“All in the Family” was still in the Nielsen ratings’ top 10 when it entered its ninth season, but as many popular television shows did back in the day, the producers decided to inject some new blood into the show to hopefully keep it kicking for a few more years. And so we were introduced to Danielle Brisebois’ Stephanie Mills, the daughter of Edith’s step-cousin Floyd. Stephanie, who’s been left in the Bunkers’ care by her drunk father, quickly threw a charge into the series with her sassy attitude and love for song and dance. Brisebois was a hit with the sitcom’s fans, so she stuck with the series when it was retitled “Archie Bunker’s Place.”
You may think Brisebois disappeared, but I guarantee you’ve heard her music at some point over the last 30 years. She recorded her first album, “Arrive All Over You,” in 1994 alongside producer Gregg Alexander. She joined Alexander’s New Radicals and performed on their one-and-done platinum smash “Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too,” while recording her second solo LP “Portable Life” (which didn’t get a proper release until 2008).
Brisebois went on to become a sought-after songwriter, knocking out tracks for the likes of Kylie Minogue, Clay Aiken and Paula Abdul. Her biggest musical success thus far might be “Lost Stars,” which she wrote (along with Alexander, Nick Lashley, and Nick Southwood) for Adam Levine to perform in John Carney’s “Begin Again.” This ditty earned Brisebois a 2013 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, so little Stephanie is doing a-ok nowadays.
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