View Full Version : Sitcoms that can NEVER fly today


MrCleveland
03-30-2021, 09:22 PM
With the cancel-culture on the rise...shows like I Dream of Jeannie, Hogan's Heroes, and even Married with Children would NOT fly in this day and age.

What other shows of yesteryear would not air today...even if it's a one-year wonder show?

TVLegend
03-30-2021, 09:42 PM
Good Times

favoriteshow
03-30-2021, 09:55 PM
Probably Friends and Cheers also. Basically, no all white straight ensemble cast for a hugely successful show.

For Friends, a reboot would have to be diversified that it's 1 Asian, 1 Black, 1 Hispanic, 1 White, and 2 Mixed. The White would have to be non gender conforming, while the rest would be at least 1 bi, 1 would be conservative gay, the other flaming gay, and the at least 1 be would transgender, leaving one straight.

MrCleveland
03-30-2021, 10:56 PM
Probably Friends and Cheers also. Basically, no all white straight ensemble cast for a hugely successful show.

For Friends, a reboot would have to be diversified that it's 1 Asian, 1 Black, 1 Hispanic, 1 White, and 2 Mixed. The White would have to be non gender conforming, while the rest would be at least 1 bi, 1 would be conservative gay, the other flaming gay, and the at least 1 be would transgender, leaving one straight.

I had a similar plot like that...the show would be called Pals...

There's an Italian-American Jewish autistic guy and his sister, an African-American guy, a Mexican lady, an Iranian lesbian, and a Vietnamese-American guy.

They also see an ugly Nazi guy...just like ugly naked guy!

Old School
03-30-2021, 11:13 PM
Probably Friends and Cheers also. Basically, no all white straight ensemble cast for a hugely successful show.

For Friends, a reboot would have to be diversified that it's 1 Asian, 1 Black, 1 Hispanic, 1 White, and 2 Mixed. The White would have to be non gender conforming, while the rest would be at least 1 bi, 1 would be conservative gay, the other flaming gay, and the at least 1 be would transgender, leaving one straight.

The Friends tv show concept was taken from Living Single (4 women, 2 men) which came out in 1993. Friends producers changed up their male vs female ration but it's basically the same show just made for a different tv audience. Living Single often gets overlooked while Friends gets all of the praise in the media.

https://bossip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2017/01/screen-shot-2017-01-02-at-9-48-17-pm.png

MikeLutton
03-30-2021, 11:14 PM
Married With Children

TVFactFan
03-31-2021, 01:04 AM
CPO Sharkey and Chico and the Man

TVFactFan
03-31-2021, 01:04 AM
HoneyMooners

treky
03-31-2021, 02:07 AM
ALL IN THE FAMILY

TVLegend
03-31-2021, 04:45 PM
The Beverly Hillbillies

TVLegend
03-31-2021, 04:45 PM
Alice

tvfan25
03-31-2021, 07:00 PM
The Jeffersons
Three's Company

stevea
03-31-2021, 10:31 PM
The Middle

Jetsons, Flintstones

Everybody Loves Raymond

Seinfeld

Two and a Half Men

Anything on Antenna TV

icecream
03-31-2021, 10:45 PM
The Flying Nun
I'll Fly Away

Tubehead
04-01-2021, 10:58 AM
perfect strangers
my two dads
court ship of eddies father
I love Lucy
mash i never liked it.

jimpickens
04-02-2021, 12:46 AM
Gilligan's Island
Happy Days
Fantasy island
The Cosby Show

Babalu
04-02-2021, 04:38 AM
Probably Friends and Cheers also. Basically, no all white straight ensemble cast for a hugely successful show.

For Friends, a reboot would have to be diversified that it's 1 Asian, 1 Black, 1 Hispanic, 1 White, and 2 Mixed. The White would have to be non gender conforming, while the rest would be at least 1 bi, 1 would be conservative gay, the other flaming gay, and the at least 1 be would transgender, leaving one straight.

And the one white straight male would be the butt of all the jokes.

The only saving grace would be none of the jokes would be funny.

