'Star Trek: Picard' Is 'Archie Bunker's Place'
It's 'Joanie Loves Chachi' Or 'The Golden Palace' - But Is It Star Trek?
Archie Bunker’s Place didn’t have to happen to us, but it did. Nobody really wanted nor particularly loved Joanie Loves Chachi, but we still got it. After The Golden Girls tickled our funny bones for seven years, we got The Golden Palace, but the brilliant shine of those feisty gals never quite carried over to the spin-off.
Star Trek: The Next Generation ended its seven season run and 26 years later, we got the CBS All Access and now Paramount + original series, Star Trek: Picard.
Sometimes Hollywood producers simply don’t know when to leave a good thing alone.
Joanie Loves Chachi
We loved Happy Days. It lived up to its name. It made us happy. Hell, I still am happy about it.
For those out there too young to remember those fond, silly sitcom tales, go watch it on TV Land or clips on YouTube. Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) was the epitome of nerdy fun. Fonzie (Henry Winkler) was just plain cool. Chachi (Scott Baio) was the Fonze’s cousin and became enamored with Joanie Cunningham, Richie’s younger sister, played by actress Erin Moran. The new show paired two of the more popular Happy Days cast members, yet was by any reasonable account an abysmal failure - lasting only 1.5 seasons.
Guess it proves even the most popular characters can’t equal to a good show without it being a truly good show.
Sadly of all, for those who did somehow love JLC, sorry to report, but in 2010, TV Guide Network listed it at #17 on its 25 Biggest TV Blunders.
The Golden Palace
Four older women sharing a cozy Florida home became the potent character stew of one of the most beloved comedy fests of all time. The Golden Girls, much like I Love Lucy or The Honeymooners, not only blazed a brilliant ratings hit while on the air, but became a cultural milestone - generating love for generations thereafter, as well as merchandise from everything from t-shirts and calendars to bobble head dolls and chia pets. Yes, Golden Girls lover, you can buy the girls in chia form and watch all that crazy veggie growth burst out of their clay heads.
Bea Arthur, the biggest star of the show initially - with Betty White a close 2nd - didn’t want to play Dorothy anymore. She felt her character had nothing left for her as an actress to express and explore. What to do? Make it a spinoff without her!
Well, it kinda worked. The Golden Palace isn’t terrible, it may even be mildly entertaining, but it could never hold a comedic or artistic candle to its comedic progenitor.
Archie Bunker’s Place
Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) arguably was the 2nd most important reason All In The Family became such a mega sitcom hit. She softened the harsh, gruffness of Archie and genuinely loved the bigoted lug. In this spin-off, Stapleton agreed to appear in several episodes, but eventually - at her request - was written out of the sitcom with the character’s death explained in the 2nd season. Edith passed away off camera from a stroke.
Archie was still around, but nobody could replace his wife - lovingly referred to by Archie as the dingbat. Wacky situations were explored and laughs were had, but was there any real reason for it to be other than to line a network with more profitable gold pressed latnium?
Diplomatic Jean-Luc Picard as the ever contentious Archie Bunker? Parallels abound. They both rule their respective roosts, both boast loud, stentorian voices issuing commands and both claim ownership of a comfortable center seat. It’s a seat only they sit in - or severe consequences follow. Both men even enjoy calling those around them by nicknames - Number One for Will Riker and Meathead for son-in-law Mike Stivic.
So, in the end, is Star Trek: Picard a badly written and shoddily produced show with horrible creative decisions for its Archie Bunker’s Place like creation? Not necessarily, some may actually like it and be able to substantively defend it. However, most fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation expected and richly deserved more consideration when it came to furthering the adventures of the Enterprise D crew - not a limited run televised vanity plate and cash grab for Patrick Stewart - much like Carol O’Connor got as the curmudgeonly Archie Bunker.