Some examples,

Alcoholism with Otis Campbell. Strangely, especially in the Black and White seasons, booze (moonshine) played center in many episodes. I have read that by the time the show went to color around 1965 that Otis was written out because the network for some reason did not want drunkenness be seen in a humourous light. Hal Smith, who played Otis was a complete non drinker and a church goer. At least in Return to Mayberry he got sober.

Oddly, Otis was the only B&W main recurring character to have a wife (that could not really stand each other). Andy's wife was dead and never heard from again, Barney was Thelma Lou while catting with Juanita on the side, Floyd had at least one son, but was shown to be unmarried or widowed. Aunt Bea was a spinster. I mean, the pastor at the Mayberry "All Souls Church" probably forgot how to do a wedding.

The mentally ill, Ernest T. Bass. Ernest T. was completely insane, and I joke that he was the inventor and the first meth head. The guy did have incredible amounts of energy and was CRAZY. The crazy was played for laughs, but the character was a sad one, alone with a mental disorder and quick to turn violent (he knocked out a guy who was dancing with his sexy Rowena at the hoity toity dance.

Backwards, ignorant, crazy, "hill people". Ernest T. Bass, The Darlings, Raif Hollister. Andy usually took the rifle when he went up the hill. The townspeople were............less dangerous?

Was it OK for the show to have a humourous alcoholic character, a mentally ill maniac with the brain of a child throwing rocks, and was it a fair representation of what Appalachian hill people are like? It seems silly to ask but now is so PC that these charactures would not last.

Any opinions?

Political correctness is overrated and unnecessary.

Were there any shows back in the day that were "politically correct"?

Were there any shows back in the day that were "politically correct"?
I don't think so. That's why most of them were so good. lol

politically correctness killed TV, which is why I love the classics

Outcast charactors helped make TAGS one of the best shows ever.

politically correctness killed TV, which is why I love the classics
my friend, you said a mouthful!!!!!

Sure, it was politically incorrect by today's standards, I'm not much for political correctness. On another forum i am on, we have a thread about political incorrectness on the show. It's fun to notice things that people get all bent out of shape about today. The show started 50 years ago and things were just different then. Aside from what you mentioned: I can't recall specific episodes in which the following occured, but for the true fans, I'm sure it will ring a bell:

- Andy convinced the Postmaster that his wanted posters were better, all the Sheriff's office got was chicken thieves and wife beaters. Wife beating seemed petty to them.

-Aunt Bee wearing the fur coat around that she won. I'm sure animal lovers would stone her today.

-All the mentions of a "whippin." Andy would probably end up on Dr. Phil today as a bad parent.

-Mr. McBeeve giving Opie a hatchet as a gift. Too innaproprite in today's world.

-Andy having a fit over Ellie running for council because she was a woman. It was obvious they still thought a woman's place was in the home.

-Andy explains to a farmer how he could use his daughter as a tool(not his words) to get a husband to help out on the farm if he would allow her to pretty-up a bit.

- Andy lets a kid handle his gun, and kids played with toy guns.

- Ernest T. Bass being a nut case and them allowing him to be in 5th grade with the other kids. The principal's phone would be ringing off the wall today.

-Briscoe said Charlene had a husband who hardly ever hit her.

There were many more. It was the greatest show ever!!

Probably no more politically incorrect than most sitcoms of that time frame. And keep in mind this is about life in an otherwise-idealized southern small town in the early '60s.

I recall a few Arkansas towns that reminded me of Mayberry during that same time frame (and well into the 1970s as well!) :)

I think PC is way out of reason today. I do miss those small towns where everyone knew everyone else and a visitor was made to feel right at home.

Sure, it was politically incorrect by today's standards, I'm not much for political correctness. On another forum i am on, we have a thread about political incorrectness on the show. It's fun to notice things that people get all bent out of shape about today. The show started 50 years ago and things were just different then. Aside from what you mentioned: I can't recall specific episodes in which the following occured, but for the true fans, I'm sure it will ring a bell:

- Andy convinced the Postmaster that his wanted posters were better, all the Sheriff's office got was chicken thieves and wife beaters. Wife beating seemed petty to them.

