Was 'All in the Family' Really A Sitcom Or A Dramedy? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-24-2010, 06:40 PM

What are your thoughts? In my opinion, I think many 70's sitcoms, especially the Norman Lear ones were dramedies, not comedies.

Retro4Life · 05-24-2010, 08:45 PM

Those shows certainly redefined or at least made people question the concept of "comedies".

I can see your point. I guess in the end I thought the show was a comedy with very serious overtones as opposed to a drama with comedic overtones. But most episodes did deal with subjects that were serious; there really weren't many full on 'caper' or 'misunderstanding' type episodes like you see with Three's Company or more traditional sitcoms.

steevo · 05-24-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

What are your thoughts? In my opinion, I think many 70's sitcoms, especially the Norman Lear ones were dramedies, not comedies.

I agree. Although they could be funny, All In The Family did tackle serious issues (attempted rape, racism, cancer) and were one of the first to do so. Maude did the same thing with the abortion and Walter's alcoholism and nervous breakdown.

OH Nuts! · 05-25-2010, 09:57 PM

It was a hybrid to be sure. What was unique about it was that some shows were pure comedy, others pure drama, and some a combination, like 80-20 either way - so at the end of the day I'd have to say it was a dramedy. Actually the more I think about it there's no way in my mind AITG could ever be classified as a pure comedy - at it core the show often professed to impart a serious message or REALLY touch on a serious topic. (

what a magnificient show)

cleverfun3000 · 05-26-2010, 12:46 AM

Adamantium · 05-26-2010, 02:03 PM

The Norman Lear comedies were just that - comedies. They just changed what comedies could have in them. They now how to be edgier than say, "McHale's Navy" or "The Munsters." But they were still comedies at the core.

catlover79 · 05-26-2010, 02:50 PM

I'd say AITF was a dramedy. They tackled issues like Gloria's miscarriage, Edith's near-rape, and the Jewish Paul, played by Gregory Sierra (

) meeting a tragic end at the hands of the neo-Nazis. There were light-hearted episodes to be sure, but I think most Norman Lear shows would be called dramadies today. Probably the only one that wasn't was Sanford & Son - that was just sheer comedy!!

Adamantium · 05-26-2010, 06:13 PM

When I think "dramedy" I think "The Wonder Years," "Doogie Howser, M.D.", "M*A*S*H" (in it's later seasons) even to some extent "Family Affair." "All in the Family" was a comedy that tackled serious issues, but tackling them in a funny way.

I guess we could call every 80s sitcom a dramedy because they all had more than one "very special episode." They all balanced comedy and drama together. But you have to think of what it was more. They were comedies. They were there to make you laugh, with an occassional tear or moment to make you think.

Like I was watching an episode of "Gimme a Break!" on DVD. From the first season, where the Chief shot someone, and they died. Chief felt so bad through out the whole episode. What's funny about that? You're supposed to tune into these shows for comedy. But the writers of the 80s seemed to feel like straight comedy was wrong or something.

Okay, now I'm getting off course, lol. But I still say they're all comedies.

MickeyMac · 05-26-2010, 06:23 PM

There were serious issues on the show, but overall its a sitcom. How could anyone take both Archie and Meathead seriously?

Mr. Television · 05-26-2010, 06:28 PM

It was a comedy. I always laughed at every episode. Sure there were certain episodes that got away from that for a few minutes (Edith's rape episode for one) but overall it was a funny show. Compare it to a lot of the dramedy's of today where I chuckle only once in awhile.

comedyfreak · 05-27-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamantium

The Norman Lear comedies were just that - comedies. They just changed what comedies could have in them. They now how to be edgier than say, "McHale's Navy" or "The Munsters." But they were still comedies at the core.

Good point, I agree with you.

catlover79 · 05-27-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

There were serious issues on the show, but overall its a sitcom. How could anyone take both Archie and Meathead seriously?

Why exactly did Archie call Mike "Meathead"? I never could figure out the origin of that nickname.

