Suicide in Sitcoms - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

lm · 03-31-2014, 03:06 PM

Hi. Can anyone recall if there are depictions of suicide (not brought to fruition of course) in any sitcoms from the 1950's to the present? (especially in the sitcoms of the 50's and 60's). I need the info for a project I am working on currently. Thanks so much.

Zoneboy · 03-31-2014, 03:12 PM

I seriously doubt there were any sitcoms from the 50's & 60's that depicted suicide and mainly because it's not a laughing matter. There may have been references to suicides in later years but I can't think of any. Dramas I can see, probably many instances but not sitcoms.

icecream · 03-31-2014, 03:27 PM

Suicide is Painless is the title of the M*A*S*H theme song, although the words are just heard in the movie.

tlc38tlc38 · 03-31-2014, 03:30 PM

I'm not sure of the title but there is an episode of The Jeffersons where Florence was going to commit suicide.

EDIT: the episode name is "Florence's Problem" from season 2.

The season 6 episode "Wedding Bell Blues" of Family Matters deals with the suicide attempt of Mr. Looney.

Buffyboy323 · 03-31-2014, 04:26 PM

In the 1980's, The Facts of Life had an episode early on called "Breaking Point." One of the girls at Eastland commits suicide.

In the 1990's, Seinfeld had an episode during season three called "The Suicide." One of Jerry's neighbors attempts to take his own life, and ends up in a coma.

boechsner · 03-31-2014, 04:35 PM

One Day at a Time had a 2-part episode from Season 3. It was called Barbara's Friend. In it, Barbara Cooper's friend tries to kill herself by taking an overdose of pills. (1977)

The Golden Girls had a 5th season episode, Not Another Monday, where Sophia's friend wanted to kill herself. (1989)

Sorry, nothing from the 50s or 60s I can think of. ...Too serious!

Zoneboy · 03-31-2014, 04:56 PM

It's been many years since I saw it but didn't Barney Rubble want to end his life when he thought he and Betty were not going to be able to adopt Bamm Bamm?

Tubehead · 03-31-2014, 05:25 PM

one on family ties were Alex works at this help center to get extra credit he works at this help center this one kid calls then he says he thought about suicide but he didn't kill him self Alex talk him out of it.

DJM77 · 03-31-2014, 06:08 PM

Vera made a suicide attempt in an episode of Alice.

Karl was suicidal in a Buffalo Bill episode.

There was a disgruntled guest star in a That's My Mama episode that was making suicide threats.

Ohio8 · 03-31-2014, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

It's been many years since I saw it but didn't Barney Rubble want to end his life when he thought he and Betty were not going to be able to adopt Bamm Bamm?

He did. It was in the fourth season's "Little Bamm-Bamm" episode, in a scene where Barney was going to jump off a bridge.

Ohio8 · 03-31-2014, 08:02 PM

M*A*S*H had two episodes about attempted suicide:
1)"The Smell of Music," in which a U.S. Army private suffers a serious facial disfigurement as a result of his rifle. He attempts suicide a few times, the last attempt beig interrupted by Col. Potter.
2) "Goodbye, Cruel World." Army Sgt. Yee slashes his wrists.

Ronny G · 03-31-2014, 08:29 PM

My memory is a little hazy, so somebody help me out, but...I seem to remember an episode of "All in the Family", where Edith Bunker helped assist in the suicide of a dying friend in the hospital? Did she pull the plug or am I just imagining this?

comedyfreak · 04-01-2014, 01:18 PM

She may have and got fired for doing so.

MacLeaper · 04-01-2014, 04:09 PM

Quote:

one on family ties were Alex works at this help center to get extra credit he works at this help center this one kid calls then he says he thought about suicide but he didn't kill him self Alex talk him out of it.

Yeah- can't believe I forgot that one. That's a great episode of "Family Ties", by the way.

