TMC
07-15-2023, 08:50 PM
https://screenrant.com/tv-sitcoms-get-more-criticism-than-deserved/
It's common for TV comedies to provoke backlash. But, from South Park to How I Met Your Mother, not every polarizing sitcom deserves its backlash.
It’s common for TV sitcoms to be met with backlash if their humor is problematic, but some shows have received backlash they didn’t deserve. The backlash isn’t always reserved for shows that are currently on the air; older shows can retroactively stir up controversy. Sometimes, the reputation of a once-beloved TV show can be tarnished if viewers look back on it through a contemporary lens. The chauvinism of Entourage, for example, has aged like milk, which has drastically affected the series’ popularity.
It’s easy to take potshots at The Big Bang Theory for its use of well-worn joke formulas, but very few shows have the wide-reaching appeal that made The Big Bang Theory such a big hit. The polarizing How I Met Your Mother finale has overshadowed all the great characters and storylines of the show’s earlier seasons. Both Family Guy and South Park have been met with a lot of uproar for their use of shock humor. From Girls to the later seasons of The Simpsons, not every polarizing sitcom deserves the criticism it gets.
10
Two And A Half Men
Two and a Half Men tends to be remembered as a sexist show, because its chauvinistic protagonist Charlie Harper frequently objectifies women. But it’s easy to forget that Charlie was surrounded by strong women to put him in his place: his tough-as-nails housekeeper Berta, his bitter ex-sister-in-law Judith, and most importantly, his sharp-tongued mother Evelyn. The show occasionally makes light of serious subjects like stalking, but on the whole, it’s a hilarious, brilliantly acted, surprisingly sweet tale of two brothers reconnecting.
9
The Cleveland Show
When Cleveland Brown left Family Guy to star in his own spin-off, The Cleveland Show was criticized as a rehash of the flagship series. The Cleveland Show did borrow Family Guy’s penchant for cutaway gags, but it used significantly fewer cutaways than Family Guy and focused more on character-driven stories. Cleveland is a more likable character than Peter Griffin. Plus, the series boasts a long list of great standalone episodes (including a spot-on Die Hard parody), and the voice cast is anchored by such beloved stars as Jason Sudeikis, Sanaa Lathan, Kevin Michael Richardson, and David Lynch as a bartender.
8
The Big Bang Theory
Any sitcom that appeals to a wide audience with archetypal characters is bound to draw some backlash. The Big Bang Theory was met with a particularly negative reception when it moved away from the geek culture satire of the early seasons and morphed into a Friends-style ensemble show. But pulling off a crowd-pleasing sitcom like The Big Bang Theory is a lot more difficult than it looks. Sheldon Cooper is an undeniably iconic character, and the cast’s chemistry makes up for some of the show’s weaker writing and predictable jokes.
7
Girls
Lena Dunham’s HBO series Girls was criticized for failing to capture the cultural diversity of its New York City setting with an all-white main cast. But some critics have pointed out that this is a problem with the TV industry as a whole, not just Girls. In spite of its backlash, Girls deserves praise for capturing female friendship a lot more accurately and honestly than the average sitcom. Instead of isolating issues like abortion, body image, and street harassment in standalone episodes, Girls treats them as recurring, everyday issues.
6
Family Guy
As a darker, edgier version of The Simpsons, Family Guy has always sparked controversy. The show goes for a lot of shock laughs, which has drawn ire from organizations like the Parents Television Council. Family Guy has also been criticized for its supposedly lazy writing, as it relies on cutaway gags and random non-sequiturs as opposed to character-based humor, but it’s refreshing to watch a show whose only goal is to make the audience laugh. Family Guy prioritizes laughs over storytelling and consistent characterization.
5
South Park
South Park has been courting controversy since it first started airing. The concept of eight-year-olds cursing caused uproar right off the bat, no matter how accurately it portrayed schoolyard chatter. The show’s graphic content has always received backlash, but South Park is a lot smarter than its crude comedic sensibility would suggest. Despite their raunchy sensibility, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have a reputation for incorporating contemporary issues into their stories. South Park has also been known to satirize both sides of a social or political argument.
