Sitcoms that cause controversy - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

freshprinceofLA · 02-22-2007, 09:14 PM

Three's Company: At the time it was unheard of for an unmarried couple of the opposite sex to live together. Some people were outraged when they heard about the show.

Growing Pains: The whole thing about Carol being called fat taking its toll on Tracey Gold causing her eating disorder. Also how Kirk Cameron got Julie McCullough fired due to his religious beliefs.

phoebe7165 · 02-22-2007, 10:20 PM

On 'Maude', I think it was a big deal that she was the 1st character to get an abortion. I might be wrong. Maybe somebody can clear it up.

On 'I Love Lucy', when Lucille Ball was really pregnant, they couldn't say the word 'pregnant' on TV.

Ellen coming out.

Same-sex kissing - Roseanne?

Showing Barbara Eden's belly-button on 'I Dream of Jeannie'.

treky · 02-23-2007, 02:00 AM

you're right about MAUDE; it WAS a big deal. In fact; when the episode aired some of the CBS affilliates refused to air it and CBS ran a disclamier before the show started. And some people complained to some stations that chose to air it.

and on I LOVE LUCY they wanted to hide her pregnancy on the show; but since they couldn't; they decided to show it which was a controversial thing back then. Like you said;they couldn't even say the word "pregnant". They had to say "expecting" or "in a family way" or something. When they filmed the episode where Lucy announces that she's pregnant; they had a priest on the set to make sure they did it in good taste.
My mother said once that when the episodes aired where she was pregnant; her mother (my grandmother) called it "disgusting" showing a pregnannt woman on TV. (my grandmother was a little "victorian" in her thinking)

treky · 02-23-2007, 02:24 AM

when ALL IN THE FAMILY first started it caused a lot of controversy among people. I remember my father saying once that a lot of parents in our neighborhood wouldn't let their kids watch it. And Rev. Billy Grahm said he'd NEVER let his kids watch it. And Lucille Ball said "How can a network that I've worked for all these years; show something like that"?
In fact when CBS first screened the pilot for a handful of studio execs., the head of programming was among them, and after it was over, the lights went up in the screening room; he looked around and he was the only one still in there. He went out in the hall; looked around but didn't see anyone. Then he saw one of them, and he asked the guy what he thought of it; and the guy said "Let's just pretend we never saw that"!

comedyfreak · 02-23-2007, 07:13 AM

Married With Children caused some controversy women in skimpy clothing, as well as The Simpsons for Bart's Eat my shorts and being proud of the title Underacheiver.
South Park

catlover79 · 02-23-2007, 08:07 AM

The Jeffersons - Tom and Helen Willis were TV's first interracial marriage, if I'm not mistaken.

It seems the sitcoms of the '70s took so many chances that paid off. It's sad how much things have regressed. Society is much too politically correct to make shows like that today.

Corolla · 02-23-2007, 08:30 AM

Probably married with children... there wasn't an episode without "you know what" in it.

Mrgman · 02-23-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshprinceofLA

Growing Pains: The whole thing about Carol being called fat taking its toll on Tracey Gold causing her eating disorder. Also how Kirk Cameron got Julie McCullough fired due to his religious beliefs.

Also you can't forget about Mike's friend Boner

Ohio8 · 02-23-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

The Jeffersons - Tom and Helen Willis were TV's first interracial marriage, if I'm not mistaken.

It seems the sitcoms of the '70s took so many chances that paid off. It's sad how much things have regressed. Society is much too politically correct to make shows like that today.

"I Love Lucy" was TV's first interracial marriage, then Danny Thomas's two shows were next.

crusty · 02-23-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshprinceofLA

Also how Kirk Cameron got Julie McCullough fired due to his religious beliefs.

Please do the whole internet world a favor and get the facts straight before posting.

From my own personal opinion, after watching the E! True Hollywood Story about Growing Pains, it seems that she was bitter because he would not pay any attention to her amd was mainly using the religious angle as an excuse to vent that anger. Do not take this as fact, because like your story, I cannot prove it.

catlover79 · 02-23-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio8

"I Love Lucy" was TV's first interracial marriage, then Danny Thomas's two shows were next.

Well, I guess I should have written TV's first Caucasian/African-American married couple. But mostly everyone knew what I meant, right??

Ireneparalegal · 02-24-2007, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

you're right about MAUDE; it WAS a big deal. In fact; when the episode aired some of the CBS affilliates refused to air it and CBS ran a disclamier before the show started. And some people complained to some stations that chose to air it.

and on I LOVE LUCY they wanted to hide her pregnancy on the show; but since they couldn't; they decided to show it which was a controversial thing back then. Like you said;they couldn't even say the word "pregnant". They had to say "expecting" or "in a family way" or something. When they filmed the episode where Lucy announces that she's pregnant; they had a priest on the set to make sure they did it in good taste.
My mother said once that when the episodes aired where she was pregnant; her mother (my grandmother) called it "disgusting" showing a pregnannt woman on TV. (my grandmother was a little "victorian" in her thinking)

Regarding the Lucy pregnancy episodes, Lucy in one scene during the episode RICKY HAS LABOR PAINS, she is not using the word "expecting" she uses another word that I have never heard or since other than in this scene. She is reading a column by Walter Winchell where he mentions the Cuban band leader, Lucy reads it aloud and states that Lucy Ricardo is "pregnant", but she doesn't state that word. I can't recall what the word is, I think it is "infant" something. It escapes me for the moment.

