Was TV better to you in 1984 or is it better now in 2004? - Page 3 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 06-16-2004, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Topanga
Yeah 1984 had much better sitcoms than we do now, we had Who's the Boss?, Cheers, Facts of Life, etc....

2004, we do we really have sitcom wise? Will and Grace

Will and Grace??????

spunkygirl · 06-17-2004, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Will and Grace??????

That was my point, we don't have hardly any good sitcoms on these days, now that Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld and others are gone

TVFactFan · 06-17-2004, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Topanga
That was my point, we don't have hardly any good sitcoms on these days, now that Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld and others are gone

That's true

EmoJoe · 06-17-2004, 06:40 PM

I think the best year for comedy was 1987-1988. The 80s shows were ending and the 90s shows were beginning.

barwars · 06-17-2004, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Topanga
That was my point, we don't have hardly any good sitcoms on these days, now that Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld and others are gone

2 words....

Arrested Development

It's a great sitcom for anybody that enjoys smart humor.... its not a show an idiot would like.

Mr. Television · 06-17-2004, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
2 words....

Arrested Development

It's a great sitcom for anybody that enjoys smart humor.... its not a show an idiot would like.

So thats why i don't like it.

spunkygirl · 06-17-2004, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr roper
So thats why i don't like it.

jamesanthony · 06-17-2004, 10:46 PM

For Tv in general if you have satellite you can watch 1,000 channels so in that sense it is better. However the content and style of the current scripted shows especially the sitcoms is very inferior to those from 20 years ago. Shows that were relatively mediocre fare in 1984 are better than today's sitcoms:

1- many old sitcoms were videotaped and had a theatrical "live" feel to them and were cast with trained actors rather than stand up comics or people who were cast for their looks

2- in 1984 there were still some things like sexuality issues that were left to the imagination and it was a more innocent time, now we have in a sense seen everything and nothing is shocking or taboo. Older shows had to be more creative about dealing with delicate topics which made the shows more interesting

3-despite not being able to do and show certain things on tv there was greater room to depict different points of view on life in shows. I doubt Family Ties with the conservative and liberal ideologies would go over if it were made today

4-the characters in shows are much more shallow than the ones of the past. Too many young sexy people. Even the people who tend to be cast as the moms of the young sexy people are sexy people who have either had plastic surgery or botox or are filmed from a distance so you can't see their wrinkles. No show could get made now that doesn't have a young attractive person in it

5- scripted shows feel the need to have subplots so that every demographic is drawn in to watch the show. In older shows there was more of a tendency to be only one plot and the writing was better so that audiences got into the one plot. Now in the typical family show there is one main plot with the parents to appeal to the older viewer and a subplot with the kids to appeal to younger viewers. Writers and/or networks don't have enough confidence that one demographic would be into the other's storyline

6-too many will-they-or won't they fall for each other plots. What sitcom is there now with a single male and a single female who are both heterosexual where there is no kind of sexual chemistry issue in the series? It's as if the message is that two straight people like that would have to have sex and romance at the forefront of their minds.

7- too many middle class and rich characters in shows; characters living from check to check are virtually invisible

8- too much dependence on continuing storylines. Older shows had self-contained episodes that were entertaining enough that audiences wanted to come back and see what other situation the characters would find them in. Continuing storylines can be good, but with too many shows I get the feeling that it is a cheap manipulation of audience emotions to keep them coming back. Especially true with season ending cliffhangers.

Dude111 · 05-22-2025, 09:41 AM

TV and most everything was MUCH BETTER in 1984!!

Although 2004 did see the First SAW movie come out..... There really hadnt been any GOOD movies for years before Saw....

Jamey Greek · 05-22-2025, 05:39 PM

1984 hands down! Like the bowling for soup song says: “When did reality become TV whatever happened to sitcoms, game shows, all the radio?”

Jamey Greek · 05-22-2025, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

I agree 99%, with the exception being that The Wonder Years had not yet been invented. However, if TWY were still cranking out new episodes today, going on 400 or so, the timeframe of the show would be 1984.

Try to imagine Kevin in parachute pants!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

For Tv in general if you have satellite you can watch 1,000 channels so in that sense it is better. However the content and style of the current scripted shows especially the sitcoms is very inferior to those from 20 years ago. Shows that were relatively mediocre fare in 1984 are better than today's sitcoms:

1- many old sitcoms were videotaped and had a theatrical "live" feel to them and were cast with trained actors rather than stand up comics or people who were cast for their looks

2- in 1984 there were still some things like sexuality issues that were left to the imagination and it was a more innocent time, now we have in a sense seen everything and nothing is shocking or taboo. Older shows had to be more creative about dealing with delicate topics which made the shows more interesting

3-despite not being able to do and show certain things on tv there was greater room to depict different points of view on life in shows. I doubt Family Ties with the conservative and liberal ideologies would go over if it were made today

4-the characters in shows are much more shallow than the ones of the past. Too many young sexy people. Even the people who tend to be cast as the moms of the young sexy people are sexy people who have either had plastic surgery or botox or are filmed from a distance so you can't see their wrinkles. No show could get made now that doesn't have a young attractive person in it

5- scripted shows feel the need to have subplots so that every demographic is drawn in to watch the show. In older shows there was more of a tendency to be only one plot and the writing was better so that audiences got into the one plot. Now in the typical family show there is one main plot with the parents to appeal to the older viewer and a subplot with the kids to appeal to younger viewers. Writers and/or networks don't have enough confidence that one demographic would be into the other's storyline

6-too many will-they-or won't they fall for each other plots. What sitcom is there now with a single male and a single female who are both heterosexual where there is no kind of sexual chemistry issue in the series? It's as if the message is that two straight people like that would have to have sex and romance at the forefront of their minds.

