Controversial Episodes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr. Shy Guy · 03-08-2002, 05:38 PM

Would you consider "Getting Involved" a controversial episode? If so that might mean that "The Bicycle Man" and "The Hitchhikers" might air. That would also mean TNN is better then N@N.

JethroSimpson · 03-08-2002, 05:55 PM

I don't think it is really, there isn't really anything offending in the episode.

SoFl123 · 05-10-2002, 11:34 PM

i dont think any episodes are offending, you gotta have an open mind for television. i watch it to get away from life not to be siskle and ebert

Smokin' Sods · 05-11-2002, 01:40 AM

I'd say there was nothing 'offensive' at all about the episode "Getting Involved." Then again, I'd say there is nothing offensive about any of the episodes. But you can bank on one thing: TNN will not air "The Bicycle Man" or "The Hitchhikers." What is baffling here is that TNN *does* air episodes that *could* be considered "controversial" by their own standards. For example, they just showed "A Growing Problem" which dealt with Willis drinking alcohol. And when TNN's sister-network, Nick at Nite, had the show, they aired a couple 'questionable' episodes too, like the one where Arnold and Dudley experiment with cigarettes, or the one where Willis and Charlene almost have sex. Yet, TNN and N@N (both owned by Viacom) REFUSE to play episodes like "The Bicycle Man" or "Sam's Missing." To FURTHER complicate the matter: when yet another Viacom sister network, TV Land, aired a marathon of the show several months ago, they *did* show "The Bicycle Man" and many of the other so-called 'controversial shows. This leads me to one conclusion: VIACOM TOTALLY CONTRADICTS ITSELF!! THERE ACTIONS MAKE NO SENSE WHATSOEVER!

.......... OK, actually, if you examine it a bit further, I think this is the real problem (aside from the fact that N@N and TNN suck): Diff'rent Strokes is the victim of bad time-slotting. When N@N had it, the show was on at a time when kids *could* be watching. And TNN is now playing it at a time when kids (home from kindergarten or whatever) could be watching. If you noticed when TV Land had the marathon of Strokes and Facts Of Life, all the controversial episodes just HAPPENED to air late at night or in the wee hours of the morning (11PM - 5AM area). This was obviously very intentional. This is the same reason you won't see "All In The Family" air at 8pm, but rather 11pm or later. I don't AGREE at all with Viacom's conservative approach. I'm just explaining why things are the way they are for Diff'rent Strokes .... bad time slotting. We really need this show to come on at 2AM or something.

angel676 · 05-11-2002, 04:17 PM

Is TNN planning on airing the episode "Bulimia"? Does TNN consider this episode
controversial?

Smokin' Sods · 05-11-2002, 06:24 PM

Hard to say about "Bulimia" because that one would not be due to air for a while, and they don't post the schedule that far ahead. My guess is that they WON'T air it. I really don't see anything 'offensive' about this episode. Its just a gut feeling I have about them not playing it. They seem not to show the episodes that are most high in demand. (Think about how ridiculous that is -- a network NOT giving the people the most high in demand stuff). Bulimia is definitely one of those high in demand episodes. So, I highly doubt we will see it.

Brad Russ · 05-12-2002, 09:21 PM

You know iv'e been thinking alot over the past couple weeks and I think I figured something out. I think there's alot of reasons why they skip these episodes, but I think the main reason is for ratings. I mean by skipping them it gets everyone all over the internet talking, and in an uproar, then usually a year or so down the line channels do a one time only thing and play these episodes, and the ratings go through the roof. I think maybe they do this just to build people's anticipation, as well as to give us something to look forward to down the line. I'm guessing that TNN will play the so called controversial episodes in DS's final run on TNN. That way people's complaints for airing these episodes will mean nothing because the show will be taken off the air anyway. What do you all think of this, do you think this is a possible reason as to why they skip these episodes?

03-08-2002, 05:38 PM	#1
Mr. Shy Guy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 7,871	Controversial Episodes Would you consider "Getting Involved" a controversial episode? If so that might mean that "The Bicycle Man" and "The Hitchhikers" might air. That would also mean TNN is better then N@N.
	__________________ Det. Butler: Are you on any type of medication Mr. Bean? Mr. Bean: Not that I'm aware of... Det. Butler: Well...you could certainly use some... Last edited by Mr. Shy Guy; 03-08-2002 at 05:40 PM.

