During the second season of All in the Family, a very special guest showed up to see the Bunkers. “Sammy’s Visit” first aired on February 19, 1972 and musician and actor Sammy Davis Jr. made it one of the most memorable episodes of the beloved series — and created one of the most infamous moments in ’70s TV history.
Davis and Carroll O’Connor, who played Archie Bunker, were real-life friends, and in an appearance on The Tonight Show, Davis expressed interest in appearing on the show. Creator Norman Lear was initially hesitant to have such a big star on the show, but he relented, leading to the creation of what is widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcom episodes ever made.