I had an experience with an ill behaved child at the grocery store yesterday, which...after a follow up discussion with the child's mother, left little room for doubt where the dysfunction originated.

And, that got me to wondering,....how many shows can you think of where bad parenting was a plot device? Off the top of my head, I guess that "Married with Children" is a natural choice, but what others are there?

Roseanne.

Even though Dan and Roseanne would in the end do what's best for the kids-
my mom originally didn't like the series because the kids would talk back to the parents and it was condoned.

The way Darlene acted, for example, allowed other kids watching the show to behave like her.

When I watch the Connors now, though, I think the show has far less bad parenting dynamic that way between Darlene and now her kids.

Step By Step also.

While the parents didn't really come off as bad or irresponsible, the kids from the two families were always hostile with each other.

It's like the parents were weak parents and couldn't keep family peace.

I just remember growing tired of that dynamic of them fighting early on.

I know by the later seasons, they became to tolerate each other better but the show was already junk anyways by then.

The show where the parents were by far the worst was Still Standing. I couldn't watch it. The parents were constantly bullying their son. It was weird.

Roseanne
Still Standing
Married With Children
Titus
Grounded For Life
Yes Dear (?)

The Bernie Mac Show

When I watch the Connors now, though, I think the show has far less bad parenting dynamic that way between Darlene and now her kids.

Are you kidding? Darlene's daughter is a stone cold you-know-what, completely arrogant and disrespectful. I haven't caught the new episodes of season 3 yet, but from what I saw from season 2, that kid is a monster.

Does anyone think that the Drysdales from the Beverly Hillbillies qualify? Sonny was sort of a hot mess, and it was pretty evident that Margret was given credit for that. Just curious if I'm being over harsh?

Does anyone think that the Drysdales from the Beverly Hillbillies qualify? Sonny was sort of a hot mess, and it was pretty evident that Margret was given credit for that. Just curious if I'm being over harsh?

What about that little Milbie kid? I forget whose kid he was, but he was somehow related to Drysdale. But he swindled the Clampetts, right?

I think Drysdale finally punished him by taking away his money belt.

What about that little Milbie kid? .

I had forgotten about him. He was hilarious!

How about "Bewitched"?

Sam's parents are typically depicted as malevolent, and antagonistic towards her ambition to do what she considers the right thing to do..

From MTM on ABC Friday nights for a brief time during the 74-75 season, The Texas Wheelers starring the great Jack Elam. Jack plays a less than reliable father returning home after the children's mother dies.

From MTM on ABC Friday nights for a brief time de summer after it was danncelluring the 74-75 season, The Texas Wheelers starring the great Jack Elam. Jaat show. I remember thck plays a less than reliable father returning home after the children's mother dies.
yea' I remember th

Everybody Loves Raymond. Raymond and Deb would have been better off as a childless couple. They did love the children but Ray was too preoccupied and childish, while Debra was angry all the time because she felt like she was the full time parents and maid. How many years did we listen to Debra bitch and complain to Ray to help out more? He was too busy playing golf with his buddies.

You didn’t even see the kids that much and one can forget at first look they even had children.

No one was a worse parent than the grandma on George Lopez.

Parents who had difficulty parenting...

Fred & Wilma (The Flintstones)
Barney & Betty (The Flintstones)

Henry & Alice (Dennis the Menace)

Mr.Mondello Larry’s Father in Cincinnati (Leave It To Beaver)
Mrs.Mondello Larry’s Mother (Leave It To Beaver) but Hilarious

Uncle Ollie & Aunt Nora (Andy Griffith Show)

Harriet (Little House On The Praire)

Blanch (The Golden Girls)
Stan (The Golden Girls)

Danny Tanner & Jesse & Becky (Full House)

DJ Tanner Fuller & Kimmy & Fernando & Jesse & Becky (Fuller House)

Jack (The Wonder Years)

Wally & Marcia Logan Brady (A Very Brady Christmas)

Alice Hyatt (Alice)

Mr & Mrs Morris (Saved By The Bell)
Kelly’s Dad (Saved By The Bell)
Jessie’s Parents (Saved By The Bell)
Screeche’s Mom (Saved By The Bell)
Lisa’s Dad (Saved By The Bell)
Mr.Korasie (Saved By The Bell)

Grandpa Big Mike (the middle). (Even though his character was funny).

Sometimes Mike & Frankie Heck (the middle).

Katie Otto (American Housewife)

David & Darlene Connor (The Connors)

Ed Connor (Roseanne)

Jay Pritchett (Modern Family)
Dee-Dee Pritchett (Modern Family)

Clair Pritchett (Modern Family)

Cam Tucker & Mitch Pritchett (Modern Family)

Javiar Delgado (Modern Family)
Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Modern Family)

George Cooper (Young Sheldon)

Me-Ma (Young Sheldon)

The parents on Malcom In the Middle the mother was the bitch from hell and the father was a complete trainwreck.

Are you kidding? Darlene's daughter is a stone cold you-know-what, completely arrogant and disrespectful. I haven't caught the new episodes of season 3 yet, but from what I saw from season 2, that kid is a monster.

Darlene’s daughter (forgot her name) is dull and despondent, but Darlene tries to call her out on her wrong and she (the daughter) comes around in the end.

I guess to me it seems a better job of parenting than compared to Roseanne when she was Darlene’s mom, where Roseanne would just tolerate crude behavior, talking back, sibling fighting, etc from her kids.

Everybody Loves Raymond. Raymond and Deb would have been better off as a childless couple. They did love the children but Ray was too preoccupied and childish, while Debra was angry all the time because she felt like she was the full time parents and maid. How many years did we listen to Debra bitch and complain to Ray to help out more? He was too busy playing golf with his buddies.

You didn’t even see the kids that much and one can forget at first look they even had children.

I always felt that show was more about the adults as a family-Ray and his wife Debra, and extended family, than Ray and Debra and the kids as a nuclear family. The kids were never a focus really.

Another one is Rachel on Friends. When she became a mother in the later part of the series, it really didn’t seem like that had any focus to her character.

I always felt that show was more about the adults as a family-Ray and his wife Debra, and extended family, than Ray and Debra and the kids as a nuclear family. The kids were never a focus really.
No they were never the focus and often an afterthought. But it is funny Madylin Sweeten was always in the opening credits despite not being used like the core five adults.