03-08-2002, 05:55 PM	#2
JethroSimpson Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 01, 2001 Location: England,UK Posts: 1,080	I don't think it is really, there isn't really anything offending in the episode.
	__________________ My Brand New Diff'rent Strokes site is now at- http://chrisdoyle0.tripod.com/ ________________ _______________ Chris D.

05-11-2002, 06:24 PM	#6
Smokin' Sods Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2001 Posts: 133	Probably not Hard to say about "Bulimia" because that one would not be due to air for a while, and they don't post the schedule that far ahead. My guess is that they WON'T air it. I really don't see anything 'offensive' about this episode. Its just a gut feeling I have about them not playing it. They seem not to show the episodes that are most high in demand. (Think about how ridiculous that is -- a network NOT giving the people the most high in demand stuff). Bulimia is definitely one of those high in demand episodes. So, I highly doubt we will see it.

05-10-2002, 11:34 PM	#3
SoFl123 TTTTT Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 19, 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 583	i dont think any episodes are offending, you gotta have an open mind for television. i watch it to get away from life not to be siskle and ebert

05-11-2002, 01:40 AM	#4
Smokin' Sods Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2001 Posts: 133	I'd say there was nothing 'offensive' at all about the episode "Getting Involved." Then again, I'd say there is nothing offensive about any of the episodes. But you can bank on one thing: TNN will not air "The Bicycle Man" or "The Hitchhikers." What is baffling here is that TNN does air episodes that could be considered "controversial" by their own standards. For example, they just showed "A Growing Problem" which dealt with Willis drinking alcohol. And when TNN's sister-network, Nick at Nite, had the show, they aired a couple 'questionable' episodes too, like the one where Arnold and Dudley experiment with cigarettes, or the one where Willis and Charlene almost have sex. Yet, TNN and N@N (both owned by Viacom) REFUSE to play episodes like "The Bicycle Man" or "Sam's Missing." To FURTHER complicate the matter: when yet another Viacom sister network, TV Land, aired a marathon of the show several months ago, they did show "The Bicycle Man" and many of the other so-called 'controversial shows. This leads me to one conclusion: VIACOM TOTALLY CONTRADICTS ITSELF!! THERE ACTIONS MAKE NO SENSE WHATSOEVER! .......... OK, actually, if you examine it a bit further, I think this is the real problem (aside from the fact that N@N and TNN suck): Diff'rent Strokes is the victim of bad time-slotting. When N@N had it, the show was on at a time when kids could be watching. And TNN is now playing it at a time when kids (home from kindergarten or whatever) could be watching. If you noticed when TV Land had the marathon of Strokes and Facts Of Life, all the controversial episodes just HAPPENED to air late at night or in the wee hours of the morning (11PM - 5AM area). This was obviously very intentional. This is the same reason you won't see "All In The Family" air at 8pm, but rather 11pm or later. I don't AGREE at all with Viacom's conservative approach. I'm just explaining why things are the way they are for Diff'rent Strokes .... bad time slotting. We really need this show to come on at 2AM or something.

05-11-2002, 04:17 PM	#5
angel676 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 09, 2000 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 2,482	Is TNN planning on airing the episode "Bulimia"? Does TNN consider this episode controversial?

05-12-2002, 09:21 PM	#7
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	You know iv'e been thinking alot over the past couple weeks and I think I figured something out. I think there's alot of reasons why they skip these episodes, but I think the main reason is for ratings. I mean by skipping them it gets everyone all over the internet talking, and in an uproar, then usually a year or so down the line channels do a one time only thing and play these episodes, and the ratings go through the roof. I think maybe they do this just to build people's anticipation, as well as to give us something to look forward to down the line. I'm guessing that TNN will play the so called controversial episodes in DS's final run on TNN. That way people's complaints for airing these episodes will mean nothing because the show will be taken off the air anyway. What do you all think of this, do you think this is a possible reason as to why they skip these episodes?