Crusinforabrusin2.5
04-03-2021, 06:41 AM
I could never see The Golden Girls ever making it to air in the current era.

king of comedy
04-03-2021, 07:31 AM
Bewitched

king of comedy
04-03-2021, 10:01 AM
Home Improvement

cnnbcbs
04-03-2021, 10:42 AM
Father Knows Best - father's the dominant parent
I Love Lucy - for the husband not encouraging the wife's destructive foolushness
Leave It Too Beaver - too white, male and straight.

cnnbcbs
04-03-2021, 10:44 AM
"Alice"

Nah, Alice would work. It's very pro-woman, same for Golden Girls. Fox developed a Latinix reboot of Alice back in 2019.

Sal
04-03-2021, 10:50 AM
Father Knows Best - father's the dominant parent
I Love Lucy - for the husband not encouraging the wife's destructive foolushness
Leave It Too Beaver - too white, male and straight.


I wonder about that last one. Are you even allowed to say "Beaver" on TV today?

Merry24
04-03-2021, 01:48 PM
Dennis the Menace

The Real McCoys

You Can’t Do That On Television

MrCleveland
04-07-2021, 11:18 PM
Here's a show that won't work in this day and age...Gimme a Break!

Despite Nell Harper volunteering to take care of three daughters and reason with a disgruntled police chief as well as having an African-American friend who's a teacher...the only way this show can be done is if the ethnic roles were reversed...though many Polish-Americans felt the pinch of bigotry....

SitcomsHeydayfan
04-07-2021, 11:33 PM
Probably Friends and Cheers also. Basically, no all white straight ensemble cast for a hugely successful show.

For Friends, a reboot would have to be diversified that it's 1 Asian, 1 Black, 1 Hispanic, 1 White, and 2 Mixed. The White would have to be non gender conforming, while the rest would be at least 1 bi, 1 would be conservative gay, the other flaming gay, and the at least 1 be would transgender, leaving one straight.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

SitcomsHeydayfan
04-07-2021, 11:38 PM
Here's a show that won't work in this day and age...Gimme a Break!

Despite Nell Harper volunteering to take care of three daughters and reason with a disgruntled police chief as well as having an African-American friend who's a teacher...the only way this show can be done is if the ethnic roles were reversed...though many Polish-Americans felt the pinch of bigotry....

It's Nell Carter not Harper.

You're saying an obese black woman couldn't be portrayed as a housekeeper today?? Since the star was black & it had another black cast member it wasn't NEARLY as "bad" as most shows back then that had either all white casts or maybe 1 non white cast member.

Plus she sang the great theme song!

SitcomsHeydayfan
04-07-2021, 11:39 PM
Bewitched

Because of the all white cast?

SitcomsHeydayfan
04-07-2021, 11:40 PM
"Alice"

Nah, Alice would work. It's very pro-woman, same for Golden Girls. Fox developed a Latinix reboot of Alice back in 2019.

What Alice reboot did Fox have??

MrCleveland
04-08-2021, 09:43 AM
It's Nell Carter not Harper.

You're saying an obese black woman couldn't be portrayed as a housekeeper today?? Since the star was black & it had another black cast member it wasn't NEARLY as "bad" as most shows back then that had either all white casts or maybe 1 non white cast member.

Plus she sang the great theme song!

I used Nell Carter's name from the show which is Nell Harper!

Even a few people had problems with GAB because of an African-American housekeeper, that's why Nell Harper's friend Addie Wilson (Telma Hopkins) joined the show.

I this GAB should be a continuum with Joey Donovan (Joey Lawrence) as a housekeeper to The Roland Family (Nell Harper marries James Roland and they have a daughter who's now Glenlawn's head chief of police since her mother told her about Carl Kaniski).

MrCleveland
04-08-2021, 09:51 AM
It's Nell Carter not Harper.

You're saying an obese black woman couldn't be portrayed as a housekeeper today?? Since the star was black & it had another black cast member it wasn't NEARLY as "bad" as most shows back then that had either all white casts or maybe 1 non white cast member.

Plus she sang the great theme song!

I used Nell Carter's name from the show which is Nell Harper!

Even a few people had problems with GAB because of an African-American housekeeper, that's why Nell Harper's friend Addie Wilson (Telma Hopkins) joined the show.

