Controversial subjects

[desilu #1]

If LITB did controversial episodes once in a while like All in the family was famous for, do you think they would have lasted back then? From what I understand, All in the family was the first show to touch on race, religion,sex, drugs,rape and war and so on. Alot of people had issues with this type of show but I think it was successful because it never lost it's humor or the talent of Archie Bunker, therefor, I think LITB would have lasted.

[BrandonS]

LITB might have lasted, but I don't think it would have been LITB. I don't mind them doing this once in awhile, and they did, for example with the show about divorce. One of the main things that attracts me to LITB, however, is the fact that they inhabit a better-than-real world, where people have simpler problems than this world does. For me it's almost like some kind of goal - unreachable, but nonetheless a goal.

[desilu #1]

I totally get you. I haven't seen the episode that you are talking about yet. I just started watching this show about a year ago and I've missed some here and there. I was just thinking about how different they would do it. I can be a deep thinker sometimes. Of course one of the things that attracts me to this show is the era and the innocense but it just makes me wonder how far they would have gone if they were allowed.

[BrandonS]

It was a simpler time - I know because I was there - but, even for the 50s/early 60s, Mayfield is idealized. This is a big attraction. I've heard that many kids with unpleasant home lives, are strongly drawn to this show.

[BeavLover]

Back then, divorce was still a hushed over issue among families. So, the show with Chopper was breaking the waters a bit.

They also had the show about Andy, the painter that worked for the Cleavers occasionally. Alcoholism, too, at times was hushed about. In that episode, that is just what June and Ward tried to do with Wally and Beaver. They "tried to pretend" it wasn't a fact. Later they paid the consequences when Beaver gave Andy a bottle of hard liquor, when he didn't know any better.

A lot happened between the early 60's and the early 70's. Just like nowadays. Back then you never would believe what you see today on TV. Even the commercials. What is in store for us by the year 2020?

[DarleneIllyria]

LITB kind of gets a bad rap, imo. I hear people call the show 'oh so unrealistic. oh, so corny' It was kind of like All in the Family, in a way. Nope, didn't deal with as many serious topics as AITF had, but Beaver did sneak in quite a few. Some of you have mentioned the divorce one and the drinking one. That's some pretty serious stuff for the 50s/60s. Beaver and the rest of the shows that dealt with serious topics on hand kind of made a path for Archie and a lot of the shows in the 70s. The 80s had some serious stuff going on, so did the 90s. Ah, can't say we're making too much progress now. You got a few good shows on now, but most of it is reality shows. That's so another post for another rant. lol

Anyway, like you guys have said before, Beaver was good for a few serious topics, but it also has that light fun. All in the Family, I really love and enjoy that show, but I find myself crying over some of the plot lines. Like when Beverly LaSalle dies, Gloria miscarries, Mike and Gloria leave, you got a lot of crying eps in there.

Let me get back on topic. If Beaver dealt with the kind of topics AITF dealt with and had a lot of serious eps, I don't think it'd last too long.