Episodes that could never be made today - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

dav4463 · 05-14-2009, 01:50 AM

The one where the Brady's install a pay phone in their house!

I'm sure there are plenty more.

Smartboy · 05-14-2009, 09:43 PM

Why couldn't the pay phone episode me made today?

gidgetgrape · 05-14-2009, 10:01 PM

The kids would probably have cellphones now.

Maybe "54-40 and Fight?" - I can't think of anyplace that gives trading stamps.

dav4463 · 05-16-2009, 04:59 AM

Every kid I know has a cellphone. Texting has replaced talking for most kids these days!

tdr · 05-16-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

Maybe "54-40 and Fight?" - I can't think of anyplace that gives trading stamps.

That ep couldn't be done today as it was almost 40 years ago, and we would have to back about 20 years for it to be credible at all. And, in fact, the gradual phasing out of trading stamps was the point of it-- remember, they had to redeem those stamps for something, or else lose all their efforts in saving them and pasting them into the books... which is why stamps were a valuable part of business-- one aspect of customers' choice of merchants was what kind of stamps they gave, 'double stamp' days, et al, but then the chore of licking or dampening them and pasting them into those books was often dreaded, as was keeping the books from sticking to each other, as was just saving them, as they could get rotten before they were used. I remember all that.

BUT, a similar ep could be done today with what has replaced trading stamps-- rewards offers from store cards or credit card companies. For example, the boys could have heard about the points or reward offers on Mike's credit card, and the girls on Carol's (presuming the same type of card, just like the same type of stamps), and the company announces it will end those offers, so they fight over what they can use those reward points for as time is running out.

And as an aside here, just like most people who got stamps ended up not using them because of all the trouble they were, now most people entitled to those "rewards" don't use them because of the trouble in keeping up with status and fears of being put on more mailing lists.

catlover79 · 05-16-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dav4463

Every kid I know has a cellphone. Texting has replaced talking for most kids these days!

Hey, the Bradys could have a great family plan!!

JamesG · 05-16-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartboy

Why couldn't the pay phone episode me made today?

It shouldn't have been made period in my view.

Why would a 2009 family install a pay phone in their house? Some houses today don't even have home phone lines anymore. They only have cell phones.

steevo · 05-16-2009, 02:10 PM

"Tiger! Tiger!", which I caught on TV Land this morning, may not have been made today, with invisible fencing to prevent pets from leaving and security systems like ADT.

McGillicuddy · 05-17-2009, 05:13 PM

Cindy Brady as the "new Shirley Temple", well that was just bizarre!

McGillicuddy · 05-17-2009, 05:19 PM

I think many episodes were very sexist. The boys were always playing basketball, baseball or football in the backyard, the girls never, I mean come on, ok I guess it would be a stretch for Marcia to go out for the football team, but you never see any of the girls shooting hoops with the boys just for fun. That just wasn't realistic.

Retro4Life · 05-17-2009, 06:32 PM

I dunno. I don't think equality of worth translates to "everyone liking to do the same things".

I grew in the 1970's, and though there were a few exceptions, the vast majority of girls I went to school with had no interest whatsoever in shooting hoops or sports, at least not in their preteen years. We had a girls' basketball team in high school that did pretty well, but even then, during the girls' off hours they weren't hanging around shooting baskets very much.

catlover79 · 05-17-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Cindy Brady as the "new Shirley Temple", well that was just bizarre!

Susan Olsen has said more than once that the Shirley Temple episode was her least favorite of the entire run. I don't blame her one bit.

browneyes106 · 05-17-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartboy

Why couldn't the pay phone episode me made today?

I think a pay phone episode could have been done in the 80's or 90's. But I think a today's world maybe a pay cell phone episode could work. Even today with the Internet kids are often chatting with friends through IM's.

Smartboy · 05-17-2009, 10:53 PM

Is there such a thing as a pay cell phone?

McGillicuddy · 05-18-2009, 08:52 PM

Shirley Temple might have worked in the first season, but the 5th?! Poor Susan Olsen, that she had to go through that! What were the Schwartzes thinking at that point? I think Susan talked about it on the 35th reunion show.

05-14-2009, 01:50 AM	#1
dav4463 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 18, 2003 Location: texas Posts: 252	Episodes that could never be made today The one where the Brady's install a pay phone in their house! I'm sure there are plenty more.

05-16-2009, 02:10 PM	#8
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,474	"Tiger! Tiger!", which I caught on TV Land this morning, may not have been made today, with invisible fencing to prevent pets from leaving and security systems like ADT.
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

05-14-2009, 09:43 PM	#2
Smartboy Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 06, 2007 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 4,231	Why couldn't the pay phone episode me made today?

05-14-2009, 10:01 PM	#3
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	The kids would probably have cellphones now. Maybe "54-40 and Fight?" - I can't think of anyplace that gives trading stamps.

05-16-2009, 04:59 AM	#4
dav4463 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 18, 2003 Location: texas Posts: 252	Every kid I know has a cellphone. Texting has replaced talking for most kids these days!

05-17-2009, 05:13 PM	#9
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Cindy Brady as the "new Shirley Temple", well that was just bizarre!

05-17-2009, 05:19 PM	#10
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I think many episodes were very sexist. The boys were always playing basketball, baseball or football in the backyard, the girls never, I mean come on, ok I guess it would be a stretch for Marcia to go out for the football team, but you never see any of the girls shooting hoops with the boys just for fun. That just wasn't realistic.

05-17-2009, 06:32 PM	#11
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I dunno. I don't think equality of worth translates to "everyone liking to do the same things". I grew in the 1970's, and though there were a few exceptions, the vast majority of girls I went to school with had no interest whatsoever in shooting hoops or sports, at least not in their preteen years. We had a girls' basketball team in high school that did pretty well, but even then, during the girls' off hours they weren't hanging around shooting baskets very much.

05-17-2009, 10:53 PM	#14
Smartboy Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 06, 2007 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 4,231	Is there such a thing as a pay cell phone?

05-18-2009, 08:52 PM	#15
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Shirley Temple might have worked in the first season, but the 5th?! Poor Susan Olsen, that she had to go through that! What were the Schwartzes thinking at that point? I think Susan talked about it on the 35th reunion show.