I this GAB should be a continuum with Joey Donovan (Joey Lawrence) as a housekeeper to The Roland Family (Nell Harper marries James Roland and they have a daughter who's now Glenlawn's head chief of police since her mother told her about Carl Kaniski).

favoriteshow
04-08-2021, 10:00 AM
The Friends tv show concept was taken from Living Single (4 women, 2 men) which came out in 1993. Friends producers changed up their male vs female ration but it's basically the same show just made for a different tv audience. Living Single often gets overlooked while Friends gets all of the praise in the media.

https://bossip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2017/01/screen-shot-2017-01-02-at-9-48-17-pm.png

Interesting. I didn't draw that parallel.

TBH, I never gave Living Single a chance even though it has Queen Latifah and a few other known actors, and even though I used to watch shows like Cosby Show, A Different World, Family Matters, Hangin With Mr.Cooper, 227, and Amen from the late 80s/early 90s.

Perhaps if Living Single was on NBC, CBS or ABC, over FOX, it would have drawn a wider audience, even if just marginal better for it overall. FOX's primetime was more in league with UPN and WB than the other three networks, at least how I perceived then. NBC also had a strong Must See TV brand.

From this article also, Warner Bros. promoted Friends more over Living Single:
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-01-ca-30941-story.html

Dude111
04-10-2021, 06:15 PM
What other shows of yesteryear would not air today...even if it's a one-year wonder show?Probably EVERYONE OF THEM!!!!!!

The world has become total crap........ Yes its sad!!!

king of comedy
04-10-2021, 06:56 PM
Because of the all white cast?

Because of the way Darrin controlled Sam. He told her she shouldn't use her magic all the time.

tvfan25
04-11-2021, 12:51 PM
Touched By An Angel
Sanford And SOn

jimpickens
04-11-2021, 09:42 PM
90% of the police shows of the 70's and 80's.

favoriteshow
04-14-2021, 06:53 PM
Because of the way Darrin controlled Sam. He told her she shouldn't use her magic all the time.

I always thought Endora was the controlling one, like making Darrin into an animal, and ridiculing his name. Darrin was far from being the master, always taking the punishment.

Samantha wanted to be like a mortal also. She'd just say Well... after a snafu, involving her mother or Serena.

It's probably one show that would pass compliance on basic premise in today's environment. It's always considered for reboots at least with movies.

For a rebooted TV series for today, writers would probably make her a career focused witch though than a stay at home one.

Reinhold_Weege
04-14-2021, 07:44 PM
I add Night Court due to all the sexual harassment surrounding the Dan Fielding character.

jimpickens
04-14-2021, 10:20 PM
That show wouldn't have made it past the pilot.

Old School
04-15-2021, 12:10 AM
In my mind we haven't seen a tv show that depicts a respectable African American family and young positive African American college students in such a critical thinking edutainment light since those two shows were aired in the 1980s, early 1990s. Nothing has come close since then in my mind. And I don't think we will ever see two shows like those ever again on mainstream television.

https://i2.wp.com/jacksonupperco.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1411157978009-untitled-1.jpg?ssl=1
https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2017027/rs_1024x759-170127133817-1024.A-Different-World-Cast.kg.012717.jpg?fit=around%7C776:576&output-quality=90&crop=776:576;center,top

SitcomsHeydayfan
04-15-2021, 02:20 AM
Interesting. I didn't draw that parallel.

TBH, I never gave Living Single a chance even though it has Queen Latifah and a few other known actors, and even though I used to watch shows like Cosby Show, A Different World, Family Matters, Hangin With Mr.Cooper, 227, and Amen from the late 80s/early 90s.

Perhaps if Living Single was on NBC, CBS or ABC, over FOX, it would have drawn a wider audience, even if just marginal better for it overall. FOX's primetime was more in league with UPN and WB than the other three networks, at least how I perceived then. NBC also had a strong Must See TV brand.

From this article also, Warner Bros. promoted Friends more over Living Single:
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-01-ca-30941-story.html

The Friends cast is way hotter & I HATE Friends! :lol:

SitcomsHeydayfan
04-15-2021, 02:23 AM
Probably EVERYONE OF THEM!!!!!!

The world has become total crap........ Yes its sad!!!

You are NOT joking!