-Aunt Bee wearing the fur coat around that she won. I'm sure animal lovers would stone her today.

-All the mentions of a "whippin." Andy would probably end up on Dr. Phil today as a bad parent.

-Mr. McBeeve giving Opie a hatchet as a gift. Too innaproprite in today's world.

-Andy having a fit over Ellie running for council because she was a woman. It was obvious they still thought a woman's place was in the home.

-Andy explains to a farmer how he could use his daughter as a tool(not his words) to get a husband to help out on the farm if he would allow her to pretty-up a bit.

- Andy lets a kid handle his gun, and kids played with toy guns.

- Ernest T. Bass being a nut case and them allowing him to be in 5th grade with the other kids. The principal's phone would be ringing off the wall today.

-Briscoe said Charlene had a husband who hardly ever hit her.

There were many more. It was the greatest show ever!!

Real stand outs here are at least two casual references to violence against women... I would expect these an any others have been deleted along with Andy smoking cigarettes and Barney's mention of reefer?

Andy lets Trey sleep in his bed :crazy:.

Andy lets Trey sleep in his bed :crazy:.

I noticed that one, too. Red flag! :)

Some other examples:

- Helen telling her niece, Cynthia, that maybe it's not such a bad thing for girls to let boys feel that they're superior.

- Andy nudging Flora to give up her dreams of being a businesswoman by implying that she'll end up a lonely old maid.

I never noticed.

The more politically incorrect it is the more I like it. I hate political correctness, it's just another word for blatant censorship. The more the merrier, that's why they're called the good old days.

I agree with the general theme of the above posters, I think this was the greatest show ever, and never get tired of watching! I think the PC of the time was much different than the PC now, but it is fun to see how things have evolved (or maybe not in some cases!) but I think the old fashioned values of Faith and Family hold true today, even with some lines that would be odd now!

When Barney thinks Luke Combstock is coming to get revenge on Andy, Andy grabs his gun from on top of the cabinet in the living room. He also starts to load up with the bullets in the drawer of the cabinet. Now days they would have to show the gun locked up, and not so accessible to Opie.

There is a lot of gun play in the show. How many times did Barney's gun go off for a laugh when in real life it could kill/hurt somebody? He probably wouldn't be a deputy after the first time, especially around kids.

Were there any shows back in the day that were "politically correct"?

http://i.imgur.com/H7nFRqd.jpg (http://lunapic.com)

And I refuse to watch anything that IS politically correct. Show me a blackface routine while singing "Slap Her Down Again, Pa" anytime.:lol: Please make my day and be offended. I'm offended everyday by the whacked out left, where are all the apologies to me?:rolleyes:

As long as it is funny and smart.

When I watch a show, I take into consideration the times in which it was made. Just because something is considered incorrect today does not detract from the show.

And I refuse to watch anything that IS politically correct. Show me a blackface routine while singing "Slap Her Down Again, Pa" anytime.:lol: Please make my day and be offended. I'm offended everyday by the whacked out left, where are all the apologies to me?:rolleyes:


Good one hazel :wave:

So in other words, you're against a station making they're own decisions etc and prefer to make their decisions for them with brainwashing propaganda like its OK to beat your wife or girl or political bs like calling a fetus a baby or all the millions of political bs the cons invented.

So in other words, you're against a station making they're own decisions etc and prefer to make their decisions for them with brainwashing propaganda like its OK to beat your wife or girl or political bs like calling a fetus a baby or all the millions of political bs the cons invented.

You know something. If you used this type of debating in Middle School you would get a F for a grade. I think it's should be okay for a horde of women beat you to a pulp. I hope I get the concession stand on that one.

The irony is that Andy Griffith was a huge leftist. I'm sure he was in favor of Political Correctness.

I think Andy Griffith in real life hated America just as much as our current beloved El Presidente. Iran and Obama stand as one. Aren't we proud?:crazy:

All nonsense talk. I made points people like you can't defend.

Heh, I wondered how long it would be until this thread degenerated into a political mud fight.