4
The Simpsons (Post-Golden Era)
For its first eight or nine seasons, The Simpsons was hailed as one of the greatest achievements in the history of television. But over time, the critical and fan reception to The Simpsons has soured to a certain degree. More than 30 seasons into its run, The Simpsons isn't as well-regarded as it used to be. But the recent seasons of The Simpsons still have plenty of laughs, and the show occasionally delivers a great episode evoking the peak of its success, like the thought-provoking season 25 episode “The War of Art” or the slyly self-aware season 34 episode, “Lisa the Boy Scout.”
3
New Girl
When New Girl began airing, Zooey Deschanel’s lead character of Jess Day received backlash for being twee and ditzy, which some critics felt played into a stereotype. But Deschanel’s commitment to the character, bringing depth and dimension to the role beyond the “girly” stereotype, made it work. New Girl is led by a lovable cast of colorful characters, played by standouts like Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield. The silly humor and endearing relationships of New Girl make it an easy binge-watch.
2
Derek
Ricky Gervais’ dramedy series Derek was met with mixed reviews throughout its two-season run. The series generated controversy for Gervais’ performance as the title character, which was interpreted as a portrayal of a developmental disability by an able-bodied actor, although Derek is never identified as disabled on-screen. Whether or not it sets out to depict the autistic spectrum, Derek is a show with its heart in the right place – it’s sympathetic, not mocking. Gervais’ performance creates a well-rounded character, not a caricature, and he’s surrounded by scene-stealing supporting players like Karl Pilkington and Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein.
1
How I Met Your Mother
Thanks to the divisive series finale in which the mother was killed off so Ted could reunite with Robin, How I Met Your Mother has had to deal with a heavy amount of backlash. But up until the entire final season dedicated to a marriage that would end almost immediately, How I Met Your Mother was one of the funniest and most touching sitcoms on the air. Marshall Eriksen is an endlessly lovable character, the tearjerking dramatic moments really land (unlike in Friends), and How I Met Your Mother's unreliable narrator, nonlinear storytelling, and use of visual motifs made it a truly unique addition to the sitcom genre.
It's common for TV comedies to provoke backlash. But, from South Park to How I Met Your Mother, not every polarizing sitcom deserves its backlash.
It’s common for TV sitcoms to be met with backlash if their humor is problematic, but some shows have received backlash they didn’t deserve. The backlash isn’t always reserved for shows that are currently on the air; older shows can retroactively stir up controversy. Sometimes, the reputation of a once-beloved TV show can be tarnished if viewers look back on it through a contemporary lens. The chauvinism of Entourage, for example, has aged like milk, which has drastically affected the series’ popularity.
It’s easy to take potshots at The Big Bang Theory for its use of well-worn joke formulas, but very few shows have the wide-reaching appeal that made The Big Bang Theory such a big hit. The polarizing How I Met Your Mother finale has overshadowed all the great characters and storylines of the show’s earlier seasons. Both Family Guy and South Park have been met with a lot of uproar for their use of shock humor. From Girls to the later seasons of The Simpsons, not every polarizing sitcom deserves the criticism it gets.
10
Two And A Half Men
Two and a Half Men tends to be remembered as a sexist show, because its chauvinistic protagonist Charlie Harper frequently objectifies women. But it’s easy to forget that Charlie was surrounded by strong women to put him in his place: his tough-as-nails housekeeper Berta, his bitter ex-sister-in-law Judith, and most importantly, his sharp-tongued mother Evelyn. The show occasionally makes light of serious subjects like stalking, but on the whole, it’s a hilarious, brilliantly acted, surprisingly sweet tale of two brothers reconnecting.
9
The Cleveland Show
When Cleveland Brown left Family Guy to star in his own spin-off, The Cleveland Show was criticized as a rehash of the flagship series. The Cleveland Show did borrow Family Guy’s penchant for cutaway gags, but it used significantly fewer cutaways than Family Guy and focused more on character-driven stories. Cleveland is a more likable character than Peter Griffin. Plus, the series boasts a long list of great standalone episodes (including a spot-on Die Hard parody), and the voice cast is anchored by such beloved stars as Jason Sudeikis, Sanaa Lathan, Kevin Michael Richardson, and David Lynch as a bartender.