Literally 80% to 95% of all shows before 2000 could NOT be made today because they either don't meet the race quota, LGBTQAZXY quota, or some other INSANE reason liberals FREAK out over!

favoriteshow
04-15-2021, 11:16 AM
In my mind we haven't seen a tv show that depicts a respectable African American family and young positive African American college students in such a critical thinking edutainment light since those two shows were aired in the 1980s, early 1990s. Nothing has come close since then in my mind. And I don't think we will ever see two shows like those ever again on mainstream television.

https://i2.wp.com/jacksonupperco.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1411157978009-untitled-1.jpg?ssl=1
https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2017027/rs_1024x759-170127133817-1024.A-Different-World-Cast.kg.012717.jpg?fit=around%7C776:576&output-quality=90&crop=776:576;center,top

What about Blackish, Mixedish? (Never seen Grownish but it's another spinoff)

I used to watch Blackish but got turned off a little by it, when the family was shown as too superficial/materialistic.

I enjoyed the first season of Mixedish, which showcased a more middle class family (of Bo growing up), but the formula is boring for me as I tried watching the latest season. It's too much a lesson learned in every episode.

But both shows show a respectable African American family in a family sitcom.

TKMetal
04-15-2021, 07:04 PM
None of them are "diverse enough".

Old School
04-15-2021, 10:58 PM
What about Blackish, Mixedish? (Never seen Grownish but it's another spinoff)

I used to watch Blackish but got turned off a little by it, when the family was shown as too superficial/materialistic.

I enjoyed the first season of Mixedish, which showcased a more middle class family (of Bo growing up), but the formula is boring for me as I tried watching the latest season. It's too much a lesson learned in every episode.

But both shows show a respectable African American family in a family sitcom.
Nope. Not even close. Black-ish (black: a color lacking light or some other negative defined term, ish: to some extent). That show is a very poor depiction thereof in comparison to The Cosby Show. It's more of a caricature tv show from my viewpoint. And Mixed-ish is even worse.

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/the-cast-of-the-cosby-show-deon-richmond-malcolmjamal-warner-geoffrey-picture-id459131462?s=612x612

SitcomsHeydayfan
04-16-2021, 02:06 AM
None of them are "diverse enough".

EXACTAMUNDO! :wave:

We should be thankful those shows were created when they were because they could NEVER exist again!

That's why MeTV & AntennaTV are so popular these days!

favoriteshow
04-16-2021, 01:26 PM
Nope. Not even close. Black-ish (black: a color lacking light or some other negative defined term, ish: to some extent). That show is a very poor depiction thereof in comparison to The Cosby Show. It's more of a caricature tv show from my viewpoint. And Mixed-ish is even worse.


Are there any current sitcoms (perhaps with both white parents) that portray a family like the old "saccharine" sitcoms as stated on another thread, with the parents always right and never disagreeing with each other, and always doing the right things and correcting their kids?

What makes Mixedish worse than Blackish? I tuned out for other reasons, but haven't had issue yet with the depiction of the families. Both the shows have positive acclaim, in general. Maybe it is a caricature but it's hardly like Married with Children (in level of high caricature), and what sitcom isn't these days?

Old School
04-16-2021, 10:34 PM
Are there any current sitcoms (perhaps with both white parents) that portray a family like the old "saccharine" sitcoms as stated on another thread, with the parents always right and never disagreeing with each other, and always doing the right things and correcting their kids?

What makes Mixedish worse than Blackish? I tuned out for other reasons, but haven't had issue yet with the depiction of the families. Both the shows have positive acclaim, in general. Maybe it is a caricature but it's hardly like Married with Children (in level of high caricature), and what sitcom isn't these days?
That's another discussion that I'm not focused on but if you want to research it out and present what you find go for it.

Mixed-ish and Black-ish are both very mediocre shows compared to The Cosby Show and A Different World. I couldn't watch more than a couple episodes of each before each tv show wore thin. Even past African American family based demographic tv shows like ROC and 227 were overall much better. But it is what the network power elite want to promote in order to fill a tv viewership agenda.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9b/d0/a2/9bd0a2acbda4b4f535d676e4e92d9fb1.jpg
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2285/1059/articles/roc_455x300@2x.JPG?v=1553778866

jimpickens
04-17-2021, 01:21 AM
The Beverly Hillbillies no way that show would fly today.

