, Gloria freaks out. Sally Struthers does well in this scene. She's a little annoying in the hospital when she first sees Mike and starts blubbering. When the doctor gives the bad news about Beverly's death, Edith is silent but her expressions tell all.
Part 1 ends with Edith sitting defiantly on the porch, the family thinking she had gone to church. "I ain't goin' today and may never go back!".
To be continued... 8/10 for Part 1.
- kgraovac
- Dec 19, 2023