Karen or Bridget? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Big C · 02-21-2008, 06:30 PM

I came up with this while reading the posts in the "Airhead" thread, as well as the thread comparing Kelly Bundy to Chrissy Snow.

For me, the two female "airheads" that you guys mentioned that stick in my head were Karen from 'Step By Step' and Bridget from '8 Simple Rules.' Those female characters, two of my favorites, seemed somewhat similar.

I was wondering, which of those two would you consider more of an airhead and why?

BTW, this is about character only- I'm not asking for anything about Kaley Cuoco or Angela Watson. This is about their on-camera alter-egos

Furienna · 02-21-2008, 06:41 PM

The most interesting similarity between these two characters is that they both had sisters, who also were very much alike each other, but at least at first sight were much different from their sisters. Dana and Kerry had a lot of similarities too. They were the eggheads where Karen and Bridget were airheads. Both set of sisters also had a little brother, even though there weren't as many similarities between Mark and Rory.

But maybe Karen is even more of an airhead than what Bridget was. I stopped watching "8 simple rules" after their father died, but it seems like Bridget matured more than what Karen did.

vtunie · 02-22-2008, 02:11 AM

I've never seen Step By Step, so I can't say anything about Karen. Bridget is another matter.

As Furienna ponted out, Bridget was not as serious as her sister. But I don't think she was an airhead at all. She was neither scatterbrained nor stupid. In one episode, she actually outperformed her egghead sister on some academic test. And in her domain -- boys, clothes, social skills in the high school jungle -- she was extremely competent. Remember the story where she teaches her father about the queen-bee rankings? And in the end, though her quest for fun sometimes got the best of her -- and kept her from being a prig like Bridget -- she could and did learn and show serious moments. -- Like the first-job story.

Ah, such sweet melodrama. Who would have thought Mr. Hennessy's previous life (yah, the one he dreamed about) would turn so domestic?

Scoobiedoo30 · 02-22-2008, 02:16 AM

Bridget

comedyfreak · 02-22-2008, 09:14 AM

Bridget

Furienna · 02-22-2008, 01:05 PM

Actually, I think Bridget matured a great deal after her father's sudden death. Karen never had to deal with something as terrible as knowing the last thing she told her father was "I hate you". Karen's father must have either died or left the family at some point, but that was years before the show started, so we don't know how she had handled that. So while Bridget became depressed and matured, Karen was always her old cheerful self. And that makes her seem like more of an airhead than Bridget.

I also remember Bridget having a long distance relationship, and because she was faithful to her boyfriend and was depressed over him not being there, she was suddenly considered boring, and the former geek Kerry suddenly took the chance to blossom and claim her sister's popularity spot. But I stopped watching the show at this point, so that's all I remember.

vtunie · 02-22-2008, 01:29 PM

^ You really put that well.

James · 02-27-2008, 01:41 AM

I've never really thought of Karen as an airhead, so my vote goes to Bridget, even though I've never really watched 8 Simple Rules.

Oh, and when I saw this thread first and saw the name Karen I thought Karen ARNOLD from The Wonder Years, LOL.

02-21-2008, 06:30 PM	#1
Big C I Heart Angie Watson Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2006 Posts: 3,531	Karen or Bridget? I came up with this while reading the posts in the "Airhead" thread, as well as the thread comparing Kelly Bundy to Chrissy Snow. For me, the two female "airheads" that you guys mentioned that stick in my head were Karen from 'Step By Step' and Bridget from '8 Simple Rules.' Those female characters, two of my favorites, seemed somewhat similar. I was wondering, which of those two would you consider more of an airhead and why? BTW, this is about character only- I'm not asking for anything about Kaley Cuoco or Angela Watson. This is about their on-camera alter-egos

02-22-2008, 02:11 AM	#3
vtunie Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 23, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 592	I've never seen Step By Step, so I can't say anything about Karen. Bridget is another matter. As Furienna ponted out, Bridget was not as serious as her sister. But I don't think she was an airhead at all. She was neither scatterbrained nor stupid. In one episode, she actually outperformed her egghead sister on some academic test. And in her domain -- boys, clothes, social skills in the high school jungle -- she was extremely competent. Remember the story where she teaches her father about the queen-bee rankings? And in the end, though her quest for fun sometimes got the best of her -- and kept her from being a prig like Bridget -- she could and did learn and show serious moments. -- Like the first-job story. Ah, such sweet melodrama. Who would have thought Mr. Hennessy's previous life (yah, the one he dreamed about) would turn so domestic?
	Last edited by vtunie; 02-22-2008 at 02:36 AM.

02-22-2008, 02:16 AM	#4
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Bridget
	__________________ Who Dat

02-22-2008, 09:14 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	Bridget
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

02-22-2008, 01:05 PM	#6
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,277	Actually, I think Bridget matured a great deal after her father's sudden death. Karen never had to deal with something as terrible as knowing the last thing she told her father was "I hate you". Karen's father must have either died or left the family at some point, but that was years before the show started, so we don't know how she had handled that. So while Bridget became depressed and matured, Karen was always her old cheerful self. And that makes her seem like more of an airhead than Bridget. I also remember Bridget having a long distance relationship, and because she was faithful to her boyfriend and was depressed over him not being there, she was suddenly considered boring, and the former geek Kerry suddenly took the chance to blossom and claim her sister's popularity spot. But I stopped watching the show at this point, so that's all I remember.
	Last edited by Furienna; 02-22-2008 at 01:50 PM.

02-21-2008, 06:41 PM	#2
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,277	The most interesting similarity between these two characters is that they both had sisters, who also were very much alike each other, but at least at first sight were much different from their sisters. Dana and Kerry had a lot of similarities too. They were the eggheads where Karen and Bridget were airheads. Both set of sisters also had a little brother, even though there weren't as many similarities between Mark and Rory. But maybe Karen is even more of an airhead than what Bridget was. I stopped watching "8 simple rules" after their father died, but it seems like Bridget matured more than what Karen did.

02-22-2008, 01:29 PM	#7
vtunie Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 23, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 592	^ You really put that well.

02-27-2008, 01:41 AM	#8
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I've never really thought of Karen as an airhead, so my vote goes to Bridget, even though I've never really watched 8 Simple Rules. Oh, and when I saw this thread first and saw the name Karen I thought Karen ARNOLD from The Wonder Years, LOL.