DEH55
05-01-2021, 09:20 AM
All In The Family (Archie was in the white house for the last 4 years), Good Times. Any show that promoted racial stereotypes like Chico and The Man, Sanford and Son. Any sexist shows that treated women like meat or made fun of gay people such as Three's Company. Even Happy Days treated women like objects. Today there would be no snapping your fingers and women come running. The early seasons of Mash. No shows with womanizers like Sam Malone.

TVLegend
05-01-2021, 12:29 PM
My Three Sons

Yong Fang
05-01-2021, 10:21 PM
Probably already mentioned but Sanford and Son, especially with the word “******” ironically one of the biggest and longest laughs was the episode where Lamont had to go to traffic court and Fred played lawyer asking the cop why doesn’t he arrest white drivers.

Cop “I do.”

Fred “really? Where are they? They are enough ******s here to make a Tarzan movie!”

Again, probably the longest laugh (this was a live show and not a laugh track BS) Sanford and Son was Number 2 in the ratings behind All in the Family.

Yong Fang
05-01-2021, 10:21 PM
Probably already mentioned but Sanford and Son, especially with the word “******” ironically one of the biggest and longest laughs was the episode where Lamont had to go to traffic court and Fred played lawyer asking the cop why doesn’t he arrest white drivers.

Cop “I do.”

Fred “really? Where are they? They are enough ******s here to make a Tarzan movie!”

Again, probably the longest laugh (this was a live show and not a laugh track BS) Sanford and Son was Number 2 in the ratings behind All in the Family.

SitcomsHeydayfan
05-01-2021, 11:38 PM
Probably already mentioned but Sanford and Son, especially with the word “******” ironically one of the biggest and longest laughs was the episode where Lamont had to go to traffic court and Fred played lawyer asking the cop why doesn’t he arrest white drivers.

Cop “I do.”

Fred “really? Where are they? They are enough ******s here to make a Tarzan movie!”

Again, probably the longest laugh (this was a live show and not a laugh track BS) Sanford and Son was Number 2 in the ratings behind All in the Family.


OMG!! :lol:

You know which episode that was?

Same thing with the Jeffersons. George used N***** a few times that were HILARIOUS! :lol:

The entire audience burst out laughing!

jimpickens
05-02-2021, 01:23 AM
The 50's modern western Fury due to the many times Joey Newton was often bound and gagged by the baddies the Karan's would be screaming about pseudo kiddy porn if such a show aired today.

DEH55
05-02-2021, 11:18 AM
The Hillbilly shows from the 60's wouldn't work today. Trump supporters would accuse Hollywood of making fun of them. I have watched the Hillbilly shows lately (Beverly Hillbililes, Green Acres) and can't believe they ever existed.

Any show that didn't have a minority on it would have to change. Did Three's Company ever have a black actor even ever appear on it? One of the roommates would be a minority today. One of the Friends cast would be black now. Alex Keaton might not exist today. Louie depalma might not exist today. Dan Fielding on Night Court. Would Herb Tarlek from WKRP be around today?

On some old shows where I live they having warning statements before them warning of racist tones and negative stereotypes. I was watching Good Times and there is no way it would work today. Some of the language is bleeped and you could not have a JJ today or James Evans Sr threatening to whoop JJ's behind.

Old School
05-02-2021, 12:06 PM
The Hillbilly shows from the 60's wouldn't work today. Trump supporters would accuse Hollywood of making fun of them. I have watched the Hillbilly shows lately (Beverly Hillbililes, Green Acres) and can't believe they ever existed.

Any show that didn't have a minority on it would have to change. Did Three's Company ever have a black actor even ever appear on it? One of the roommates would be a minority today. One of the Friends cast would be black now. Alex Keaton might not exist today. Louie depalma might not exist today. Dan Fielding on Night Court. Would Herb Tarlek from WKRP be around today?

On some old shows where I live they having warning statements before them warning of racist tones and negative stereotypes. I was watching Good Times and there is no way it would work today. Some of the language is bleeped and you could not have a JJ today or James Evans Sr threatening to whoop JJ's behind.
I don't know...many Trump supporters are college educated and white collar.

