Topical References in Shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 04-17-2006, 12:22 AM

I read once that Carl Reiner did his best to keep The Dick Van Dyke Show as free of topical references as possible, and he succeeded. There are a few mentions of movie stars and such, but not many.

The same can be said of many of the older comedy shows.

Are there any shows that made no mention of anything current?

snl 70s show fan · 04-17-2006, 12:40 AM

outside of one reference to the beatles i dont think that the andy griffth show was really topical in nature

treky · 04-17-2006, 01:20 AM

I'd also say "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW". And besides mentioning the Beatles once, Aunt Bee in one episode mentioned the Vietnam war, probably. In one episode, she was talking to a priest and after he said something, she replied "just like that terrible war in Asia."

Of course, she could have meant the Korean war.

Also, "Gomer Pyle U. S.M.C." Despite the fact that the Vietnam war was raging at the time, it was never mentioned-not even that time him & Sargent Carter were in Washington, D.C.

db108108 · 04-17-2006, 01:30 AM

Everybody Loves Raymond has very few topical references.

Mikado · 04-17-2006, 03:56 AM

the closest to a topical ref i can remember in "The Munsters" is the evil carmaker, "Mr Fordgosi" , saying he once put a curse on the Edsel

EmoJoe · 04-17-2006, 12:01 PM

most 60s sitcoms, especially "I Dream of Jeannie", "Bewitched", "The Munsters"...and fictional shows like that.

EmoJoe · 04-17-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by db108108

Everybody Loves Raymond has very few topical references.

oh yeah, that too.

Janice · 04-27-2006, 08:00 PM

On The Andy Griffith Show, there are unintentional topical references by showing the prices of items. You can see that bread is 25 cents a loaf and ground beef is 39 cents a pound. A definite sign of the 60s.

I see this in a lot of old shows...signs in grocery stores with prices.

gilligan fanatic · 04-27-2006, 08:02 PM

Besides Soviet references GI stays away from that kind of stuff.

Sal · 04-27-2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe: Texas Smurftractor

most 60s sitcoms, especially "I Dream of Jeannie", "Bewitched", "The Munsters"...and fictional shows like that.

That's one reason why I love 50s and 60s shows. Today every sitcom does it, mainly to get cheap laughs, and I hate it!

retrochick9 · 04-28-2006, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

On The Andy Griffith Show, there are unintentional topical references by showing the prices of items. You can see that bread is 25 cents a loaf and ground beef is 39 cents a pound. A definite sign of the 60s.

I see this in a lot of old shows...signs in grocery stores with prices.

I love seeing the signs in the grocery store on TAGS, it's sooo funny! The last time I watched it said, "Celery 19 cents", LOL.

Janice · 04-28-2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrochick9

I love seeing the signs in the grocery store on TAGS, it sooo funny! The last time I watched it said, "Celery 19 cents", LOL.

That was probably for five pounds of it too.

slackermonkey · 04-28-2006, 03:39 AM

I don't think a single show nowadays has gone without at least one topical reference, no matter how obscure.

Which kind of makes me sad, as I believe topical references can make a show seem less relevant and more dated in later years. "Will & Grace" especially will suffer even 10 years from now.

Janice · 07-03-2006, 01:16 AM

I watched a 1966 episode of The Munsters. Lily Muster says something along the lines that she "feels as special as Lady Byrd". That was an obvious reference to then First Lady and wife of President Lyndon Johnson.

treky · 07-03-2006, 02:20 AM

I remember seeing an episode of BONANZA once, and Hoss was trying on a vest, and the salesman was trying to talk him into buying it by saying something like "It's only 75 cents". Then Hoss said "Only 75 cents, huh"? Then he said "Maybe I WILL buy it, then". Then he paused, then took it off, saying "But 75 cents! No, I just couldn't"!

04-17-2006, 12:22 AM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Topical References in Shows I read once that Carl Reiner did his best to keep The Dick Van Dyke Show as free of topical references as possible, and he succeeded. There are a few mentions of movie stars and such, but not many. The same can be said of many of the older comedy shows. Are there any shows that made no mention of anything current?

04-17-2006, 01:20 AM	#3
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I'd also say "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW". And besides mentioning the Beatles once, Aunt Bee in one episode mentioned the Vietnam war, probably. In one episode, she was talking to a priest and after he said something, she replied "just like that terrible war in Asia." Of course, she could have meant the Korean war. Also, "Gomer Pyle U. S.M.C." Despite the fact that the Vietnam war was raging at the time, it was never mentioned-not even that time him & Sargent Carter were in Washington, D.C.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her." Last edited by treky; 07-03-2006 at 02:12 AM.

04-17-2006, 12:01 PM	#6
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	most 60s sitcoms, especially "I Dream of Jeannie", "Bewitched", "The Munsters"...and fictional shows like that.
	__________________ "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

04-27-2006, 08:02 PM	#9
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	Besides Soviet references GI stays away from that kind of stuff.
	__________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

04-28-2006, 03:39 AM	#13
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	I don't think a single show nowadays has gone without at least one topical reference, no matter how obscure. Which kind of makes me sad, as I believe topical references can make a show seem less relevant and more dated in later years. "Will & Grace" especially will suffer even 10 years from now.
	__________________ ...Derek TV on DVD Checklist: 05/09 - Scrubs: The Complete Third Season 05/30 - Joey: The Complete First Season 06/13 - Cheers: The Complete Eighth Season 06/13 - Frasier: The Complete Eighth Season 06/20 - Justice League: Season 2 07/25 - Animaniacs: Volume 1 10/?? - Scrubs: The Complete Fourth Season 12/06 - Animaniacs: Volume 2

04-17-2006, 12:40 AM	#2
snl 70s show fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2005 Location: in the forman basment Posts: 2,454	outside of one reference to the beatles i dont think that the andy griffth show was really topical in nature

04-17-2006, 01:30 AM	#4
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	Everybody Loves Raymond has very few topical references.

04-17-2006, 03:56 AM	#5
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	the closest to a topical ref i can remember in "The Munsters" is the evil carmaker, "Mr Fordgosi" , saying he once put a curse on the Edsel

04-27-2006, 08:00 PM	#8
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	On The Andy Griffith Show, there are unintentional topical references by showing the prices of items. You can see that bread is 25 cents a loaf and ground beef is 39 cents a pound. A definite sign of the 60s. I see this in a lot of old shows...signs in grocery stores with prices.

07-03-2006, 01:16 AM	#14
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I watched a 1966 episode of The Munsters. Lily Muster says something along the lines that she "feels as special as Lady Byrd". That was an obvious reference to then First Lady and wife of President Lyndon Johnson.

07-03-2006, 02:20 AM	#15
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I remember seeing an episode of BONANZA once, and Hoss was trying on a vest, and the salesman was trying to talk him into buying it by saying something like "It's only 75 cents". Then Hoss said "Only 75 cents, huh"? Then he said "Maybe I WILL buy it, then". Then he paused, then took it off, saying "But 75 cents! No, I just couldn't"!