All in the Family: Sammy's Visit (1972)

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Written by comedian Bill Dana (aka Jose Jimenez), this classic episode represents the one and only time that All in the Family relied upon a guest star. It all begins when moonlighting cabbie Archie comes home bearing a briefcase left in his taxi by Sammy Davis Jr. Intending to return the briefcase to the cab company in the morning, Archie is amazed when Davis himself shows up on the Bunker doorstep. What follows is a brilliant blend of Davis' patented charisma and Archie's bumbling, unintentional bigotry: "I know you had no choice about bein' colored, but what made you turn Jew?" The episode's final gag need not be revealed here, since it has been excerpted ad infinitum in dozens of TV-history specials since its first airing on February 19, 1972. Director John Rich, who won an Emmy for this episode, has claimed that "Sammy's Visit" came about because Sammy Davis Jr. insisted upon appearing on his favorite sitcom -- and has further claimed that Archie's "second job" as a cabdriver was added to the All in the Family lexicon so that Davis' visit to the Bunkers would be a logical plot development. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi