1. Any wife calling her husband "sir" (I Love Lucy)

2. Man having total control, and that's the way it is because "he" said so (I Love Lucy, Bewitched and sometimes, All in the Family...and many others).

3. Andy telling Aunt Bea that she is not allowed to wear a wig. What business of that is his?



On some of the newer shows, like Roseanne, the house is not always spotless. But I remember on Bewitched once that Samantha twitched the living room and kitchen to be a total disaster when she wanted to get rid of a new maid she hired (not Esmerelda).

How about the following:

Ralph Kramden waving his fist in the air while shouting "One of these days, Alice bang! zoom! straight to the Moon!"

- The National Organization of Woman, and other women's groups, would demand that the program be cancelled immediately because it promotes violence against women. Jackie Gleason's career would be over.

Lucy Ricardo making fun of Ricky's Cuban accent.

- the self appointed "Political Correctness" police would be all over this one. They'd be shouting about racism to anyone who would listen. The network would be forced to issue a public apology. Desilu would be required to make a sizeable donation to some charity or organization in order to prove they were genuinely sorry about the incident. Half of the show's writing staff would be fired, and the other half would be required to attend "sensitivity training".

Originally posted by Jimbo
How about the following:
Lucy Ricardo making fun of Ricky's Cuban accent.

- the self appointed "Political Correctness" police would be all over this one. They'd be shouting about racism to anyone who would listen. The network would be forced to issue a public apology. Desilu would be required to make a sizeable donation to some charity or organization in order to prove they were genuinely sorry about the incident. Half of the show's writing staff would be fired, and the other half would be required to attend "sensitivity training".
This is very true Jimbo. I've never seen the episodes, but on the I Love Lucy message board, there's a discussion about Ricky 'spanking' Lucy.
That would go over big today. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by shocolah

2. Man having total control, and that's the way it is because "he" said so (I Love Lucy, Bewitched and sometimes, All in the Family...and many others).


Nowadays, it's the wife who has total control because the husband acts like another child :lol:

Anyway, good points on the others.

quote:
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Originally posted by shocolah

2. Man having total control, and that's the way it is because "he" said so (I Love Lucy, Bewitched and sometimes, All in the Family...and many others).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's a bit of an answer to that, for Bewitched anyway:

DiSPELLing the Myths (http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/myths.htm)

Originally posted by tvthemes88
make you laugh?????

:lol: :lol: I have to agree with you there. Current sitcoms are just not as funny as good ol' classic ones...

Originally posted by Janice

This is very true Jimbo. I've never seen the episodes, but on the I Love Lucy message board, there's a discussion about Ricky 'spanking' Lucy.
That would go over big today. :rolleyes:

Janice:

I remember seeing that episode and thinking the same thing (I can't recall particular story line of that one).

There was another episode in which, early in the program, Ricky threatened to hit Lucy (as Fred and Ethel were standing there). A little bit later, Lucy bumped into something, giving her a black eye. When Fred and Ethel saw her, they assumed Ricky followed through on his threat. I did not like that one at all - that to me is not humorous.

I want to make it very clear that I do not in any way condone violence against women. When Ralph Kramden shakes his fist at Alice, nobody believes that he's really going to hit her. Whenever he threatens to send her "to the moon", she just stands there, looks him in the eye, and comes right back at him with a putdown of her own. Because they've always kept it in that context, I don't have a problem with "The Honeymooners".

A husband insisting his wife stay at home and not get a job for various, usually sexist, reasons.

Originally posted by Janice
I've never seen the episodes, but on the I Love Lucy message board, there's a discussion about Ricky 'spanking' Lucy.

Originally posted by Jimbo


Janice:
I remember seeing that episode and thinking the same thing (I can't recall particular story line of that one).


Pardon me while I go a bit offtopic: The "I Love Lucy" episode where Ricky spanks Lucy was one of the "bet" episodes: Lucy bets Ricky that she can resist buying a hat longer than Ricky can keep from losing his temper.

Actually, there was another one where Lucy accepts a minor part in Ricky's show. He serenades her while she sits at a balcony. While he sings to the audience (his back to Lucy), she does a little magic act (with an assist from Fred). If I forgot any, I'm sure someone will remind me.

I'll try to post something NOT offtopic: a little later. Meanwhile, thanks for putting up with me.:wave:

I love that on old sitcoms Dads were always wore slacks and ties - even when hanging around reading the paper!
And I won't get inot the formalwear the Moms wore while doing the daily chores!

:lol:

I'd have to say how Beaver walks all over town alone.

