Have you seen reruns recently enough to have recently that Reverend Fordwick was John Ritter before Three's Company?

Wow...actually did not catch that.

FWIW, I like The Waltons a lot, but then I generally like family shows where they don't insist that one of the parents has to be an idiot.

But those shows are the most fun!!!

Actually, the greatest family TV show of all time is All in the Family. So many scenes were priceless - whether it was Archie doing the russian roulette or Lionel pretending to give into Archie's views on race....there will never be another show like it.

My all time favorite exchange....

Archie: "here's another thing I don't like...blood transfusions"
Lionel: "oh, yeah, I agree...bad idea"
Archie: "You don't say???"
Lionel: "Absolutely.....bad idea...can you imagine that poor black man with all that white blood in him???? The poor guy wouldn't even know what restroom to use"
Archie: (after pondering what Lionel just said): "Yeah, I see your point"

And in the background, Meathead is just shaking his head in disbelief. Priceless scene.