Today in television history (October 16, 1977) :
Edith Bunker missed her 50th Birthday party next door at her daughter's house, when she was attacked by a rapist in her own home (played by David Dukes). The Norman Lear comedy tackled many serious topics over its series' run, and this was one of the most talked about by critics and audiences. To this day, many fans say they can't watch the episode for it makes them too uncomfortable to see their beloved Edith attacked and held hostage (in the end, she escapes when she hits him in the face with her birthday cake hot out of the oven).
The storyline was originally written for Bonnie Franklin for her hit TV series 'One Day At A Time' (another Lear comedy), but Franklin did not want her character to be attacked by a rapist in her own apartment.