What shows had good family values/morals without being cheesy?

[a NaNcY FaNaTiC]

I think "Boy Meets World" and "Family Matters" are two shows that had good family values without being cheesy about it. Of course, in my opinion, FM got cheesy in other ways later on, but that's besides the point.

Then, the opposite, I think "Full House" often came across as cheesy (no offense to the show, I watched it too). Whenever that music came on in the background when a lesson was being learned, I wanted to cringe LOL.

What shows do you guys think were/were not cheesy concerning family values?

[factsoflife]

Family ties def, also, Growing pains. kate and allie was just wonderful. Blossom was a good show to, but it could get cheesy sometimes.

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Jo- Sexy Lingere?
Andy- Yep, Sexy lingerie that's you, that's what i named you.
Tootie- Oh, say you didn't
Jo- I Will not be known as sexy lingerie.

" Gross-a-roo"- Punky Brewster.

[Truth]

I agree, Saved by the bell did some, LIke on the Drinking and Driving Episode.....

[TV Guy]

I agree with you, factsoflife, "Kate & Allie" was a terrific family show. I liked "Family Ties", too.

You all might laugh at this, but "Eight is Enough" had decent family values and managed to avoid cheesiness most of the time (at least until they did the reunions). I remember one episode where Abby was substituting at Tommy's school, and was tough on some of the kids. They found out that Tommy was the teacher's stepson, and pressured him to steal an upcoming test from her. Tommy started mouthing off to Abby, telling her that her teaching methods were making his life difficult, and she wound up giving him the test and told him to do what he wanted. He eventually confronted the kids, and didn't hand over the test. He gave it back to her without a word, and with no hugs or anything like that. I was impressed with the lack of sap.

[Bluestone]

How exactly would you define "cheesy"?

[James]

The following shows had good moral values:

"The Andy Griffith Show"
"Happy Days"
"Leave It To Beaver"
"The Waltons"
"The Wonder Years"

Why can't they make shows like they used to?

[TMC]

Originally posted by Bluestone:
How exactly would you define "cheesy"?

Being "cheesy" in my mind means when a show delievers its message by resorting to obviously routine preaching. What we may get in return are superficial lectures that talk down to the audience with some contrived sappiness probably thrown in here and there for some good messure.

[TV Guy]

Good definition, TMC.

[DarleneIllyria]

The Andy Griffith Show had great values and morals and it wasn't cheesy at all.

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Hottest Men alive:
Dale Midkiff
Anthony Starke
Tim McGraw
Jonathan Crombie

Lumpy: Did you go out for anything, Dud?

Dudley: Well, I went out for football, but I got my finger stepped on, so my mother made me quit.

Eddie: Well listen-- I went out for basketball and I got my hair pulled, and my mother made ME quit.

Dudley: It's not that I was afraid of getting hurt or anything; it's just that-- well, it's kind o' hard to play the flute with a busted finger.

[Eddie and Lumpy suppress laughter]

Dale Midkiff is my man! :)

[wren]

Andy Griffith Show!

[Robert Tilton]

The Brady Bunch was a Very Family based show with lots of CheeseWiz that enhanced the show.

In one show you had the family at the dinner table saying the blessing. Mr B. said "Lord we thank Thee for Thy bountiful blessings AH-MEN". That was cheesy.

OTOH the Christmas show where Mrs. Brady sang her solo was very enriching to the family way, thus enhancing the Brady Grid and all that.

More CheeseWiz:

Brady Lectures

Yes Drill Ser-Geant! (a takeoff of Forrest Gump; this show had the Brady's doing military style living when Alice's Cousin Emma took over

Marcia Marcia Marcia

George Glass

No Toilet! (as in the Brady's movie where the Mr. Dittmeyer actor says "They only have 1 bathroom for 9 people" Sarcastic of course.)

Cindy's Shirley Temple act

Grand Canyon Parts 1 & 2 starting w/the scene at the ghost town w/Zechariah or Mr Howell if you like.

Brady Errors (give it a try Eve said On the Air!)

All this CheeseWiz and more enhanced the Brady Bunch Life. And it still had belief in All Nations as a Family show where you could escape from the world's problems. Amen.

Very quickly here before I make my Brady Saying, I'll say the show that used the Most CheeseWiz and yet had success was:

CHIPS.

Brady Life is Righteous.

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Riches & Glory are in the vow of faith! Send a check or money order for at least $1000, preferably to my account in Zurich; I have a ski lodge up there!

[Robert Tilton]

Originally posted by TMC:
Being "cheesy" in my mind means when a show delievers its message by resorting to obviously routine preaching. What we may get in return are superficial lectures that talk down to the audience with some contrived sappiness probably thrown in here and there for some good messure.



The opinions regarding what people think is Cheesy can vary because of taste and what have you, but another point of being Cheesy is when a program, independent of its normal comedy, makes the viewer look upon the scene as sappy, sentimental, corny, and just downright surreal. Lectures, slapstick, famous sitcom cliches that one notices, bad writing, overacting, and believe it or not, even the score (music) can stir the feelings of folk and make them notice the show is Cheesy.

My personal experience is I get a sappy feeling or a weird emotional reaction; sort of like getting high when something Cheesy comes on. And I laugh a lot outside and inside & start to make fun of it. The thing about it is it has to be immediately noticeable to me the viewer in order to get this reaction.

Let's take a scene from Brady Bunch Sequel where I get this "Cheesy" Feeling in my system:

The scene where the family sang Good Time Music on the plane. It was so corny to begin with; the whole idea of a group singing on a plane and then the Music Played. I really felt a Buzz when Greg's guitar started twanging during the riff.

Then I'm singing along; feeling the Anoiting of Comedy Cheese and this really cinched it for me:

Passengers had been annoyed; staring at these gay (as in happy) Bradys singing; making faces and then the flight attendent says:

Brady's please sit down and shut up!

And then they sing Good Time Music softer and softer yea and sat down slowly in unison, acting like a New Age Hare Krishna group the whole time. Finally they all did One Handclap together & that was the end of the song. But not the end of my Buzz! Now that's CheeseWiz Comedy that works if you're into it.

The best sitcoms and comedians have the good jokes, timing, and use the CheeseWiz factor to stir up the Gift; that is the Emotions, making people laugh. Amen. Of course the worst can get Cheesy giving you a different reaction:

The Reaction of the Weird Looks and Sounds:

A long while back I posted this thing in Brady Bunch message board about the Grand Canyon ep having CheeseWiz. Basically its an odd Ghost town scene w/Mr. Howell. To make a long story short:

Prospector locks the Whole Family in jail= I say "Huh?" Felt weird

Then Mr. Howell takes the Brady Car and it really got bad to my system so I said "This is stupid". Not really what the writers had in mind there; but alas I still watched the channel. There was more in that show but thats the general idea. Brady Bunch is loaded with Cheesiness Good and Bad.

Its a matter of opinion anyhow, but that's the general idea of how shows get Cheesy. And comedians. And Life at times.

[This message has been edited by Robert Tilton (edited 10-08-2001).]

[Penny Lane]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TMC:
[B] Being "cheesy" in my mind means when a show delievers its message by resorting to obviously routine preaching. What we may get in return are superficial lectures that talk down to the audience with some contrived sappiness probably thrown in here and there for some good messure.

I agree! I think The Cosby Show was very good about displaying morals without being "preachy". A strong family unit without being sappy!Cliff and Clair were so cool!