The Lady, the Tiger & the Lawyer - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BWLuv · 02-12-2006, 09:55 PM

I only saw this episode once before and I know people have commented, but I saw this episode again today and I can't believe how casually they treat the wife-beating part. Even after Rob & Laura find out they still want him to see Sally or Laura's cousin again. I am surprised that they even keep this episode in the rotation.

David VP · 02-13-2006, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Even after Rob & Laura find out they still want him to see Sally or Laura's cousin again.

Untrue. R&L only find out about Arthur having hit his wives in the last act....with both Rob & Laura quite upset and shocked by this news (with Rob even bolting the door after Arthur leaves).

R&L never suggest that Donna or Sally ever see Arthur again after that.

BWLuv · 02-13-2006, 08:41 AM

I didn't get that impression. Laura asks Arthur about both women in a way that seems as if she still wants to know if he could possibly see them again. They even play hit each other and say that's a way to show they love someone. I really can't believe that they would even do this episode even back in the 1960s.

BWLuv · 02-13-2006, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David VP

Untrue. R&L only find out about Arthur having hit his wives in the last act....with both Rob & Laura quite upset and shocked by this news (with Rob even bolting the door after Arthur leaves).

R&L never suggest that Donna or Sally ever see Arthur again after that.

I didn't get that impression. Laura asks Arthur about both women in a way that seems as if she still wants to know if he could possibly see them again. They even play hit each other and say that's a way to show they love someone. I really can't believe that they would even do this episode even back in the 1960s.

David VP · 02-15-2006, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Laura asks Arthur about both women in a way that seems as if she still wants to know if he could possibly see them again.

Well, come to think of it, I guess you're right. Laura, sheepishly, asks Arthur if he likes either girl well enough to {hit} or take out again. I'd forgotten that line until thinking about it again just now.

Lolac · 02-15-2006, 03:40 PM

The Dick Van Dyke Show is not the only show to make light of domestic violence. "I Love Lucy" treats it lightly as does "The Andy Griffith Show." I'm sure there are others from that era that do the same. Thankfully, we are more enlightened now.

Lolac

Eric Paddon · 02-15-2006, 07:51 PM

I'll admit it's disturbing how they deal with that issue of wife-beating, but I have to confess I still watch this episode because it has some of the funniest dialogue and delivery I've ever heard in a Van Dyke episode. Rob's "Honey, I haven't *got* a hobby shop!" and then later, "Oh no, we always have a little coffee and cake before dinner." always manage to put me on the floor.

Samme · 02-15-2006, 11:55 PM

I think this episode is slightly jarring when you first see it because it's an unespected intrusion
of a real life problem into the sitcom world of Rob and Laura. And maybe it was a bad idea. But
Rob and Laura are shocked. Heck, watch again as Rob locks the door after he leaves and the shocked "can you believe that guy" look on his face. Laura
is even upset when he says he's divorced and begins mopping spilled coffee with her cake! And her line asking him about like them well enough to
(hit) take either of them out again is more like
sarcasm and fear than wanting him to ask them. Rob and Laura are probably the nicest and most loving
couple ever on tv. And it's nice to see. Maybe things are different today for the worse. Ralph
never did send Alice to the moon, and if the threat was ever even glimpsed as being real we
would have hated him. But nowadays even a good
show like Everybody Loves Raymond can show one
spouse dumping food on another, pushing in anger,
and just generally being hateful is seen by most
as funny and okay. That's when I miss Rob and Laura most. I'd much rather see their playful
punching and hugging. They're nicer people and
better role models for all of us.

jillm816 · 02-16-2006, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samme

But nowadays even a good
show like Everybody Loves Raymond can show one
spouse dumping food on another, pushing in anger,
and just generally being hateful is seen by most
as funny and okay. That's when I miss Rob and Laura most. I'd much rather see their playful
punching and hugging. They're nicer people and
better role models for all of us.

I agree. Spouses on TV now just verbally abuse each other to the point that it's predictable and old. There isn't much mutual respect to be found in that (or enlightenment, either...)
I suppose good writers are hard to find.

BWLuv · 02-16-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillm816

I agree. Spouses on TV now just verbally abuse each other to the point that it's predictable and old. There isn't much mutual respect to be found in that (or enlightenment, either...)
I suppose good writers are hard to find.

That's it in a nutshell....good writing. When you compare even the most lightweight show of early television, especially the sixties, to anything written today you understand exactly what is lacking in television today. Today's sitcoms writers can put together more than two minutes of entertainment. The only exception in recent years, I believe, was Frasier. The rest are one joke shows.

BWLuv · 02-16-2006, 05:49 PM

"The Dick Van Dyke Show is not the only show to make light of domestic violence. "I Love Lucy" treats it lightly as does "The Andy Griffith Show." I'm sure there are others from that era that do the same. Thankfully, we are more enlightened now. "

Lolac, I'm not that familiar with The Andy Griffith Show. Which ones do you think made light of domestic violence?

MillieHelper · 02-16-2006, 08:53 PM

BW

Remember the show where that couple was throwing stuff at each other, Andy tried to step in and teach them to behave..

octobereve · 02-16-2006, 09:18 PM

I remember an episode of Gidget about a Swedish exchange student. She was very prim and studious. Gidget introduced her to the California teenage lifestyle and she went for it big time. When her older fiance came to visit, he was apalled to see how selfish, stubborn, silly, and vain she had gotten. He put her over his knee and spanked her! That one really apalled me.