My thoughts: TAGS is a great sitcom, full of likable and relateable characters. It's true that most of the sentiments expressed in it where fairly typical of the time, so it gets a pass because every show in existence can't be expected to be revolutionary in terms of tone. It's also true that some of those sentiments were in my opinion, 'wrong', i.e. being casual about wife beating or discouraging women to excel. However, even THOSE sentiments didn't detract and don't detract from the show's appeal because it displays the characters' flaws and makes them more human. Yes, I'm sure Mayberrry was slow to the draw on women's rights, etc., but that was TYPICAL of the time. I'm sure they got there, and none of the characters were wife beaters, etc. Like the great Archie Bunker, they were wonderfully imperfect (even the "perfect" Andy) and their good qualities far outweighed any negative qualities. They were like the folks next door; hardworking, decent folks at heart who were good at the core even if imperfect around the edges.

Another phoney baloney. YOU turned this political the minute you brought the subject up while presenting your whacked out extremist liberal view as "normal". Typical, all libs speak as if whatever extremist lib tripe they spout we're supposed to think is just normal middle of the road thinking. When in reality it's anything but.

What you consider progress, I'm sure, everyone else considers cultural and moral rot. You can mire in the rot, I'll remain above it and hope for the day when we will return to the wonderful moral and freedom loving days of Ronald Reagan and a conservative (not Republican) conservative America. Till then the cultural elitists who tell us they know best will continue to bring down what was once the greatest country in the world. Let's hope the good people wake up and stop believing the vicious lies of the left.

Now you may continue with your low-life snarky response, I'm out of this pit. My final word stands thru-out.:wave:

Hazel, tell it like it is! SO tired of the politically correct crap.

Another phoney baloney. YOU turned this political the minute you brought the subject up while presenting your whacked out extremist liberal view as "normal". Typical, all libs speak as if whatever extremist lib tripe they spout we're supposed to think is just normal middle of the road thinking. When in reality it's anything but.

What you consider progress, I'm sure, everyone else considers cultural and moral rot. You can mire in the rot, I'll remain above it and hope for the day when we will return to the wonderful moral and freedom loving days of Ronald Reagan and a conservative (not Republican) conservative America. Till then the cultural elitists who tell us they know best will continue to bring down what was once the greatest country in the world. Let's hope the good people wake up and stop believing the vicious lies of the left.

Now you may continue with your low-life snarky response, I'm out of this pit. My final word stands thru-out.:wave:

Sorry, I only chat with rational people. Life is too short to waste time on people like you, and your unbalanced post doesn't deserve a real response.

Another phoney baloney. YOU turned this political the minute you brought the subject up while presenting your whacked out extremist liberal view as "normal". Typical, all libs speak as if whatever extremist lib tripe they spout we're supposed to think is just normal middle of the road thinking. When in reality it's anything but.

What you consider progress, I'm sure, everyone else considers cultural and moral rot. You can mire in the rot, I'll remain above it and hope for the day when we will return to the wonderful moral and freedom loving days of Ronald Reagan and a conservative (not Republican) conservative America. Till then the cultural elitists who tell us they know best will continue to bring down what was once the greatest country in the world. Let's hope the good people wake up and stop believing the vicious lies of the left.

Now you may continue with your low-life snarky response, I'm out of this pit. My final word stands thru-out.:wave:


Totally agree. Well put.

People piling on to to be Hazel's amen section just shows how large the right wing media bubble has become, not to mention how impervious the bubble's skin is to absorbtion of contravening thought a/k/a reality. It sure is noxious in there.

Come into the fresh air of the pure of heart and join the clean living hard working honest and true to the bone philosophy of living of the conservatives. It's a way of life, not a political side. It's the way you live, honest good and true or the alternative a life of lies, pretense, hate, and constant scowling. I prefer the positive approach of the true conservative, we know what's right and further we do what's right. Makes the libs mad don't it? Good!:lol:

Come into the fresh air of the pure of heart and join the clean living hard working honest and true to the bone philosophy of living of the conservatives. It's a way of life, not a political side. It's the way you live, honest good and true or the alternative a life of lies, pretense, hate, and constant scowling. I prefer the positive approach of the true conservative, we know what's right and further we do what's right. Makes the libs mad don't it? Good!:lol:


Amen Hazel !