Torgo · 04-01-2014, 04:25 PM

There's another from the 1960's: Gilligan's Island, Season 2, episode "Court-Martial". When the Skipper thinks he's totally at fault for the shipwreck, he makes a noose out of a vine to hang himself, and throw himself off a cliff. Also when Gilligan thinks it's his fault he also makes a noose.

03-31-2014, 03:06 PM	#1
lm Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 469	Suicide in Sitcoms Hi. Can anyone recall if there are depictions of suicide (not brought to fruition of course) in any sitcoms from the 1950's to the present? (especially in the sitcoms of the 50's and 60's). I need the info for a project I am working on currently. Thanks so much.

03-31-2014, 03:12 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,460	I seriously doubt there were any sitcoms from the 50's & 60's that depicted suicide and mainly because it's not a laughing matter. There may have been references to suicides in later years but I can't think of any. Dramas I can see, probably many instances but not sitcoms.
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03-31-2014, 03:27 PM	#3
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,872	Suicide is Painless is the title of the MAS*H theme song, although the words are just heard in the movie.
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03-31-2014, 03:30 PM	#4
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,273	I'm not sure of the title but there is an episode of The Jeffersons where Florence was going to commit suicide. EDIT: the episode name is "Florence's Problem" from season 2. The season 6 episode "Wedding Bell Blues" of Family Matters deals with the suicide attempt of Mr. Looney.
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03-31-2014, 05:25 PM	#8
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	suicide in sitcomes one on family ties were Alex works at this help center to get extra credit he works at this help center this one kid calls then he says he thought about suicide but he didn't kill him self Alex talk him out of it.

03-31-2014, 04:26 PM	#5
Buffyboy323 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 6,102	In the 1980's, The Facts of Life had an episode early on called "Breaking Point." One of the girls at Eastland commits suicide. In the 1990's, Seinfeld had an episode during season three called "The Suicide." One of Jerry's neighbors attempts to take his own life, and ends up in a coma.

03-31-2014, 04:35 PM	#6
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	One Day at a Time had a 2-part episode from Season 3. It was called Barbara's Friend. In it, Barbara Cooper's friend tries to kill herself by taking an overdose of pills. (1977) The Golden Girls had a 5th season episode, Not Another Monday, where Sophia's friend wanted to kill herself. (1989) Sorry, nothing from the 50s or 60s I can think of. ...Too serious!

03-31-2014, 04:56 PM	#7
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,460	It's been many years since I saw it but didn't Barney Rubble want to end his life when he thought he and Betty were not going to be able to adopt Bamm Bamm?

03-31-2014, 06:08 PM	#9
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,568	Vera made a suicide attempt in an episode of Alice. Karl was suicidal in a Buffalo Bill episode. There was a disgruntled guest star in a That's My Mama episode that was making suicide threats.
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03-31-2014, 08:02 PM	#11
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,966	MASH* had two episodes about attempted suicide: 1)"The Smell of Music," in which a U.S. Army private suffers a serious facial disfigurement as a result of his rifle. He attempts suicide a few times, the last attempt beig interrupted by Col. Potter. 2) "Goodbye, Cruel World." Army Sgt. Yee slashes his wrists.
	Last edited by Ohio8; 04-01-2014 at 07:44 PM.

03-31-2014, 08:29 PM	#12
Ronny G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 14, 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 540	My memory is a little hazy, so somebody help me out, but...I seem to remember an episode of "All in the Family", where Edith Bunker helped assist in the suicide of a dying friend in the hospital? Did she pull the plug or am I just imagining this?

04-01-2014, 01:18 PM	#13
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	She may have and got fired for doing so.
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04-01-2014, 04:25 PM	#15
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,045	There's another from the 1960's: Gilligan's Island, Season 2, episode "Court-Martial". When the Skipper thinks he's totally at fault for the shipwreck, he makes a noose out of a vine to hang himself, and throw himself off a cliff. Also when Gilligan thinks it's his fault he also makes a noose.
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