I don't really watch many current sitcoms, so pardon me if I get this one wrong. In the 70s you had these out spoken characters like Archie Bunker, George Jefferson, Fred Sanford etc. The viewer could tell how much of a bigot Archie was by the way he talked about all minorities. I'm sure everybody has seen at least one ep of 'All in the Family' so I guess you guys know what I'm saying.

Let's pretend for a second that AITF wasn't on in the 70s. Picture the idea being pitched to a network in the year 2002. First few episodes air and the viewers hear Archie and see his bigot ways. That show would be off in a flash because it would offend so many people. It was groundbreaking in the 70s but I doubt it'd last in 2002. jmo

Originally posted by tvthemes88
make you laugh?????

:lol:

Yep.

Originally posted by Jenny
I don't really watch many current sitcoms, so pardon me if I get this one wrong. In the 70s you had these out spoken characters like Archie Bunker, George Jefferson, Fred Sanford etc. The viewer could tell how much of a bigot Archie was by the way he talked about all minorities. I'm sure everybody has seen at least one ep of 'All in the Family' so I guess you guys know what I'm saying.

Let's pretend for a second that AITF wasn't on in the 70s. Picture the idea being pitched to a network in the year 2002. First few episodes air and the viewers hear Archie and see his bigot ways. That show would be off in a flash because it would offend so many people. It was groundbreaking in the 70s but I doubit'dlast in 2002. jmo All in the Family didn't go over well with the network execs back then either. The public liked it so that was that. Most of the so called offensive things that have been mentioned so far would be excepted today just as they were then. The stab at political correctness is just not the way it works out. Sitcoms and shows like Saturday Night Live make everyone and everything fair game. And if anyone gets upset about it, it's usually the religious right crowd. not the so called politically correct crowd.

And if anyone gets upset about it, it's usually the religious right crowd. not the so called politically correct crowd.

That's often true, but I still think the PC police would have a fit with All in the Family. Archie was such a bigot, but the show was meant to make fun of people like him. However, I know of a lot of people who loved Archie and everything he said (yikes!). Nowadays he'd probably be too much of an icon for bigots like him for All in the Family to have a chance.

All In The Family. Funny though, because everyone loves the show- but I doubt it would last a full season on a basic channel. It was all for humor, but nowadays, youd get the people who have nothing better to do than nitpick about every show and throw a fit about it.

I agree with Montclave. Back then, youd hear how kids walked to this place and that place.. now they cant because of what society has become.

I, too agree with everyone about making me laugh. YES, the shows make me laugh.. but the lack the real comedies of our past.

On the old shows the couple were not be able to sleep in 1 bed they had to have 2. Lucy and Ricky had separate beds as did Laura and Rob Petrie.

Samantha and Darrin had the same bed.:eek: :p

Originally posted by Arfies
Samantha and Darrin had the same bed.:eek: :p
As did Herman & Lily Munster. :grineyes:

Casual smoking.

My how times have changed.

I happened to bump into Father Knows Best the other day and Jim and Kathy are out sleeping in a tent. Jim has promised he spent the night with Kathy. It was one of the first season episode. Jim was also expecting company but he is out in the tent wearing a SUIT. I think today even if company was coming you would be in casual attire and for the tent sleeping, i would be in sweatshirt. It just struck me odd as sleeping in a good suit.

One thing you probably will never see in modern sitcoms is this: outlandish plots. Those were popular in the 1960s but I do not think they would fair well with the modern audience

One day at a time " Endless Elliot " ep. 1980!

A guy that Barbara went to college with became infatuated with her! They never dated,weren't really even friends outside of school ,but he took her kindness as an invitation to the point of stalkerish extremes ! :(

In 1980, Elliot's crazy, obsessive antics were perceived as annoying but funny! These days this would be very weird and disturbing,the police would have been called long before Elliot would be able to become as obnoxious and stalkerish as he was in 1980! !:confused:

Things they did on older sitcoms that would never happen on today's sitcoms:

Make people laugh
Write smart lines

Alcohol consumption.

No home security! Like on One day at a time,they lived in the city, in a fourth floor apartment ,and people could just come up and be at the door un announced!:eek: Front door to the apartment building was open ,not locked ! No security phone downstairs to be buzzed in !

One day at a time " Endless Elliot " ep. 1980!