(Just for you TV on the porch :D )

I think PC is way out of reason today. I do miss those small towns where everyone knew everyone else and a visitor was made to feel right at home.

Not always the case, outsiders like Ed Sanders were treated as almost aliens from another planet in Mayberry.

People piling on to to be Hazel's amen section just shows how large the right wing media bubble has become, not to mention how impervious the bubble's skin is to absorbtion of contravening thought a/k/a reality. It sure is noxious in there.

The Andy Griffith Show at it's best seemed to strictly avoid any political commentary, which I think helps keep it from seeing dated today.

Come into the fresh air of the pure of heart and join the clean living hard working honest and true to the bone philosophy of living of the conservatives. It's a way of life, not a political side. It's the way you live, honest good and true or the alternative a life of lies, pretense, hate, and constant scowling. I prefer the positive approach of the true conservative, we know what's right and further we do what's right. Makes the libs mad don't it? Good!:lol:

Fresh air? Like hating everyone and all other religions? That air stinks.
Hard working? You mean like how red states collecting 85% of the public welfare. Those are handouts curtesy of the blue states. Us libs know what's right and that's why we do what's right. Our avg iq of 106 vs the cons avg if of 85 makes it all so. It's a way of life.

Andy lets Trey sleep in his bed :crazy:.

I dont know what in the world the writers where thinking when they came up with this episode.Andy practically abandons his own son for some blonde kid he never met before and when he separates trey and opie because they were rough housing he invites trey to his bed for the night.yipes call child protective services.

It's funny. In some episodes, there was an extra bedroom at the Taylor house. In other episodes, there wasn't.

So everything has to be "politically correct" now, but yet it's OK for shows to mention genitalia, masturbation, and other sexual references. It's crazy.

I don't remember Andy asking Trey to come to bed with him, but I haven't see the Trey episode in a long time. Is this actually in the episode or just urban legend?

The all white cast and almost the entire population of Mayberry is probably the most obvious area for criticism.

Besides Opie's football coach how many black people had a speaking part on the Andy Griffith Show?

I don't remember Andy asking Trey to come to bed with him, but I haven't see the Trey episode in a long time. Is this actually in the episode or just urban legend?

I missed out, the Trey episode was just on yesterday, but I was mainly paying attention to the sets and location shots rather than the finer points of the story, but no way would I say anything Andy did with Trey was pedophilia.

The first Ellie Walker story is on now.

There's frost on the door of Walker's Pharmacy when Opie and Ellie Walker meet, yet Opie is dressed ina short sleeved Summer shirt.

But that's for another thread.

😃

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The all white cast and almost the entire population of Mayberry is probably the most obvious area for criticism.

Besides Opie's football coach how many black people had a speaking part on the Andy Griffith Show?

This show is set in North Carolina which is in the South. You expect black people in that state.

I missed out, the Trey episode was just on yesterday, but I was mainly paying attention to the sets and location shots rather than the finer points of the story, but no way would I say anything Andy did with Trey was pedophilia.

The first Ellie Walker story is on now.

There's frost on the door of Walker's Pharmacy when Opie and Ellie Walker meet, yet Opie is dressed ina short sleeved Summer shirt.

But that's for another thread.

��

That was glass cleaning polish or glass wax, not frost.

The horrendous (one of the series worst) S4 E14 Andy and Opie's Pal (Trey Bowden) episode is not only odd on it's own merits but it's placement. It's in S4 one of the greatest classic sitcom seasons of all time. I rated it 3 out of 10. But, I rated 22 of the S4 32 episodes a 10 (69%). Also the episode might be worth rewatching solely for at least 3 classic Barney scenes.

That was glass cleaning polish or glass wax, not frost.

Is this actually in the episode, like Ellie was interupted while cleaning?

Seriously, I might have missed that.

This show is set in North Carolina which is in the South. You expect black people in that state.

We see black people walking around Mayberry often in earlier episodes but no speaking characters.

Apparently the blacks in Mayberry aren't involved in the inner circle of the courthouse and barber shop but they're around, and apparently they rarely break the law.

Georgia and Alabama was segregated in the 1969s, was North Carolina?