R.I.P. Rob Reiner, the iconic actor and filmmaker known for All in the Family, When Harry Met Sally and more
Join MeTV as we remember Rob Reiner with specially selected episodes of All in the Family showcasing his character, Michael “Mike” Stivic on Sunday, December 21 starting at 6P | 5C
Join MeTV as we remember Rob Reiner with specially selected episodes of All in the Family showcasing his character, Michael “Mike” Stivic on Sunday, December 21 starting at 6P | 5C
6P | 5C: "Mike's Problem": Mike's anxiety over his upcoming college exams causes him to temporarily become sexually impotent.
6:30P | 5:30C: "Mike Comes Into Money": Mike donates his $275 inheritance to George McGovern's presidential campaign against an apoplectic Archie's express wishes that the money be used for room and board.
7P | 6C: "Mike's Appendix": Mike needs emergency surgery to remove his appendix but is uncomfortable with the idea of a female surgeon doing the operation.
7:30P | 6:30C: "The Games Bunkers Play": Mike refuses to accept constructive criticism during a group therapy board game.
8P | 7C: "Mike's Graduation": Mike graduates from college, an occasion that to Archie means Mike will soon be moving out of the house.
8:30P | 9:30C: "No Smoking": A contest between Archie and Mike, to see who can abstain from his favorite indulgence (Archie's being smoking cigars, Mike's eating everything in sight) becomes a battle of wills. Who will win this 48-hour contest?
9P | 8C: "Gloria Suspects Mike": One night when Mike goes to tutor the woman, they become mutually attracted to each other and kiss. Meanwhile, Archie gets an idea to trap Mike in a confession: Knowing that he can't hold his wine, Archie decides to liquor him up as a truth drug. They both get drunk, and Archie passes out--and misses Mike's confession that he simply got up and left the woman's apartment.
9:30P | 8:30C: "Two's a Crowd": Mike and Archie get locked together in the storage room at Archie's Place and have a long talk.
Rob Reiner, co-star of All in the Family and a director who helmed countless Hollywood classics, has passed away at 78.
The son of legendary comedy writer and performer Carl Reiner, Rob was surrounded by some of the funniest people in the world from a very young age. At 16, he pitched an idea to his father and Mel Brooks that was used in their iconic recording The 2000 Year Old Man. His ascent continued as he contributed to comedy and culture throughout the following decades.
As Mike "Meathead" Stivic, Reiner served as a proxy for a generation on All in the Family. In contrast to Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, Reiner’s son-in-law character embodied a growing population of college-educated, liberal-minded young adults who opposed the previous generation’s long-held beliefs. Mike Stivic was a caricature humanized by Reiner’s believable performance, creating a character as likable as Archie was funny.
In addition to his work as an actor, Reiner established a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most reliable filmmakers. Like Ron Howard, he leveraged his experience in front of the camera to eventually step behind it.
His skill set was best showcased in the breadth of genres he explored. With The Princess Bride, Reiner directed a fantasy epic that continues to inspire generations of fans. In This Is Spinal Tap, he created an entirely new form of comedy, helping popularize the improvised mockumentary. Few adapted Stephen King with the reverence and attention to detail Reiner brought to Stand by Me and Misery.
His Harry Met Sally is the romantic comedy at its best; people quote "I'll have what she's having" without even knowing it was Reiner's mother who said it.
While his enduring legacy will be represented by his filmography, Reiner should also be remembered for his skepticism of American power structures. A thematic thread throughout some of his best films, those views ultimately alienated portions of his audience. However, his later-in-life activism closed the loop, pairing Meathead's ideals with actionable pragmatism and leading by example, using his platform to speak his truth.

