Do you guys think family friendly sitcoms could work in todays world?

The Middle is family friendly and it works.

it depends on the writing and acting

I most certainly do think they could work if they are good and truly family friendly. I hear a lot of parents complain that many of the cartoons today are not even appropriate for children and I agree. Families today struggle to find shows without violence, nudity, cussing etc..
I belong to various message boards and know from what I read from others that there are more than enough people who would prefer clean, wholesome programming. The problem is the networks don't want family friendly shows. I have even spoken to a lot of people who have stopped watching regular TV because of lack of true family friendly shows and buy approved DVD's.
http://www.movieguide.org/general/frontpage-spotlight/tv-network-execs-dismiss-disdain-and-disrespect-family-programming-at-meeting-source-report.html

I most certainly do think they could work if they are good and truly family friendly. I hear a lot of parents complain that many of the cartoons today are not even appropriate for children and I agree. Families today struggle to find shows without violence, nudity, cussing etc..
I belong to various message boards and know from what I read from others that there are more than enough people who would prefer clean, wholesome programming. The problem is the networks don't want family friendly shows. I have even spoken to a lot of people who have stopped watching regular TV because of lack of true family friendly shows and buy approved DVD's.
http://www.movieguide.org/general/frontpage-spotlight/tv-network-execs-dismiss-disdain-and-disrespect-family-programming-at-meeting-source-report.html

It's a shame that the higher ups at these networks won't listen.

It's a shame that the higher ups at these networks won't listen.

As a member of the Parents Television Council I agree! What, did the networks get "packed" on purpose by the entertainment industry so that they would be shielded from the complaints from viewers about offensive material? The sponsors of these shows are just as bad.

it depends on the writing and acting
You hit the nail write on the head if it's cleverly written and well acted it would work but if it's the typical dopey dribble that was prevalent in the 70s-80s-and 90s then it won't.

It depends on what you call "Family Friendly". Certianly there is a middle ground between sugary, sappy, and sugarcoated programs and the sex and drug fueled shows many claim are taking up space all over tv.

I think that a show that is well written and well acted with a clever hook could work; however if the show is sugarcoated and sappy and dopey like the miller-boyette sitcoms of the 90's it won't work. Audiences have matured beyond that.

It depends on what you call "Family Friendly". Certianly there is a middle ground between sugary, sappy, and sugarcoated programs and the sex and drug fueled shows many claim are taking up space all over tv.

I think that a show that is well written and well acted with a clever hook could work; however if the show is sugarcoated and sappy and dopey like the miller-boyette sitcoms of the 90's it won't work. Audiences have matured beyond that.

I agree with your post. Audiences now in days are mature and want TV shows that actually respect intelligence of the viewers. The Middle on ABC is a show that I recently started watching and the show sort of has that middle ground you described.

It depends on what you call "Family Friendly". Certianly there is a middle ground between sugary, sappy, and sugarcoated programs and the sex and drug fueled shows many claim are taking up space all over tv.

I think that a show that is well written and well acted with a clever hook could work; however if the show is sugarcoated and sappy and dopey like the miller-boyette sitcoms of the 90's it won't work. Audiences have matured beyond that.

"Middle ground"? To me that's a code word for still departing from "sugarcoated and sappy and dopey", still drifting toward those "sex and drug fueled shows", although more slowly--and in stealth fashion!

"Middle ground"? To me that's a code word for still departing from "sugarcoated and sappy and dopey", still drifting toward those "sex and drug fueled shows", although more slowly--and in stealth fashion!

Well again, MOST people don't want to talked down too and see shows that only show one version of the world. Most viewers today want a show that explores the reality of modern life more fully.

Shows like "Modern Family" and "The Middle" on ABC are both family friendly sitcoms without much mention of sex at all. Not everything has to be "Full House" or "7th Heaven" to be family friendly.