What are some sitcoms that had episodes that seemed too serious.

Diff'rent Strokes- kidnapping, Bulemia, Child molestation.

Well, an obvious series would be M*A*S*H.

There was one episode of Family Ties. I think it was called something like "Uncle Arthur". Anyway, I thought the part where the uncle Arthur kisses Mallory was a little too serious a plot for a family sitcom. I mean, like yuck, it was almost, but not quite, around the borderlines of incest. There shouldn't be stuff like that on a sitcom.

Friends...almost soapoperaish in its seriousness. One of the reasons it doesn't personally appeal to me.

Pretty much every sitcom tries to do a serious episode once in a while.
You can tell when the commercials feature the announcer saying "On a very special Growing Pains..." or whatever show they were talking about, usually accompanied by some sad piano music.
Any time a series does their "very special" episode, or as NBC puts it "the one episode you cannot miss," I grab a book.

The Love Boat's Forties Fantasy cruise. That was too serious, and not a very good episode, IMO. Granted, I think it was a dream of one of the characters, but I still hated it.

The Facts of Life had 'em. "Dope" "Breaking Point" and "Fear Strikes Back" to name a few.

Originally posted by TJL
Pretty much every sitcom tries to do a serious episode once in a while.
You can tell when the commercials feature the announcer saying "On a very special Growing Pains..." or whatever show they were talking about, usually accompanied by some sad piano music.
Any time a series does their "very special" episode, or as NBC puts it "the one episode you cannot miss," I grab a book.

LOL!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:

Family Ties: "Give Uncle Arthur A Kiss", "A, My Name Is Alex", "Oops"

Roseanne had many serious topic some of which were:

Masturbation-Roseanne discover that DJ has been masterbating.

Drugs-Roseanne and Dan discover their drugs that Dan was soppose to get rid of 20ish years ago and they decide to try them again.

homosexuality- this show had many gay characters so many topics on this Leon's wedding, Roseanne's mom comes out, the gay kiss Roseanne had on her show that ABC threatened not to air but in the end did air.

spousel abuse- Roseanne discovers Fisher beat up Jackie and then Dan goes out and beats up Fisher to teach him a lesson.

kids who run away- Becky runs away and elopes with Mark.

There are more examples but this is enough.

Originally posted by Silver Daze
They never did an episode on this did they? That's just sick!



Yeah, they did. I've seen it numerous times. It is one of the funniest episodes ever.

All of Norman Lear's sitcoms. He was the one who started the need to tackle serious issues within a sitcom format. Now every sitcom have this dire need to save the world instead of giving the world an half hour of laughs and entertainment. That's great if it's a drama series but let's keep the sitcoms as sitcoms not sitcom/drama.

I totally agree with Roseanne, there were several serious episodes for that show. Almost too many.

Originally posted by jeannieindallas
I totally agree with Roseanne, there were several serious episodes for that show. Almost too many.

That's what attracted the viewers such as myself to the show Roseanne. Taking real life serious topics and making jokes out of them. Those are the funniest jokes.

Other serious topics her show had were:

Divorce-Roseanne's mom and dad got divorced after many years of marriage and Jackie got divorced in the 7th or 8th season.

infedelity- Roseanne's dad had an affair with some woman for many years. Sorry I can't remember the years on these things. Crystal's husband had an affair and then Crystal had an affair. Dan had an affair in the last season.

Racism- DJ refused to kiss a black girl in a play. It has been mentioned that Dan's father is a racist.

Originally posted by FOLrocks1
The Facts of Life had 'em. "Dope" "Breaking Point" and "Fear Strikes Back" to name a few.

I like FOL and all, but almost every episode has seriousness. The only show I can think of that always had a happy ending is I Love Lucy.

Facts Of Life:

-"Breaking Point"

-"Dope"

-"The First Time"


Roseanne, Diff'rent Strokes, and Family Ties had MANY.



Saved By The Bell had a couple:

- "Jessie's Song"

-"No Hope With Dope"

- "Drinking & Driving"

Family Ties had quite a few episodes that were too serious.

Don't Forget About "ALL IN THE FAMILY"

Gloria Has A Belly Full - 1971
Archie Is Branded - 1973

Gloria, The Victim - 1973
Edith's Fiftieth Birthday - 1977

Archie's Bitter Pill - 1977
Archie And The Ku Klux Klan - 1977




and "ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE"

The Incident - 1980
Bunker Madness - 1983

Originally posted by Will and Grace Fanatic
Roseanne had many serious topic some of which were:

Masturbation-Roseanne discover that DJ has been masterbating.


I saw this episode yesterday but i wasnt paying attention. How did roseanne find out he was doing it?

(ClassicComedyFan2)Friends...almost soapoperaish in its seriousness. One of the reasons it doesn't personally appeal to me.

I agree with Classic..the only episode I got excited about and actually sat down and TAPED was when the doctor who delivered Phoebes kids was obsessed with Fonzie lolol

Originally posted by SoFl123


I saw this episode yesterday but i wasnt paying attention. How did roseanne find out he was doing it?

Darlene told her about it. Darlene said "he finally got a friend who isn't imaginery" she also stated that DJ had been in the bathroom hours a day. Then Roseanne went into his room and found I think it was her glamour magazine that DJ had been using.

i bet she had to wash it off.

Originally posted by SoFl123
i bet she had to wash it off.

Ewww!

The only episode I can think of offhand that was "too serious" was from The Brady Bunch in which Bobby wrote a paper about his hero, Jesse James.

I totally agree with the Brady Bunch one, when a show like that tries to be serious, sometimes those can be the funniest shows of all time!
I think the Roseanne masturbation one was hilarious. It was just tame enough to be allowed to air and then by syndicated. As for the gay thing on that show, I think Roseanne had too many gay people, I mean there was Scott, his husband, his mom, and the last episode i think it revealed that Jackie was gay i mean sheesh!

Originally posted by bus_stop
I totally agree with the Brady Bunch one, when a show like that tries to be serious, sometimes those can be the funniest shows of all time!
I think the Roseanne masturbation one was hilarious. It was just tame enough to be allowed to air and then by syndicated. As for the gay thing on that show, I think Roseanne had too many gay people, I mean there was Scott, his husband, his mom, and the last episode i think it revealed that Jackie was gay i mean sheesh!

I don't think there were to many gay people. You know 1 out of 10 people are gay. But Jackie being gay wasn't what you think. Roseanne was talking about her real life sister who is gay. Not the character on the show. And the last season was a dream, so her mother wasn't really gay either. Just Leon, Scott, and Nancy. But I actually think Nancy was bi. She did date Arny.

I thought the episode where Edith almost got raped was too much!! I mean everytime I see the one I cringe.I would have liked it better if they didn't show us that ep with the man trying to her.All we needed to see was Archie & the gang wrapping up for her birthday & she comes in & tell him what happened.Then we can just see the following episode.