What were the writers thinking when they included this in the script for season 4?

[TVFactFan]

The episode about Carl having cancer which was way too serious and depressing for a sitcom. I mean they dealt with it the right way and revealed it at the end of the episode but that's just a topic that has no place in the sitcom world

Agree or Disagree?

[Astaldo711]

I think they were just trying to get some real world situations in. While a comedy, I don't think of it as a feel good comedy where nothing goes wrong and it's all sunshine and roses. I think they handled the Carl thing all wrong anyway. I mean, Florida shows herself to be a devout Christian and she runs off and marries a guy that's an atheist, then she comes back without a word about him.
To get back to your main point, I don't think it's out of place on this sitcom.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Astaldo711

I think they were just trying to get some real world situations in. While a comedy, I don't think of it as a feel good comedy where nothing goes wrong and it's all sunshine and roses. I think they handled the Carl thing all wrong anyway. I mean, Florida shows herself to be a devout Christian and she runs off and marries a guy that's an atheist, then she comes back without a word about him.
To get back to your main point, I don't think it's out of place on this sitcom.

I think that's why I always liked the Jeffersons better because it was a fun show and always happy theme episodes and never too serious. A great show to fall back on and watch and laugh.


Now they did have a episode about a kidney transplant but nothing like Cancer

[mstewart]

It handled wrong. Starting off with the doctor sharing with Bookman about Carl's condition. Now I cannot watch that episode objectively because when I got sick my former employer was discussing with my sister about what was going on with me. With HIPPA you cannot discuss a patient's case with an outsider.

With Carl having cancer and talking about it that is the norm for Norman Lear's sitcoms.

[Astaldo711]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I think that's why I always liked the Jeffersons better because it was a fun show and always happy theme episodes and never too serious. A great show to fall back on and watch and laugh.


Now they did have a episode about a kidney transplant but nothing like Cancer

I agree. sometimes I want to just kick back and watch a show from a simpler time where the worst thing to happy is Greg smoking (gasp)!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Astaldo711

I agree. sometimes I want to just kick back and watch a show from a simpler time where the worst thing to happy is Greg smoking (gasp)!

Yup, Or like Three's Company......"Jack's broken leg"

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The episode about Carl having cancer which was way too serious and depressing for a sitcom. I mean they dealt with it the right way and revealed it at the end of the episode but that's just a topic that has no place in the sitcom world

Agree or Disagree?

I think that just about all of Norman Lear's sitcoms dealt with a heavy topic, so I think that it fit. What didn't fit was Carl, he should have never been on the show period.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

I think that just about all of Norman Lear's sitcoms dealt with a heavy topic, so I think that it fit. What didn't fit was Carl, he should have never been on the show period.

These Norman Lear shows had no heavy topics

The Jeffersons
Gloria
Checking In

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

These Norman Lear shows had no heavy topics

The Jeffersons
Gloria
Checking In

The Jeffersons - Lousie's Father & They Don't Make Preachers Like Him Anymore

Checking In I've never seen an episode, but I know it didn't last long enough to have a heavy deep episode, the same with Gloria.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

The Jeffersons - Lousie's Father & They Don't Make Preachers Like Him Anymore

Checking In I've never seen an episode, but I know it didn't last long enough to have a heavy deep episode, the same with Gloria.

Louise Father was a "serious topic" not "heavy topic"

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Louise Father was a "serious topic" not "heavy topic"

Same thing. And you said that there weren't any in the Jeffersons, I thought the Jeffersons were your fav show

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Same thing. And you said that there weren't any in the Jeffersons, I thought the Jeffersons were your fav show

It is my favorite show and what I mean by heavy is there was never any topics about DRUG ABUSE or CANCER

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It is my favorite show and what I mean by heavy is there was never any topics about DRUG ABUSE or CANCER

But you didn't specify that in your post, and on the Jeffersons they dealt with Charlie being a alcoholic.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

But you didn't specify that in your post, and on the Jeffersons they dealt with Charlie being a alcoholic.

i was talking about compared to Good Times when you saw the girl shooting up dope

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

i was talking about compared to Good Times when you saw the girl shooting up dope

No matter the drug of choice it's still a heavy episode, that dealt with a subject that not all sitcoms deals with. But with Good times it was the nature of the show. Good times dealt with a lot of heavy episodes, Penny getting abused by her mother, the neighbor lady eating dog food, JJ getting shot, Penny almost getting raped, James dying, their friend attempting suicide, Keith's alcohol abuse. So Carl having lung cancer shouldn't be a shock.