MickeyMac · 05-27-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Why exactly did Archie call Mike "Meathead"? I never could figure out the origin of that nickname.

Hmmm dont know either. Good question Anyone???

Retro4Life · 05-27-2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Hmmm dont know either. Good question Anyone???

I think it was revealed that Archie was called "Meathead" by his own father, which always was kind of an ironic twist I thought. (Was Archie saying he looked at Mike as a son, in a sense?). This was in the later episode where Archie and Mike got locked in the freezer at the bar.

I think the first time he called Mike that was right after they met, and they were arguing politics. Things got heated and Archie called him "Meathead" and Mike said "what did you call me?" and Archie said, "Meathead, as in dead from the neck up...!".

catlover79 · 05-27-2010, 11:54 PM

OK, thanks!!

05-24-2010, 06:40 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was 'All in the Family' Really A Sitcom Or A Dramedy? What are your thoughts? In my opinion, I think many 70's sitcoms, especially the Norman Lear ones were dramedies, not comedies.
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05-24-2010, 08:45 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Those shows certainly redefined or at least made people question the concept of "comedies". I can see your point. I guess in the end I thought the show was a comedy with very serious overtones as opposed to a drama with comedic overtones. But most episodes did deal with subjects that were serious; there really weren't many full on 'caper' or 'misunderstanding' type episodes like you see with Three's Company or more traditional sitcoms.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

05-25-2010, 09:57 PM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	It was a hybrid to be sure. What was unique about it was that some shows were pure comedy, others pure drama, and some a combination, like 80-20 either way - so at the end of the day I'd have to say it was a dramedy. Actually the more I think about it there's no way in my mind AITG could ever be classified as a pure comedy - at it core the show often professed to impart a serious message or REALLY touch on a serious topic. ( what a magnificient show)
	Last edited by OH Nuts!; 05-27-2010 at 05:23 PM.

05-26-2010, 02:50 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I'd say AITF was a dramedy. They tackled issues like Gloria's miscarriage, Edith's near-rape, and the Jewish Paul, played by Gregory Sierra () meeting a tragic end at the hands of the neo-Nazis. There were light-hearted episodes to be sure, but I think most Norman Lear shows would be called dramadies today. Probably the only one that wasn't was Sanford & Son - that was just sheer comedy!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-26-2010, 06:28 PM	#10
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	It was a comedy. I always laughed at every episode. Sure there were certain episodes that got away from that for a few minutes (Edith's rape episode for one) but overall it was a funny show. Compare it to a lot of the dramedy's of today where I chuckle only once in awhile.
	__________________ Sonny

05-26-2010, 12:46 AM	#5
cleverfun3000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 18, 2008 Location: Manhattan Posts: 1,685

05-26-2010, 02:03 PM	#6
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	The Norman Lear comedies were just that - comedies. They just changed what comedies could have in them. They now how to be edgier than say, "McHale's Navy" or "The Munsters." But they were still comedies at the core.

05-26-2010, 06:13 PM	#8
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	When I think "dramedy" I think "The Wonder Years," "Doogie Howser, M.D.", "MAS*H" (in it's later seasons) even to some extent "Family Affair." "All in the Family" was a comedy that tackled serious issues, but tackling them in a funny way. I guess we could call every 80s sitcom a dramedy because they all had more than one "very special episode." They all balanced comedy and drama together. But you have to think of what it was more. They were comedies. They were there to make you laugh, with an occassional tear or moment to make you think. Like I was watching an episode of "Gimme a Break!" on DVD. From the first season, where the Chief shot someone, and they died. Chief felt so bad through out the whole episode. What's funny about that? You're supposed to tune into these shows for comedy. But the writers of the 80s seemed to feel like straight comedy was wrong or something. Okay, now I'm getting off course, lol. But I still say they're all comedies.

05-26-2010, 06:23 PM	#9
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	There were serious issues on the show, but overall its a sitcom. How could anyone take both Archie and Meathead seriously?

05-27-2010, 11:54 PM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	OK, thanks!!