Has Political Correctness Killed TV Comedy? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 06-12-2015, 11:02 PM

....More broadly, the networks have been slow to develop new sitcoms this season; in the fall, NBC won't have any new ones at all. Part of their skittishness may stem from the reactions they got last year, when they launched such shows as "Black-ish" and "Fresh Off the Boat," which raised concerns about stereotyping and cultural appropriation even before they debuted. This year, upcoming ABC sitcom "The Real O'Neals" (about a Catholic clan whose teen son's emergence from the closet is just one of many awkward family situations) has already inflamed some, not because of its as-yet-unaired content, but because it's loosely inspired by the life of controversial sex columnist and political activist Dan Savage.

Is Seinfeld right? Has political correctness killed comedy?

http://news.moviefone.com/2015/06/12...led-tv-comedy/

Mace Dolex · 06-12-2015, 11:33 PM

I guess in some ways it has for certain delicate subject matters but that doesn't explain why many primetime show are so filthy and raunchy.

Sophia's Wrinkles · 06-13-2015, 12:37 AM

That may be valid. You have to consider though that it has come from both sides.
There are people who are concerned about being politically correct and will protest shows that go against that. And a lot of people who cry foul about having to yield to political correctness are on the conservative side of social issues, so there have been shows that were cancelled because of an outcry from them. Ellen's first sitcom, The Book of Daniel, and Good Christian Bitches, just to name a few.

waichingliu81 · 06-13-2015, 07:30 AM

i think TV comedy today especially sitcoms are written in a way that is not only PC in nature, but it is in a way that i don't resonate with. it is the single cam format itself that has almost killed traditional multicam sitcoms. i mean i understand sitcoms can tackle and address serious matters. i remembered when sitcoms in the past would attempt to do it and it worked because it didn't oversaturate the humour & make it less amusing. nowadays, it appears the dramatic elements, the PC issues and approach of sitcoms are just too much for me to deal with.

Patty Duke · 06-13-2015, 11:44 AM

I think to a degree it has.

UMFaninMD · 06-13-2015, 10:43 PM

Maybe not so much political correctness, but perhaps more of a need on the writers' part to be as raunchy as they can get away with, and creating characters that in real life we'd be ranting on social media or to our friends, co-workers and family about. Sitcoms at times need to address social issues to stay relevant. But I think a lot of viewers are burned out on comedies and their constant need to be "edgy" all the time, and just want some silly shows they can enjoy with their families for 30 minutes every week. There is nothing intellectually wrong with wanting fun, escapist entertainment.

factsoflife · 06-15-2015, 02:32 AM

I've never understood the complaints that TV today is "too raunchy". I don't really think sitcoms today are any raunchier than shows from the past, like Three's Company, Married with Children, In Living Color... I'd say a show like The Big Bang Theory is far less "raunchy" than any of those shows... and besides raunchy is such a subjective term anyway. What is raunchy to one may not be to another...

I think that the real problem with TV comedy today is that the networks particularly broadcast are so afraid of losing any part of their already fragmented audience that they are trying in vain to appeal to as many viewers as they can w/out offending anybody. I think this leads to decision making that leaves creativity out of the mix. Also, single camera comedy seems to be the default genre right now, killing any hope of the multi-camera shows that have traditionally done well in syndication and become classics.

Mace Dolex · 06-15-2015, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by factsoflife

I've never understood the complaints that TV today is "too raunchy". I don't really think sitcoms today are any raunchier than shows from the past, like Three's Company, Married with Children, In Living Color... I'd say a show like The Big Bang Theory is far less "raunchy" than any of those shows... and besides raunchy is such a subjective term anyway. What is raunchy to one may not be to another...

For me at least the shows mentioned above were pretty tame and the sexual innuendoes were only implied, it was more of a less is more situation to get the reaction from the audience and that was fine.

But now I feel that TV has gotten raunchy and vulgar once they start talking about private body parts like penis, vagina and allowing curse words like S.O.B. in sitcoms, that to me is just lazy writing. I remember my father being shocked at a Simpsons episode from 1991 in which S.O.B. was said on a primetime show.

I mean can you imagine all this vulgarity on Netfilx's Full House contiuation? OMG what would Danny Tanner say?

06-12-2015, 11:02 PM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Has Political Correctness Killed TV Comedy? ....More broadly, the networks have been slow to develop new sitcoms this season; in the fall, NBC won't have any new ones at all. Part of their skittishness may stem from the reactions they got last year, when they launched such shows as "Black-ish" and "Fresh Off the Boat," which raised concerns about stereotyping and cultural appropriation even before they debuted. This year, upcoming ABC sitcom "The Real O'Neals" (about a Catholic clan whose teen son's emergence from the closet is just one of many awkward family situations) has already inflamed some, not because of its as-yet-unaired content, but because it's loosely inspired by the life of controversial sex columnist and political activist Dan Savage. Is Seinfeld right? Has political correctness killed comedy? http://news.moviefone.com/2015/06/12...led-tv-comedy/

06-13-2015, 11:44 AM	#5
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	I think to a degree it has.
	__________________ Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

06-15-2015, 02:32 AM	#7
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	I've never understood the complaints that TV today is "too raunchy". I don't really think sitcoms today are any raunchier than shows from the past, like Three's Company, Married with Children, In Living Color... I'd say a show like The Big Bang Theory is far less "raunchy" than any of those shows... and besides raunchy is such a subjective term anyway. What is raunchy to one may not be to another... I think that the real problem with TV comedy today is that the networks particularly broadcast are so afraid of losing any part of their already fragmented audience that they are trying in vain to appeal to as many viewers as they can w/out offending anybody. I think this leads to decision making that leaves creativity out of the mix. Also, single camera comedy seems to be the default genre right now, killing any hope of the multi-camera shows that have traditionally done well in syndication and become classics.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

06-12-2015, 11:33 PM	#2
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,670	I guess in some ways it has for certain delicate subject matters but that doesn't explain why many primetime show are so filthy and raunchy.

06-13-2015, 12:37 AM	#3
Sophia's Wrinkles Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 16, 2002 Posts: 460	That may be valid. You have to consider though that it has come from both sides. There are people who are concerned about being politically correct and will protest shows that go against that. And a lot of people who cry foul about having to yield to political correctness are on the conservative side of social issues, so there have been shows that were cancelled because of an outcry from them. Ellen's first sitcom, The Book of Daniel, and Good Christian Bitches, just to name a few.

06-13-2015, 07:30 AM	#4
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	i think TV comedy today especially sitcoms are written in a way that is not only PC in nature, but it is in a way that i don't resonate with. it is the single cam format itself that has almost killed traditional multicam sitcoms. i mean i understand sitcoms can tackle and address serious matters. i remembered when sitcoms in the past would attempt to do it and it worked because it didn't oversaturate the humour & make it less amusing. nowadays, it appears the dramatic elements, the PC issues and approach of sitcoms are just too much for me to deal with.

06-13-2015, 10:43 PM	#6
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	Maybe not so much political correctness, but perhaps more of a need on the writers' part to be as raunchy as they can get away with, and creating characters that in real life we'd be ranting on social media or to our friends, co-workers and family about. Sitcoms at times need to address social issues to stay relevant. But I think a lot of viewers are burned out on comedies and their constant need to be "edgy" all the time, and just want some silly shows they can enjoy with their families for 30 minutes every week. There is nothing intellectually wrong with wanting fun, escapist entertainment.