Dumb Or Not? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

~Tropical Punch 19~ · 12-16-2001, 12:33 AM

Does anyone thinj taht Mallory was really dumb? I don;t think she was dumb, I just think taht laex was super smart it made her look dumb. She wasn;t so smart in school, but hse was smart in like fashion and stuff. :D

Janice · 12-16-2001, 12:57 AM

I don't think Mallory was dumb either. She certainly wasn't smart in an academic sense, but was intelligent in other areas, such as her field of fashion. She also seemed *life smart*, in that she was intuitive and compassionate when dealing with people. She possessed qualities you can't learn in a book, and I think Alex could've learned a thing or two from her. (easy Alex lovers, I love him too, lol)
She was bright and talented, although a bit naive, which only added to her appeal.

Paula · 12-16-2001, 05:05 PM

Mallory wasn't dumb- she just didn't try hard enough. She just was more interested in fashion than studying. As seen on the graduation ep, she had a lot of potential to excel, when she applied herself.

One interesting note about Mallory portraying the "airhead" on the show is that it's unusual for brunettes to play such a role. Unfortunately, this type of role is usually given to blondes. It's sad that TV writers tend to portray them that way so frequently.

Of course, as a brunette, I hate to see that the writers gave Mallory such a role. On the other hand, since I dislike stereotypes, I'm glad they didn't give that role to Jennifer.

DJM77 · 12-18-2001, 08:36 PM

Mallory wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer but she wasn't dumb either. She wasn't book smart but she was street smart.

Janice · 12-23-2001, 11:46 PM

While watching the first season of Family Ties this week, I noticed that Mallory was originally portrayed as very sensible and smart. It's been like watching another character. Evidently they decided to take her character in another direction. I'd guess the reason was for something else that Alex could make make wisecracks about. I don't know the evolution of this show very well, but I'm curious as to what season this character development took place.
This is similar to the change in the character of Chrissy Snow on Three's Company, although Mallory never became a total airhead. She just changed a great deal.

~Tropical Punch 19~ · 12-23-2001, 11:53 PM

Yes, I do agree with you. In tonights episodes she was smart. But I kinda like her better as an air head. the story lines are more fun with her being ditzy. But if u compared her to Skippy, she was pertty damn smart!!!!

Paula · 12-24-2001, 04:48 AM

Yea, now that we're back to the first season, I realize that too. I forgot that detail, because I haven't seen the first couple of seasons in years. It does make it look rather bizarre that the writers changed Mallory's character a bit , but like JanLady said, it probably was so that Alex could have more of a reason to make wisecracks about her.

~Tropical Punch 19~ · 12-24-2001, 12:10 PM

except, there was one episode where mallory was dumb, and it wa sin the first season. It wa sthe quiz off. Remember that one? i had forgotten about it until last night.

FamilyTiesFan · 12-25-2001, 12:47 AM

In the first season Mallory did seem to be a lot smarter. I also noticed a discrepancy between two things she said. In the pilot, Alex says, "polo game." Mallory replies, " polo match, you clod!" In a later episode when Alex talks about a polo match, Mallory says, "what will the other team be wearing?"

TV Guy · 12-26-2001, 02:25 PM

I didn't mind her when they made her a little more ditzy, because they still had episodes which showed she had a brain -- the one where she graduates from high school, and the one where she helps the troubled teenager, Jessie, for instance. But then, the last few seasons, her character became a total idiot and a complete cariacature.

12-16-2001, 12:33 AM	#1
~Tropical Punch 19~ Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: I'm a fly on Clay's wall Posts: 1,961	Dumb Or Not? Does anyone thinj taht Mallory was really dumb? I don;t think she was dumb, I just think taht laex was super smart it made her look dumb. She wasn;t so smart in school, but hse was smart in like fashion and stuff. :D

12-16-2001, 05:05 PM	#3
Paula Little Rascals Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2001 Location: Northern California Posts: 309	Mallory wasn't dumb- she just didn't try hard enough. She just was more interested in fashion than studying. As seen on the graduation ep, she had a lot of potential to excel, when she applied herself. One interesting note about Mallory portraying the "airhead" on the show is that it's unusual for brunettes to play such a role. Unfortunately, this type of role is usually given to blondes. It's sad that TV writers tend to portray them that way so frequently. Of course, as a brunette, I hate to see that the writers gave Mallory such a role. On the other hand, since I dislike stereotypes, I'm glad they didn't give that role to Jennifer.
	Last edited by Paula; 12-17-2001 at 01:52 AM.

12-16-2001, 12:57 AM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I don't think Mallory was dumb either. She certainly wasn't smart in an academic sense, but was intelligent in other areas, such as her field of fashion. She also seemed life smart, in that she was intuitive and compassionate when dealing with people. She possessed qualities you can't learn in a book, and I think Alex could've learned a thing or two from her. (easy Alex lovers, I love him too, lol) She was bright and talented, although a bit naive, which only added to her appeal.

12-18-2001, 08:36 PM	#4
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,564	Mallory wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer but she wasn't dumb either. She wasn't book smart but she was street smart.

12-23-2001, 11:46 PM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	While watching the first season of Family Ties this week, I noticed that Mallory was originally portrayed as very sensible and smart. It's been like watching another character. Evidently they decided to take her character in another direction. I'd guess the reason was for something else that Alex could make make wisecracks about. I don't know the evolution of this show very well, but I'm curious as to what season this character development took place. This is similar to the change in the character of Chrissy Snow on Three's Company, although Mallory never became a total airhead. She just changed a great deal.

12-23-2001, 11:53 PM	#6
~Tropical Punch 19~ Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: I'm a fly on Clay's wall Posts: 1,961	Yes, I do agree with you. In tonights episodes she was smart. But I kinda like her better as an air head. the story lines are more fun with her being ditzy. But if u compared her to Skippy, she was pertty damn smart!!!!

12-24-2001, 04:48 AM	#7
Paula Little Rascals Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2001 Location: Northern California Posts: 309	Yea, now that we're back to the first season, I realize that too. I forgot that detail, because I haven't seen the first couple of seasons in years. It does make it look rather bizarre that the writers changed Mallory's character a bit , but like JanLady said, it probably was so that Alex could have more of a reason to make wisecracks about her.

12-24-2001, 12:10 PM	#8
~Tropical Punch 19~ Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: I'm a fly on Clay's wall Posts: 1,961	except, there was one episode where mallory was dumb, and it wa sin the first season. It wa sthe quiz off. Remember that one? i had forgotten about it until last night.

12-25-2001, 12:47 AM	#9
FamilyTiesFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2001 Location: WA Posts: 142	In the first season Mallory did seem to be a lot smarter. I also noticed a discrepancy between two things she said. In the pilot, Alex says, "polo game." Mallory replies, " polo match, you clod!" In a later episode when Alex talks about a polo match, Mallory says, "what will the other team be wearing?"

12-26-2001, 02:25 PM	#10
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	I didn't mind her when they made her a little more ditzy, because they still had episodes which showed she had a brain -- the one where she graduates from high school, and the one where she helps the troubled teenager, Jessie, for instance. But then, the last few seasons, her character became a total idiot and a complete cariacature.