8
The Big Bang Theory
Any sitcom that appeals to a wide audience with archetypal characters is bound to draw some backlash. The Big Bang Theory was met with a particularly negative reception when it moved away from the geek culture satire of the early seasons and morphed into a Friends-style ensemble show. But pulling off a crowd-pleasing sitcom like The Big Bang Theory is a lot more difficult than it looks. Sheldon Cooper is an undeniably iconic character, and the cast’s chemistry makes up for some of the show’s weaker writing and predictable jokes.
7
Girls
Lena Dunham’s HBO series Girls was criticized for failing to capture the cultural diversity of its New York City setting with an all-white main cast. But some critics have pointed out that this is a problem with the TV industry as a whole, not just Girls. In spite of its backlash, Girls deserves praise for capturing female friendship a lot more accurately and honestly than the average sitcom. Instead of isolating issues like abortion, body image, and street harassment in standalone episodes, Girls treats them as recurring, everyday issues.
6
Family Guy
As a darker, edgier version of The Simpsons, Family Guy has always sparked controversy. The show goes for a lot of shock laughs, which has drawn ire from organizations like the Parents Television Council. Family Guy has also been criticized for its supposedly lazy writing, as it relies on cutaway gags and random non-sequiturs as opposed to character-based humor, but it’s refreshing to watch a show whose only goal is to make the audience laugh. Family Guy prioritizes laughs over storytelling and consistent characterization.
5
South Park
South Park has been courting controversy since it first started airing. The concept of eight-year-olds cursing caused uproar right off the bat, no matter how accurately it portrayed schoolyard chatter. The show’s graphic content has always received backlash, but South Park is a lot smarter than its crude comedic sensibility would suggest. Despite their raunchy sensibility, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have a reputation for incorporating contemporary issues into their stories. South Park has also been known to satirize both sides of a social or political argument.
4
The Simpsons (Post-Golden Era)
For its first eight or nine seasons, The Simpsons was hailed as one of the greatest achievements in the history of television. But over time, the critical and fan reception to The Simpsons has soured to a certain degree. More than 30 seasons into its run, The Simpsons isn't as well-regarded as it used to be. But the recent seasons of The Simpsons still have plenty of laughs, and the show occasionally delivers a great episode evoking the peak of its success, like the thought-provoking season 25 episode “The War of Art” or the slyly self-aware season 34 episode, “Lisa the Boy Scout.”
3
New Girl
When New Girl began airing, Zooey Deschanel’s lead character of Jess Day received backlash for being twee and ditzy, which some critics felt played into a stereotype. But Deschanel’s commitment to the character, bringing depth and dimension to the role beyond the “girly” stereotype, made it work. New Girl is led by a lovable cast of colorful characters, played by standouts like Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield. The silly humor and endearing relationships of New Girl make it an easy binge-watch.
2
Derek
Ricky Gervais’ dramedy series Derek was met with mixed reviews throughout its two-season run. The series generated controversy for Gervais’ performance as the title character, which was interpreted as a portrayal of a developmental disability by an able-bodied actor, although Derek is never identified as disabled on-screen. Whether or not it sets out to depict the autistic spectrum, Derek is a show with its heart in the right place – it’s sympathetic, not mocking. Gervais’ performance creates a well-rounded character, not a caricature, and he’s surrounded by scene-stealing supporting players like Karl Pilkington and Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein.
1
How I Met Your Mother
Thanks to the divisive series finale in which the mother was killed off so Ted could reunite with Robin, How I Met Your Mother has had to deal with a heavy amount of backlash. But up until the entire final season dedicated to a marriage that would end almost immediately, How I Met Your Mother was one of the funniest and most touching sitcoms on the air. Marshall Eriksen is an endlessly lovable character, the tearjerking dramatic moments really land (unlike in Friends), and How I Met Your Mother's unreliable narrator, nonlinear storytelling, and use of visual motifs made it a truly unique addition to the sitcom genre.