A guy that Barbara went to college with became infatuated with her! They never dated,weren't really even friends outside of school ,but he took her kindness as an invitation to the point of stalkerish extremes ! :(

In 1980, Elliot's crazy, obsessive antics were perceived as annoying but funny! These days this would be very weird and disturbing,the police would have been called long before Elliot would be able to become as obnoxious and stalkerish as he was in 1980! !:confused:

Hey My Bonnie, great example! :wave:

The only character who seemed to have the appropriate reaction in this episode was Barbara who looked horror stricken throughout. Ann Romano looked vaguely amused by some disturbed lunatic who was chained to the post in her home and who put her young daughter in danger.

Elliott was brought back in another episode (Grecian Yearn) with no mention of having undergone either jail time or therapy. Oh, good old lovable Elliot who stalked my daughter is sitting next to her in the class we are taking like nothing criminal ever happened. Nothing wrong with that picture. :(

Also on the same show Grandma Romano's shoplifting was treated as a joke and she showed absolutely no onscreen remorse just annoyance at being caught. That was just another weird episode that made no sense.

Ann sexually harassed a male employee but she didn't get any punishment, HE quit!. Why should she get to stay and he has to leave? He should have sued the company and had her forced out! Double standards.

And today would epileptics have to hide their condition from their employer like they did back then? I don't think so.

Its a different world now, thank goodness. :)

Likeable characters played by likeable and talented actors and actresses. You will never see that on modern sitcoms or modern TV in general.

The wacky next door neighbor, you don't see the likes of a Steve Urkel or Kramer from Seinfeld these days.

Many things done by Married... with Children would never be done by today's sitcoms:


Al's constant insults on overweight and elderly women
Al wrongly accusing the wrong teacher of sexual misconduct in front of the class and having that teacher arrested
A lot of punches and assaults during comical riots
Male audiences replacing themselves in The Jeffersons-themed theatrical play with lifeless figurines (or Bud and Kelly disguised as Al and Jefferson)
Eating a sandwich of toothpaste (I'm not kidding) -- Al made it but then was so close to grabbing a bite.


The list may go on

[QUOTE=george ho]Many things done by Married... with Children would never be done by today's sitcoms:


Al's constant insults on overweight and elderly women
Al wrongly accusing the wrong teacher of sexual misconduct in front of the class and having that teacher arrested
A lot of punches and assaults during comical riots
Male audiences replacing themselves in The Jeffersons-themed theatrical play with lifeless figurines (or Bud and Kelly disguised as Al and Jefferson)
Eating a sandwich of toothpaste (I'm not kidding) -- Al made it but then was so close to grabbing a bite.



Al also made a Tangwich. Then when he lifted the sandwich up, the tang fell out!

Firearms ownership portrayed in a positive manner prior to 1968 it was nothing especially in rural based shows and westerns to see kids and adults using firearms casually hunting target shooting etc in a responsible manner with only a speech to the kids about safety and marksmanship
Casual consumption of alcohol with out it being a a sermon on addiction
Hunting and trapping portrayed positive the bunny huggers would **** themselves today if that were to happen
Kids playing outside doing things like exploring old abandoned buildings and other neat things that would make the helicopter mom culture of today horrified

"HELICOPTER MOM CULTURE"? What's that?

The nanny statist that won't let won't let kids be kids.

jimpickens, you are so right about the nanny state taking the fun out of so much.

A big difference between then and now on TV is the way death is handled. When Bea Benadaret dies, Kate Bradley simply "leaves town", same thing with Joseph Kearns/Mr. Wilson from "Dennis The Meanace". When a death actually was addressed, like Margaret Williams from "Make Room For Daddy" or Hoss Cartwright from "Bonanza", it's dismissed with a few throwaway lines, then on with the current plot.

One day at a time " Endless Elliot " ep. 1980!

I loathed Elliot because he was such a creepy A-hole. I wanted Barbara to slug him, or have Schneider take care of him.

-Most dialogue from Norman Lear sitcoms would be watered down because of the PC movement. Granted, I find that Lear shoehorned a lot of political commentary to the point of it sounding forced. South Park and Family Guy can pull it off from time to time.

-Spanking or slapping a kid in a sitcom would get parental groups riled up, although I do remember a Desperate Housewives episode where a bratty stepdaughter was slapped across the face.

-I agree with whoever mentioned that a lot of the outlandish plots from the 60s-90s wouldn't fly today. Sitcom cliches like "I have two dates on the same night" or "Someone overhears an innocent comment and assumes the worst" were tired in the mid-90s, and plots have become a bit more three-dimensional.

-I'm always a bit amazed at how casual older sitcoms were about salaries or money. While I love hearing how much people made in the 70s or 80s, or what they paid for rent/mortgage, I felt some shows were very open about coworkers openly discussing how much they make, while at work.