BWLuv · 02-17-2006, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octobereve

I remember an episode of Gidget about a Swedish exchange student. She was very prim and studious. Gidget introduced her to the California teenage lifestyle and she went for it big time. When her older fiance came to visit, he was apalled to see how selfish, stubborn, silly, and vain she had gotten. He put her over his knee and spanked her! That one really apalled me.

That was a common, very accepted part of sitcoms and old movies back then....spanking the lead female. I don;t know of anyone who actually did that though, THANK HEAVEN!

SawgrassSteve · 02-17-2006, 12:58 PM

Spanking the lead female. I'd forgotten that schtick of classic sitcom. It was always done as a comical closing to the show or a scene in a show by someone who loved her, or at least liked her, and usually after the female had been pretty obnoxious throughout.
Frankly, I think it was funny, in a sitcommy sort of way. And I'm by no means a sexist (at least I've not been called one yet). I mean, today we laugh when a female kicks a man in the groin in an action movie or TV show (something they never show back then). No one seems to think it out of line or sexists in any way.
My two cents.

Steve

02-12-2006, 09:55 PM	#1
BWLuv Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 21, 2004 Posts: 203	The Lady, the Tiger & the Lawyer I only saw this episode once before and I know people have commented, but I saw this episode again today and I can't believe how casually they treat the wife-beating part. Even after Rob & Laura find out they still want him to see Sally or Laura's cousin again. I am surprised that they even keep this episode in the rotation.

02-16-2006, 08:53 PM	#12
MillieHelper Forum Cutie Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 08, 2006 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 130	BW Remember the show where that couple was throwing stuff at each other, Andy tried to step in and teach them to behave..
	__________________ Linda A is A

02-17-2006, 12:58 PM	#15
SawgrassSteve Loyal Worshipper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,423	Spanking the lead female. I'd forgotten that schtick of classic sitcom. It was always done as a comical closing to the show or a scene in a show by someone who loved her, or at least liked her, and usually after the female had been pretty obnoxious throughout. Frankly, I think it was funny, in a sitcommy sort of way. And I'm by no means a sexist (at least I've not been called one yet). I mean, today we laugh when a female kicks a man in the groin in an action movie or TV show (something they never show back then). No one seems to think it out of line or sexists in any way. My two cents. Steve
	__________________ The Cult Of Laura

02-13-2006, 08:41 AM	#3
BWLuv Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 21, 2004 Posts: 203	I didn't get that impression. Laura asks Arthur about both women in a way that seems as if she still wants to know if he could possibly see them again. They even play hit each other and say that's a way to show they love someone. I really can't believe that they would even do this episode even back in the 1960s.

02-15-2006, 03:40 PM	#6
Lolac Dolce far niente, Carissima! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 02, 2003 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 1,487	The Dick Van Dyke Show is not the only show to make light of domestic violence. "I Love Lucy" treats it lightly as does "The Andy Griffith Show." I'm sure there are others from that era that do the same. Thankfully, we are more enlightened now. Lolac

02-15-2006, 07:51 PM	#7
Eric Paddon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 164	I'll admit it's disturbing how they deal with that issue of wife-beating, but I have to confess I still watch this episode because it has some of the funniest dialogue and delivery I've ever heard in a Van Dyke episode. Rob's "Honey, I haven't got a hobby shop!" and then later, "Oh no, we always have a little coffee and cake before dinner." always manage to put me on the floor.

02-15-2006, 11:55 PM	#8
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 677	I think this episode is slightly jarring when you first see it because it's an unespected intrusion of a real life problem into the sitcom world of Rob and Laura. And maybe it was a bad idea. But Rob and Laura are shocked. Heck, watch again as Rob locks the door after he leaves and the shocked "can you believe that guy" look on his face. Laura is even upset when he says he's divorced and begins mopping spilled coffee with her cake! And her line asking him about like them well enough to (hit) take either of them out again is more like sarcasm and fear than wanting him to ask them. Rob and Laura are probably the nicest and most loving couple ever on tv. And it's nice to see. Maybe things are different today for the worse. Ralph never did send Alice to the moon, and if the threat was ever even glimpsed as being real we would have hated him. But nowadays even a good show like Everybody Loves Raymond can show one spouse dumping food on another, pushing in anger, and just generally being hateful is seen by most as funny and okay. That's when I miss Rob and Laura most. I'd much rather see their playful punching and hugging. They're nicer people and better role models for all of us.

02-16-2006, 05:49 PM	#11
BWLuv Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 21, 2004 Posts: 203	"The Dick Van Dyke Show is not the only show to make light of domestic violence. "I Love Lucy" treats it lightly as does "The Andy Griffith Show." I'm sure there are others from that era that do the same. Thankfully, we are more enlightened now. " Lolac, I'm not that familiar with The Andy Griffith Show. Which ones do you think made light of domestic violence?

02-16-2006, 09:18 PM	#13
octobereve Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2004 Posts: 232	I remember an episode of Gidget about a Swedish exchange student. She was very prim and studious. Gidget introduced her to the California teenage lifestyle and she went for it big time. When her older fiance came to visit, he was apalled to see how selfish, stubborn, silly, and vain she had gotten. He put her over his knee and spanked her! That one really apalled me.