One of the Friends cast wouldn't have to include an African American but one would have to be LGBTQIA.

I can't recall an African American male or female on Three's Company other than as an uncredited background actor/tress. But they did have a Mexican character with speaking parts working in the restaurant with Jack.

Alex Keaton from Family Ties could survive today in a similar type of role.

Louie De Palma from Taxi most likely would get by today.

Dan Fielding would be getting sued and fired quick fast though for sexual harassment on Night Court.

Herb Tarlek (WKRP) might have to tone done his character a bit to make it today.

Not too long ago Bernie Mac was threatening to beat his sister's kids on The Bernie Mac Show in a lot of episodes. But, no one, in my mind, wants to watch an African American family living in the projects struggling today on tv.

There are a lot of shows that promote all kinds of stereotypes without the straightforward language of the 1970s on tv today.

https://fiftiesweb.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Classic-TV.png

SitcomsHeydayfan
05-02-2021, 11:03 PM
The Hillbilly shows from the 60's wouldn't work today. Trump supporters would accuse Hollywood of making fun of them. I have watched the Hillbilly shows lately (Beverly Hillbililes, Green Acres) and can't believe they ever existed.

Any show that didn't have a minority on it would have to change. Did Three's Company ever have a black actor even ever appear on it? One of the roommates would be a minority today. One of the Friends cast would be black now. Alex Keaton might not exist today. Louie depalma might not exist today. Dan Fielding on Night Court. Would Herb Tarlek from WKRP be around today?

On some old shows where I live they having warning statements before them warning of racist tones and negative stereotypes. I was watching Good Times and there is no way it would work today. Some of the language is bleeped and you could not have a JJ today or James Evans Sr threatening to whoop JJ's behind.

No blacks on Three's Company but they had a VERY funny Mexican character named Felipe but the actor who played him was Italian. They did have some black extras though.

Hollywood has gone completely INSANE! There is no need for EVERY single show to have minority characters as part of its regular cast!

Just like there is no need for a black show like Fresh Prince to have any white regular cast members & it DOESN'T!

favoriteshow
05-02-2021, 11:17 PM
Hollywood has gone completely INSANE! There is no need for EVERY single show to have minority characters as part of its regular cast!



I kind of agree. Here is one example:

I enjoy watching The Conners, even though I can be critical of it too. So, the writers made DJ being a dad to a black daughter. I assume he is a step dad as she doesn't appear mixed in skin color. But it isn't known, and he could be the biological dad as well.

And the mom is absent from the show as they wrote her serving in the army. So any real influence or diversity from the mom and how she would parent or interact with the Conners isn't part of the show. So, what really what was the point of it? It winds up there is a token black kid, and the Conner family now has a minority. On one hand, it is plausible. But at least they could then have more story about DJ and his daughter.

I do like they have gone more into Becky, as a recovering alcoholic. Some might not like the show getting serious, when it's supposed to be a comedy, but at least it's getting some depth again.

DEH55
05-02-2021, 11:25 PM
Hollywood is doing it now because they have been accused of ignoring minorities for years. And it can be argued that they have or that they promoted offensive stereotypes. I remember the chef on Three's Company and it was funny but was it a flattering portrayal of a Mexican man?

jimpickens
05-02-2021, 11:44 PM
95% of the 70's and 80's police shows wouldn't make it today.

Yong Fang
05-13-2021, 06:24 AM
No blacks on Three's Company but they had a VERY funny Mexican character named Felipe but the actor who played him was Italian. They did have some black extras though.

Hollywood has gone completely INSANE! There is no need for EVERY single show to have minority characters as part of its regular cast!

Just like there is no need for a black show like Fresh Prince to have any white regular cast members & it DOESN'T!

Is the “token black character” racist? I have been watching WKRP lately and was thinking about that with Tim Reid who played Gordon “Venus Flytrap” Sims. He was mostly on that show because the show needed a black face, but the show was intelligent enough to address Venus being black in an all white workplace, and Venus along with Andy (and Jennifer and Bailey) were the most intelligent and mature characters.

But some traditional black shows had a token white person on it also, mostly a recurring character. The doorman on The Jeffersons or the white cop(s) on Sanford and Son.