-Finally, dialogue that overexplained situations is considered boring now. Conversations in sitcoms are very quick and snappy nowadays.

Casual smoking and tobacco use if it were a rural themed show without any anti tobacco sermons.

-The episode of Punky Brewster where a serial killer is on the loose

-The episode of Too Close For Comfort where it's implied Monroe was raped by two women

-Edith's near rape on All in the Family.

A woman having her baby in the hospital with no other drama. We also don't see the birth.
Examples - ILL Lucy and Bewitched's Samantha

Compare that to when Elyse Keaton had Andrew on Family Ties or when the Markie Post character had her baby at the bottom of the elevator in Night Court.
Those I know are just 2 examples on the top of my head.

People not having sex
People not sleeping in a single bed
People not saying the word pregnant
A woman not working outside the home
A man not staying home to care for the kids
The nurses uniforms have changed, they don't wear those little hats and stuff

Beaver was in a small town so you could walk all over town in a small town.
On Leave it to Beaver the parents never argued. I know they had a good marriage but even the best marriages fight sometimes.
You never saw Mrs. Cleaver with pants unless she was gardening. Now women wear them all the time.

Respectful kids
Respectful teenagers
Women who didn't think that they had to be superior to men just wanted a little respect
Men who were portrayed as smart and competent

In "I Love Lucy", Lucy & Ricky slept in separate beds even though they were married.

On Leave it to Beaver the parents never argued. I know they had a good marriage but even the best marriages fight sometimes.
You never saw Mrs. Cleaver with pants unless she was gardening. Now women wear them all the time.

I was going to say June didn't even wear pants when they went to the cabin in Happy Weekend, but she does wear them the day after they get there.

In "I Love Lucy", Lucy & Ricky slept in separate beds even though they were married.

I saw the "Twin Beds" in episodes of many TV series including Lassie and The Wonderful World of Disney :crazy:

Do dishes by hand.

Boys being allowed to be boys and girls allowed to be girls

Boys being allowed to be boys and girls allowed to be girls

:angryfire Seconded :angryfire

Andy and Barney not getting Otis help for his chronic alcoholism and treating it as just a little fun.

Some sit coms still do dishes by hand.

Be functional families.

Talking cars, talking horses, flying nuns.

Talking cars, talking horses, flying nuns.

What show was the talking car in?

What show was the talking car in?

My Mother the Car

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Mother_the_Car

My Mother the Car

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Mother_the_Car

Thanks for informing me of something I've never heard of, and hope to never hear of again. :lol:

Thanks for informing me of something I've never heard of, and hope to never hear of again. :lol:

It actually runs on AntennaTv Sunday mornings. Try it.

Or don't :wave:

It actually runs on AntennaTv Sunday mornings. Try it.

Or don't :wave:

Never heard of AntennaTV. Don't have access to it here.

No one brought it up, but using the so called "n-word" to denote someone's race. Some of the shows in the 1970's like All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son and others used the n-word on occasion, often with hilarious results. Some of the funniest parts of Sanford and Son involves usage of the n-word. Now supposedly the networks which rerun Sanford will bleep the word out, which truly annoys me no end.

Same with the homosexuals. Homosexuals cannot be made fun of anymore. Again, several comedies of the 1970's made fun of homosexuals, and there was even an actor who played a gay recurring character on Sanford and Son and Barney Miller (oddly, both times in jail).

Then there was Jack Tripper on Three's Company who had to act gay to rent an apartment with two girls. I never got why he had to lie. It was the late 1970's in freaking Santa Monica, California. The landlord wouldn't care who slept where or how or why as long as the rent was paid. Concerning that point, if there were mobile phones, probably a lot of Three's Company's plots would not have worked.....not to mention the whole being stuck in an elevator with a pregnant woman and crazy people which has been done on probably twenty different shows.

How about making fun of crossdressing try doing that schtick today and see what the pc thugs will do to you.

PC has ruined TV, movies and made commercials worse.

I just gave up on them years ago. That's why I'm here talking about old shows.

How about making fun of crossdressing try doing that schtick today and see what the pc thugs will do to you.
Except, Tyler Perry has appeared as Madea on a House of Payne episode. There was also a sitcom entitled Work It from a few years back...it was about two guys dressing up as women to get jobs.

It was canceled, not because of the "PC thugs" (my eyes are rolling really hard right now), but because it sucked.

Yeah but in today's uptight culture if it were done on a regular basis like was in the old days Milton Berle, Jonathon Winters ect would've been crucified for being insensitive toward transsexuals and can you imagine the hell that MASH Bosom Buddies and In Living Color would catch if aired today.