Also, there was a catholic priest, a rabbi and a protestant minister who approved the scripts and watched the filming taking place.

The Lucy character was also not shown smoking during the pregnancy episodes as it wouldn't look good for a mother to be with a cigarette in her mouth.

treky · 02-24-2007, 02:05 AM

also; it was because of the pregnant episodes that the show invented the rerun-without meaning to. Because of her pregnancy; she couldn't work a full schedule. So they had little choice but to repeat some episodes.

Madness · 02-24-2007, 03:35 AM

Valerie(Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family)--supposedly the first time the word "condom" was used in primetime on a sitcom.

Buffyboy323 · 02-24-2007, 06:21 AM

On Star Trek, Kirk and Uhura have the first ever Interracial kiss on Television.

One Day At A Time had the first gay series regular character (I'm pretty sure.....)

Roseanne went in for breast reduction surgery.

The was controversy about the shorts Janet and Chrissy wore on Threes Company.

Diff`rent Strokes had a lot of controversy surrounding it. Not only the behind the scenes downward spirals of the cast, but from the show itself. They used to get letters from groups such as the KKK, threatening them to stop doing the show. (They didn't believe mixed race families should have been allowed, especially on TV).

02-22-2007, 09:14 PM	#1
freshprinceofLA The Bosses Senior Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2005 Location: A small town in: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,810	Sitcoms that cause controversy Three's Company: At the time it was unheard of for an unmarried couple of the opposite sex to live together. Some people were outraged when they heard about the show. Growing Pains: The whole thing about Carol being called fat taking its toll on Tracey Gold causing her eating disorder. Also how Kirk Cameron got Julie McCullough fired due to his religious beliefs.
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02-22-2007, 10:20 PM	#2
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	On 'Maude', I think it was a big deal that she was the 1st character to get an abortion. I might be wrong. Maybe somebody can clear it up. On 'I Love Lucy', when Lucille Ball was really pregnant, they couldn't say the word 'pregnant' on TV. Ellen coming out. Same-sex kissing - Roseanne? Showing Barbara Eden's belly-button on 'I Dream of Jeannie'.
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02-23-2007, 02:00 AM	#3
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	you're right about MAUDE; it WAS a big deal. In fact; when the episode aired some of the CBS affilliates refused to air it and CBS ran a disclamier before the show started. And some people complained to some stations that chose to air it. and on I LOVE LUCY they wanted to hide her pregnancy on the show; but since they couldn't; they decided to show it which was a controversial thing back then. Like you said;they couldn't even say the word "pregnant". They had to say "expecting" or "in a family way" or something. When they filmed the episode where Lucy announces that she's pregnant; they had a priest on the set to make sure they did it in good taste. My mother said once that when the episodes aired where she was pregnant; her mother (my grandmother) called it "disgusting" showing a pregnannt woman on TV. (my grandmother was a little "victorian" in her thinking)
	__________________ 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."

02-23-2007, 07:13 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Married With Children caused some controversy women in skimpy clothing, as well as The Simpsons for Bart's Eat my shorts and being proud of the title Underacheiver. South Park
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02-23-2007, 08:07 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	The Jeffersons - Tom and Helen Willis were TV's first interracial marriage, if I'm not mistaken. It seems the sitcoms of the '70s took so many chances that paid off. It's sad how much things have regressed. Society is much too politically correct to make shows like that today.
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02-23-2007, 02:24 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	when ALL IN THE FAMILY first started it caused a lot of controversy among people. I remember my father saying once that a lot of parents in our neighborhood wouldn't let their kids watch it. And Rev. Billy Grahm said he'd NEVER let his kids watch it. And Lucille Ball said "How can a network that I've worked for all these years; show something like that"? In fact when CBS first screened the pilot for a handful of studio execs., the head of programming was among them, and after it was over, the lights went up in the screening room; he looked around and he was the only one still in there. He went out in the hall; looked around but didn't see anyone. Then he saw one of them, and he asked the guy what he thought of it; and the guy said "Let's just pretend we never saw that"!

02-23-2007, 08:30 AM	#7
Corolla Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2006 Location: Owen Sound, ON Posts: 2,376	Probably married with children... there wasn't an episode without "you know what" in it.

02-24-2007, 02:05 AM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	also; it was because of the pregnant episodes that the show invented the rerun-without meaning to. Because of her pregnancy; she couldn't work a full schedule. So they had little choice but to repeat some episodes.

02-24-2007, 03:35 AM	#14
Madness I call it the rocket Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Posts: 2,047	Valerie(Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family)--supposedly the first time the word "condom" was used in primetime on a sitcom.

02-24-2007, 06:21 AM	#15
Buffyboy323 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 6,102	On Star Trek, Kirk and Uhura have the first ever Interracial kiss on Television. One Day At A Time had the first gay series regular character (I'm pretty sure.....) Roseanne went in for breast reduction surgery. The was controversy about the shorts Janet and Chrissy wore on Threes Company. Diff`rent Strokes had a lot of controversy surrounding it. Not only the behind the scenes downward spirals of the cast, but from the show itself. They used to get letters from groups such as the KKK, threatening them to stop doing the show. (They didn't believe mixed race families should have been allowed, especially on TV).