7- too many middle class and rich characters in shows; characters living from check to check are virtually invisible

8- too much dependence on continuing storylines. Older shows had self-contained episodes that were entertaining enough that audiences wanted to come back and see what other situation the characters would find them in. Continuing storylines can be good, but with too many shows I get the feeling that it is a cheap manipulation of audience emotions to keep them coming back. Especially true with season ending cliffhangers.

I heartily agree. Now every sitcom is filmed and videotaped is a thing of the past. #3 especially. You are very much right. An LA Law reboot was attempted a couple of times but never got off the ground. We are too woke and one sided these days.

Jamey Greek · 05-22-2025, 05:46 PM

The Cosby Show also premiered that year. Say what you will about Bill Cosby and his rape allegations but the show was one-of the few shows even then where the parents were in charge and they did not let their kids run wild and the kids respected their parents. Nowadays if you watch Disney and Nickelodeon you see kids disrespect and manipulate their parents. Also, Stranger Things I love the show and everything but everytime I see Mike yell at his mother and demand for her to get off the phone, I just want to shake him.

06-17-2004, 06:40 PM	#34
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	I think the best year for comedy was 1987-1988. The 80s shows were ending and the 90s shows were beginning.
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

05-22-2025, 05:39 PM	#40
Jamey Greek Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Elba Alabama USA Posts: 876	1984 hands down! Like the bowling for soup song says: “When did reality become TV whatever happened to sitcoms, game shows, all the radio?”
	__________________ Jamey Greek

06-17-2004, 10:46 PM	#38
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	For Tv in general if you have satellite you can watch 1,000 channels so in that sense it is better. However the content and style of the current scripted shows especially the sitcoms is very inferior to those from 20 years ago. Shows that were relatively mediocre fare in 1984 are better than today's sitcoms: 1- many old sitcoms were videotaped and had a theatrical "live" feel to them and were cast with trained actors rather than stand up comics or people who were cast for their looks 2- in 1984 there were still some things like sexuality issues that were left to the imagination and it was a more innocent time, now we have in a sense seen everything and nothing is shocking or taboo. Older shows had to be more creative about dealing with delicate topics which made the shows more interesting 3-despite not being able to do and show certain things on tv there was greater room to depict different points of view on life in shows. I doubt Family Ties with the conservative and liberal ideologies would go over if it were made today 4-the characters in shows are much more shallow than the ones of the past. Too many young sexy people. Even the people who tend to be cast as the moms of the young sexy people are sexy people who have either had plastic surgery or botox or are filmed from a distance so you can't see their wrinkles. No show could get made now that doesn't have a young attractive person in it 5- scripted shows feel the need to have subplots so that every demographic is drawn in to watch the show. In older shows there was more of a tendency to be only one plot and the writing was better so that audiences got into the one plot. Now in the typical family show there is one main plot with the parents to appeal to the older viewer and a subplot with the kids to appeal to younger viewers. Writers and/or networks don't have enough confidence that one demographic would be into the other's storyline 6-too many will-they-or won't they fall for each other plots. What sitcom is there now with a single male and a single female who are both heterosexual where there is no kind of sexual chemistry issue in the series? It's as if the message is that two straight people like that would have to have sex and romance at the forefront of their minds. 7- too many middle class and rich characters in shows; characters living from check to check are virtually invisible 8- too much dependence on continuing storylines. Older shows had self-contained episodes that were entertaining enough that audiences wanted to come back and see what other situation the characters would find them in. Continuing storylines can be good, but with too many shows I get the feeling that it is a cheap manipulation of audience emotions to keep them coming back. Especially true with season ending cliffhangers.

05-22-2025, 09:41 AM	#39
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,313	TV and most everything was MUCH BETTER in 1984!! Although 2004 did see the First SAW movie come out..... There really hadnt been any GOOD movies for years before Saw....

05-22-2025, 05:46 PM	#42
Jamey Greek Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Elba Alabama USA Posts: 876	The Cosby Show also premiered that year. Say what you will about Bill Cosby and his rape allegations but the show was one-of the few shows even then where the parents were in charge and they did not let their kids run wild and the kids respected their parents. Nowadays if you watch Disney and Nickelodeon you see kids disrespect and manipulate their parents. Also, Stranger Things I love the show and everything but everytime I see Mike yell at his mother and demand for her to get off the phone, I just want to shake him.