Caricature vs Realism in Family Sitcoms - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

polypheus · 06-04-2005, 11:11 PM

Hello All:

I just came upon this site a few days ago. It's a great site and brings me back to my time growing up in the 80s. I loved playing back all those theme openings and songs (if only for a few times before remembering how annoying they got

) It's got many of my "favorites" going back from "Brady Bunch" down to "Growing Pains", shows that I've watched most episodes of.

Reading the "jumptheshark" links and comments, some of the pretty edgy and harsh but hilarious comments there are pretty dead-on. While a few sitcoms then and today tried to be more "realistic" a lot of those shows had pretty hilarious "cariatures" of the parents and children and were either way sugary and sweet and "special" episode filled or in a few cases outrageously trashy and crass to an extreme.

Here's a list of shows off the top of my head and my off the top of my head analysis:

Mostly Caricature (Sugary Sweet or Crass and Nasty)
--------------------
Brady Bunch - Mike and Carol Brady, the parents, 'nuff said
Full House - Danny Tanner, modern Mike Brady, down to the ending talks

Family Matters - after Urkel (a total caricature) took over, show was a farce

Married with Children - perhaps the most extreme caricature of "trash" family
Unhappily Ever After - milder clone of above
Simpsons - ignoring the cartoonish aspect, the most extreme caricature
Roseanne - "realistc" portrayal of lower class families or mostly "farce"?

Semi-Realistic (meaning the characters seem actually somewhat plausible IRL)
-------------------
King of the Hill - caricature of Texans, surely, but more "realistic" than most
That 70s Show - early seasons, show's characters were very plausible
Malcolm in the Middle - Lois very realistic Mom, but show drifting into farce

Not sure how to classify:
-------------------
Mr Belvedere - early seasons, parents might be classified as "semi-realistic"
Growing Pains ???
Family Ties ???
One Day At a Time
Cosby Show -
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Different Strokes
Blossom

Anyway, I'm sure I'm missing a ton of shows but I thought this was an intersting topic.

Also is the "Brady Bunch", "Full House" sugary-sweet caricature of family type sitcoms finally dead? They're kind of cartoonish and innocent and not realistic, sure, but they were kinda fun to watch. I don't know in today's world, though, the these kinds of shows will have any further appeal which is both a relief and also sad in a way...

James"Thunder"Early · 06-04-2005, 11:46 PM

I agree with you analysis on most of these shows. I think Roseanne was realistic, but to be funny it had to go over the top. The shows you couldn't classify are realistic in my book with a few of odd elements to them.

06-04-2005, 11:11 PM	#1
polypheus Member Forum Cub Join Date: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 2	Caricature vs Realism in Family Sitcoms Hello All: I just came upon this site a few days ago. It's a great site and brings me back to my time growing up in the 80s. I loved playing back all those theme openings and songs (if only for a few times before remembering how annoying they got ) It's got many of my "favorites" going back from "Brady Bunch" down to "Growing Pains", shows that I've watched most episodes of. Reading the "jumptheshark" links and comments, some of the pretty edgy and harsh but hilarious comments there are pretty dead-on. While a few sitcoms then and today tried to be more "realistic" a lot of those shows had pretty hilarious "cariatures" of the parents and children and were either way sugary and sweet and "special" episode filled or in a few cases outrageously trashy and crass to an extreme. Here's a list of shows off the top of my head and my off the top of my head analysis: Mostly Caricature (Sugary Sweet or Crass and Nasty) -------------------- Brady Bunch - Mike and Carol Brady, the parents, 'nuff said Full House - Danny Tanner, modern Mike Brady, down to the ending talks Family Matters - after Urkel (a total caricature) took over, show was a farce Married with Children - perhaps the most extreme caricature of "trash" family Unhappily Ever After - milder clone of above Simpsons - ignoring the cartoonish aspect, the most extreme caricature Roseanne - "realistc" portrayal of lower class families or mostly "farce"? Semi-Realistic (meaning the characters seem actually somewhat plausible IRL) ------------------- King of the Hill - caricature of Texans, surely, but more "realistic" than most That 70s Show - early seasons, show's characters were very plausible Malcolm in the Middle - Lois very realistic Mom, but show drifting into farce Not sure how to classify: ------------------- Mr Belvedere - early seasons, parents might be classified as "semi-realistic" Growing Pains ??? Family Ties ??? One Day At a Time Cosby Show - Fresh Prince of Bel Air Different Strokes Blossom Anyway, I'm sure I'm missing a ton of shows but I thought this was an intersting topic. Also is the "Brady Bunch", "Full House" sugary-sweet caricature of family type sitcoms finally dead? They're kind of cartoonish and innocent and not realistic, sure, but they were kinda fun to watch. I don't know in today's world, though, the these kinds of shows will have any further appeal which is both a relief and also sad in a way...

06-04-2005, 11:46 PM	#2
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	I agree with you analysis on most of these shows. I think Roseanne was realistic, but to be funny it had to go over the top. The shows you couldn't classify are realistic in my book with a few of odd elements to them.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it.