Blacks make up 14 percent of the population so they should represent 14 percent of the characters but it depends on the place and even the time.

Yong Fang
05-13-2021, 07:08 AM
No blacks on Three's Company but they had a VERY funny Mexican character named Felipe but the actor who played him was Italian. They did have some black extras though.

Hollywood has gone completely INSANE! There is no need for EVERY single show to have minority characters as part of its regular cast!

Just like there is no need for a black show like Fresh Prince to have any white regular cast members & it DOESN'T!

Is the “token black character” racist? I have been watching WKRP lately and was thinking about that with Tim Reid who played Gordon “Venus Flytrap” Sims. He was mostly on that show because the show needed a black face, but the show was intelligent enough to address Venus being black in an all white workplace, and Venus along with Andy (and Jennifer and Bailey) were the most intelligent and mature characters.

But some traditional black shows had a token white person on it also, mostly a recurring character. The doorman on The Jeffersons or the white cop(s) on Sanford and Son.

Blacks make up 14 percent of the population so they should represent 14 percent of the characters but it depends on the place and even the time.

favoriteshow
05-13-2021, 08:50 AM
Is the “token black character” racist?

I don't think so. But it is likely trying to address something that might not be needed, to say the show has a diverse cast, by way of utilizing a black or minority character with the marginal role, either ignoring race of the character (which might be ok, but sometimes questioned especially with kids) or not portraying it well.

In the past, token black character critics have mentioned Tootie from the Facts of Life, even though she didn't have a marginal role. She was one of the four girls, but there were issues on the race episodes they didn't address well.

More recently, I've been watching Home Economics, a show starring Topher Grace, with him narrating a character about his life and his involvement with a millionaire brother and a lesbian sister, and his parents. The lesbian sister is married to a Black woman. The Black woman, the actor, is pretty funny and is a good cast addition. I've seen her on a few shows/movies elsewhere. But the writers added the lesbian couple having like 3 kids. Way too many kids and these black kids are more or less token kids on the show. The show is pretty new, but I kind of have doubts there will be much of a storyline for the lesbian sister and her Black family and raising 3 kids. The focus is still more on Topher Grace's character.

On The Conners, I have mentioned about DJ and his Black wife and Black kid. The writers had DJ's wife off on tour in Afghanistan pretty much since the Roseanne revival started, and not really had any story of the kid. The wife returns to the series for the last episode or last two.

Since The Conners started with a bi-racial family, hopefully next season, we will see more story of them, otherwise the show is just writing it in to say the show is diverse. Laurie Metcalf has a cushy salary on the show - higher than Lecy Goranson (Becky), but there is no Aunt Jackie story. She isn't a Conner even. I have no idea why an aunt is still lingering on the show, and hasn't moved on with a life of her own, after Roseanne died. It'd be sensible to have storylines on the sister-in-law, DJ's wife, and her interactions with The Conners, than so much screen time to Aunt Jackie and her interactions with Dan, Becky and Darlene.

Old School
05-13-2021, 09:41 AM
Is the “token black character” racist? I have been watching WKRP lately and was thinking about that with Tim Reid who played Gordon “Venus Flytrap” Sims. He was mostly on that show because the show needed a black face, but the show was intelligent enough to address Venus being black in an all white workplace, and Venus along with Andy (and Jennifer and Bailey) were the most intelligent and mature characters.

But some traditional black shows had a token white person on it also, mostly a recurring character. The doorman on The Jeffersons or the white cop(s) on Sanford and Son.

Blacks make up 14 percent of the population so they should represent 14 percent of the characters but it depends on the place and even the time.
I don't know if you are serious or what???

There were many African American radio station DJs in the USA during the 1970s/80s. WKRP didn't need an African American face as a token series character. Tim Reid was one of the main series characters. He brought a lot of positive attributes to the show in his role.

The Jeffersons had Tom Willis as one of the main series characters as well as Bentley the Jefferson's next door neighbor besides the doorman character.

Sanford & Son had a pair of cops on the show in reoccurring roles. One was Caucasian and the other was African American. They were partners on the police force and showed up at the Sanford's residence together.

The make up of a sitcom cast should reflect the nature of the sitcom.

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