Sitcom cliches you're sick of - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 02-20-2009, 01:10 PM

We have a thread for favorite sitcom cliches. Now, let's discuss the ones we're sick of.

Personally, I'm tired of the whole lazy slob husband/father character. To me, it's just as bad as the ditzy housewife of the 50's. Homer Simpson is funny to me, but Ray Barone, Tim Taylor, and their ilk are not.

I'm also tired of the whole "smart kids are weird and/or ugly" cliche. It sends the wrong message to children that in order to be popular, you must be dumb and that there is somethring wrong with being intelligent and wanting to succeed in life.

Goldilocks · 02-20-2009, 02:53 PM

Even though it's not or wasn't on every sitcom; the whole "Kids are smarter than the parents" schtick. (i.e., Family Ties, Married with Children and in some cases, Home Improvement...well, just about everyone was smarter than Tim, but I digress)...kids outsmarting their clueless parents is not funny. Now, kids attempting to outsmart the parents and getting caught, IS funny.

catlover79 · 02-20-2009, 04:48 PM

Dressing in drag - enough said.

Chocoholic · 02-20-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Dressing in drag - enough said.

Especially since no one can do it like Klinger from MASH!

Jude The Obscure · 02-20-2009, 08:25 PM

^or get away with showing that much amount of body hair!

catlover79 · 02-20-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

Especially since no one can do it like Klinger from MASH!

Now THERE was an ugly "woman".

Marvo301 · 02-20-2009, 09:39 PM

At least when Klinger dressed in drag their was a valid reason.(trying to get out of the army)

jimpickens · 02-20-2009, 10:01 PM

Conservatives, gun enthusiasts/owners, hunters, and people of southern and Appalachian decent are portrayed as bumbling buffoons, jerks, and downright clueless uneducated imbeciles.

catlover79 · 02-20-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimpickens

Conservatives, gun enthusiasts/owners, hunters, and people of southern and Appalachian decent are portrayed as bumbling buffoons, jerks, and downright clueless uneducated imbeciles.

You forgot to add toothless.

And I'm not even from the South!!

jimpickens · 02-21-2009, 12:53 AM

Thanks I forgot about that and while I'm at it might well include inbred as well.

catlover79 · 02-21-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimpickens

Thanks I forgot about that and while I'm at it might well include inbred as well.

You're welcome.

Big C · 02-21-2009, 03:40 AM

Ditzy and/or vain girls obsessed with beauty and looks

(I know I sounds like a hypocrite here- Karen Foster from Step By Step was exactly that, and I absolutely loved Angie- but still, the types of characters are a dime a dozen, and Karen had other good qualities.)

catlover79 · 02-21-2009, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FSU

Ditzy and/or vain girls obsessed with beauty and looks

(I know I sounds like a hypocrite here- Karen Foster from Step By Step was exactly that, and I absolutely loved Angie- but still, the types of characters are a dime a dozen, and Karen had other good qualities.)

You mean, like Mallory Keaton (Family Ties)? Don't get me wrong, I like FT and Justine Bateman, and Mallory certainly had her good points. Having said that, Mallory was not the sharpest knife in the drawer and was indeed a mallrat obsessed with hair and clothes.

ekkostar · 02-21-2009, 09:33 AM

Young mother is in labor and stuck in an elevator with the one jerky guy that doesn't like kids, suddenly he's taken away with the "miracle" of birth and changes his mind entirely. Seeing as it's a sitcom, everything but the baby will be rebooted in the next episode and guy will go back to being his jerky self.

janet42 · 02-21-2009, 10:12 AM

Kids who are rude to their parents.

02-20-2009, 01:10 PM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Sitcom cliches you're sick of We have a thread for favorite sitcom cliches. Now, let's discuss the ones we're sick of. Personally, I'm tired of the whole lazy slob husband/father character. To me, it's just as bad as the ditzy housewife of the 50's. Homer Simpson is funny to me, but Ray Barone, Tim Taylor, and their ilk are not. I'm also tired of the whole "smart kids are weird and/or ugly" cliche. It sends the wrong message to children that in order to be popular, you must be dumb and that there is somethring wrong with being intelligent and wanting to succeed in life.

02-20-2009, 04:48 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Dressing in drag - enough said.
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02-20-2009, 09:39 PM	#7
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	At least when Klinger dressed in drag their was a valid reason.(trying to get out of the army)
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

02-21-2009, 09:33 AM	#14
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Young mother is in labor and stuck in an elevator with the one jerky guy that doesn't like kids, suddenly he's taken away with the "miracle" of birth and changes his mind entirely. Seeing as it's a sitcom, everything but the baby will be rebooted in the next episode and guy will go back to being his jerky self.
	__________________ "All my sitcoms had an audience, with four or five cameras, so working this way has always been appealing to me." - John Larroquette A living legend, five Emmys and a Tony award! Your favorites could never...

02-20-2009, 02:53 PM	#2
Goldilocks Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 08, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 693	Even though it's not or wasn't on every sitcom; the whole "Kids are smarter than the parents" schtick. (i.e., Family Ties, Married with Children and in some cases, Home Improvement...well, just about everyone was smarter than Tim, but I digress)...kids outsmarting their clueless parents is not funny. Now, kids attempting to outsmart the parents and getting caught, IS funny.

02-20-2009, 08:25 PM	#5
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	^or get away with showing that much amount of body hair!

02-20-2009, 10:01 PM	#8
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,391	Conservatives, gun enthusiasts/owners, hunters, and people of southern and Appalachian decent are portrayed as bumbling buffoons, jerks, and downright clueless uneducated imbeciles.

02-21-2009, 12:53 AM	#10
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,391	Thanks I forgot about that and while I'm at it might well include inbred as well.

02-21-2009, 03:40 AM	#12
Big C I Heart Angie Watson Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2006 Posts: 3,531	Ditzy and/or vain girls obsessed with beauty and looks (I know I sounds like a hypocrite here- Karen Foster from Step By Step was exactly that, and I absolutely loved Angie- but still, the types of characters are a dime a dozen, and Karen had other good qualities.)

02-21-2009, 10:12 AM	#15
janet42 Three's Company Fan! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,757	Kids who are rude to their parents.