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View Full Version : To Me The One Thing That Stinks About Sitcoms?

JamesG
09-04-2008, 04:01 PM
It's not really the fault of the sitcoms but what I find that sucks is that as time goes by, especially decades, many of the references made in the show get lost over time and the show gets more unfunny.

Unless you are a pop-culture expert you wouldn't know many of things referenced in shows in the 1950s, 1960s, or even 1980s. Anyone feel this way about shows? It stinks because the true essence of the joke/message gets lost over time.
littlebelle
09-04-2008, 04:09 PM
That's EXACTLY how I feel about Murphy Brown.
JulieSomoski
09-04-2008, 05:23 PM
That's EXACTLY how I feel about Murphy Brown.

Sure, some of the pop culture references are outdated, but you can still laugh at a lot of them, and I'd say about 85% of the show has nothing to do with pop culture - it's just funny. To me, it still holds up very well and is still one of my favorite shows.
Furienna
09-04-2008, 09:42 PM
I agree with Julie. You still get most of the jokes.
Schmoopie
09-04-2008, 10:06 PM
I still get some of the jokes I hear on older TV shows like Full House and so forth, but I get what you are saying. People who were born in, say 1985 probably wouldn't understand a lot of the 80's references that are on so many shows from back then.
There is an episode of "Square Pegs" where they are in the gym. The principal is giving a pep talk and tells the students that they are going to be taking it to the streets. Then Vinnie (one of the main characters says "Oh, like the Doobie Brothers." If you didn't know that one of the Doobie Brothers hits was called "Taking it to the Streets" (or had never even heard of them!) I doubt that "joke" would be as funny.

Andrea
catlover79
09-04-2008, 10:11 PM
Even if some references/clothes/hairstyles are outdated, I don't mind. To me, watching these old shows is like a peephole into the past, or a time capsule. It's interesting to see how things were before I was born or when I was little. :cool:
TVFactFan
09-04-2008, 10:22 PM
I used to be LOST all the time watching Good Times because I didn't know who these people were when they were referred to on the show

Rosie Grier
Moms Mabley
Rona Barrett
catlover79
09-04-2008, 10:24 PM
I used to be LOST all the time watching Good Times because I didn't know who these people were when they were referred to on the show

Rosie Grier
Moms Mabley
Rona Barrett
How about Debby Boone??? :rofl:
TVFactFan
09-04-2008, 10:29 PM
How about Debby Boone??? :rofl:


Yup her too-lol


And on Sanford and Son when Fred to Woody-"My name is not Henry Higgins"


I was like-"WHO?
dawsongirl
09-04-2008, 10:59 PM
Even if some references/clothes/hairstyles are outdated, I don't mind. To me, watching these old shows is like a peephole into the past, or a time capsule. It's interesting to see how things were before I was born or when I was little. :cool:
Yeah, me too. Plus, it's a learning opportunity.
comedyfreak
09-05-2008, 05:39 AM
I don't mind the outdatedness of old shows, imo that's what makes them good. I love watching AITF during the first few seasons and Good Times hearing the jokes about former presidents Nixon and Ford.
waichingliu81
09-05-2008, 07:14 AM
to be honest, for me i don't really pay attention to things like that. as long as i get the joke, or its funny then that's all that matters
Chocolate Moose
09-05-2008, 10:02 AM
I'm with the OP
JulieSomoski
09-05-2008, 03:56 PM
Even if some references/clothes/hairstyles are outdated, I don't mind. To me, watching these old shows is like a peephole into the past, or a time capsule. It's interesting to see how things were before I was born or when I was little. :cool:

I agree - you don't watch classic television to get ALL the jokes. You watch because they're a part of the past that you'd like to watch over and over. Some of the political jokes and other things are outdated, but who cares? If the show is funny, that's good enough for me :D
littlebelle
09-05-2008, 04:10 PM
I think it entirely depends on the show. For instance, I LOVE Melrose Place and is my favorite show. It started and ended in the 90's, same with Murphy Brown, yet I'm never confused or not getting reference jokes on Melrose Place. It's not only Melrose Place though, mostly all the shows I watch are from the 90's and 80's.
TVFactFan
09-05-2008, 06:26 PM
I agree - you don't watch classic television to get ALL the jokes. You watch because they're a part of the past that you'd like to watch over and over. Some of the political jokes and other things are outdated, but who cares? If the show is funny, that's good enough for me :D


Yeah I never got the jokes about President Ford or about NYC being broke on Good Times-lol
ThomasE
09-05-2008, 07:26 PM
Yeah I never got the jokes about President Ford or about NYC being broke on Good Times-lol


And what about the joke about Nixon being po' folks' best friend from episode 2? LOL.
(by Florida Evans)

The other one that I was not familiar with Thelma talking about how Diahann Carroll playing a woman that was on welfare in the 1974 movie "Claudine". Florida then says, "Julia on welfare? This I gotta see". Most would think, "who is Julia?" Now that I as a viewer understan the politics behind the character of Julia and the Julia sitcom, I can appreciated the referenced joke better.
TVFactFan
09-05-2008, 07:32 PM
And what about the joke about Nixon being po' folks' best friend from episode 2? LOL.
(by Florida Evans)

The other one that I was not familiar with Thelma talking about how Diahann Carroll playing a woman that was on welfare in the 1974 movie "Claudine". Florida then says, "Julia on welfare? This I gotta see". Most would think, "who is Julia?" Now that I as a viewer understan the politics behind the character of Julia and the Julia sitcom, I can appreciated the referenced joke better.


Years Ago I always thought that Florida was saying-"JUNIOR ON WELFARE?"

That's because at the time I never heard of the show Julia