What TV show has viewers constantly excusing the wrongdoings of the protagonist but anyone else who does something the same/similar gets hated on? What transgression of the protagonist would have been deemed unforgivable if they were done by another character?

Conservatives can do no right. Liberals can do no wrong.

White straight males can do no right. Blacks/women/gays can do no wrong.

What TV show has viewers constantly excusing the wrongdoings of the protagonist but anyone else who does something the same/similar gets hated on? What transgression of the protagonist would have been deemed unforgivable if they were done by another character?


In a later Friends episode, Monica and Chandler steal a sweatshirt from a store, while in Vegas. I couldn't believe the writers would have them do this, as in any other episode, they're outraged when people steal from them (like in the episode when Monica is obsessed with the idea that their maid is stealing from them).


The stealing is rationalized by Chandler with, "Well, we'll bring it back," but we never see this. When you steal something from a store, it's not borrowed, it's stolen, even if you intend to return it later (and maybe you do, maybe you don't).