'Diff'rent Strokes' Star: TV Was Better When It Was Family-Friendly - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-02-2016, 01:41 AM

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/cul...amily-friendly

Quote:

Not only was TV more family-friendly in the 1980s, it was simply better.

So said actor Todd Bridges, who played Willis on the popular show Diff’rent Strokes, which ran on NBC from 1978 to 1985.

Bridges reminisced and shared his thoughts with CNN’s Brooke Baldwin on Wednesday as part of the network’s introduction to CNN’s new show, “The Eighties,” which premiered on Thursday.

Quote:

“Back in those days, in the ‘80s TV shows actually meant something, and they all had like, a beginning, a middle, and an end, and they always were very helpful toward people you know, learning how to live their life and learning how to live it the right way,” Bridges said.

Bridges, who is producing a new game show, Lovers or Losers in Las Vegas said shows from the ‘80s were just “great shows” and held meaning for all kinds of people.

“Somewhere along the line it got muttered up and now we just have shows that, um, are about nothing,” said the star. “Back in the ‘80s all of our shows meant something. And it meant something to children; it meant something to adults.”

Bridges remarked that the once family-friendly nature of TV has been lost.

Quote:

“And you could actually let your kid watch it without being in fear that something bad is going to come on or something bad is going to happen in it that a kid’s not going to understand,” Bridges said of shows a few decades ago.

Bridges painted a broader cultural picture when he pointed out that the ‘80s were comparatively safer for children in other ways as well.

“The ‘80s were also a lot more safer [sic] for kids to be out in the streets. … A kid can go, you know, four, five, five, six-year-olds can go down the street, and they were pretty, very rarely, you know, they were very safe. And nowadays it’s not as safe as it was back then,” he said.

Bridges is no stranger, however, to the darker side of culture even in the ‘80s. The substance abuse of his fellow cast members made him a “better human being” he said, since now he is able to “counsel different people for different situations.”

The actor battled a cocaine addiction in his 20s and in 1988 was tried but acquitted for the attempted murder of drug dealer Kenneth "Tex" Clay.

“Just knowing that I’m like one of the last survivors of that particular core show is a blessing in itself because everyone thought that I’d be the first to go, and I ended up being the last man standing,” he concluded.

Mr. Television · 04-02-2016, 07:41 AM

Totally agree.

tlc38tlc38 · 04-02-2016, 08:46 AM

The sad thing is everyone basically agrees with this yet networks refuse to air family shows.

Svenfan1234 · 04-02-2016, 12:52 PM

^ It is sad. Family shows are great.

Svenfan1234 · 04-02-2016, 12:52 PM

I wish "Diff'rent Strokes" would get completed on DVD!

LUNCH · 04-02-2016, 03:01 PM

Todd Bridges speaks the truth.Paul Petersen of The Donna Reed show also slammed modern TV a few years ago,and much harder than Todd did and he was right on the money.I'm confident that many actors,actresses etc. that actually worked back when TV was good have similair views about modern TV and how far television has declined in every way.They just don't come out and say it.

Torgo · 04-02-2016, 03:35 PM

I'm not jumping on the bandwagon that all modern shows are bad, there's still good shows being made, and not all of the shows from the 80's and older were good. 30 years from now people will be looking back on the shows of today with the same rose colored glasses.

opus · 04-02-2016, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

I'm not jumping on the bandwagon that all modern shows are bad, there's still good shows being made, and not all of the shows from the 80's and older were good. 30 years from now people will be looking back on the shows of today with the same rose colored glasses.

Seconded.

TVFactFan · 04-02-2016, 04:23 PM

well all shows can't be family friendly because the adults wouldn't have anything to watch

There would have to be a balance

opus · 04-02-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

well all shows can't be family friendly because the adults wouldn't have anything to watch

There would have to be a balance

Also seconded.

Vahan · 04-02-2016, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

I'm not jumping on the bandwagon that all modern shows are bad, there's still good shows being made, and not all of the shows from the 80's and older were good. 30 years from now people will be looking back on the shows of today with the same rose colored glasses.

EccentricGenius · 04-02-2016, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svenfan1234

I wish "Diff'rent Strokes" would get completed on DVD!

You and me both, Svenfan1234! I own the first four seasons of "Strokes" on DVD, but it's not enough...I'd like to own the entire eight-season run (including the episodes featuring Sam and Maggie) in a beautiful, multi-disc DVD box set (complete with special features such as commentaries, gag reel, interviews with the surviving cast [Todd Bridges, Charlotte Rae, Danny Cooksey, Shavar Ross, and Janet Jackson] and crew, original network promos ["Strokes" aired on NBC for its first seven seasons before moving to ABC for its eight and final season], and even the original pilot, "45 Minutes From Harlem" [if it still exists]!)! Wouldn't that be great?

I'm surprised Shout! Factory hasn't taken the plunge and released "Strokes" in its entirety--hell, if Shout! can release a complete series DVD box set of "The Facts Of Life" (which was a spinoff from "Strokes"), surely Shout! can give "Strokes" the same treatment.

EccentricGenius · 04-02-2016, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/cul...amily-friendly

You tell 'em, Todd!

Mr. Television · 04-02-2016, 05:45 PM

90% of today's sitcoms are garbage. The Dramas are better.

Svenfan1234 · 04-02-2016, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EccentricGenius

You and me both, Svenfan1234! I own the first four seasons of "Strokes" on DVD, but it's not enough...I'd like to own the entire eight-season run (including the episodes featuring Sam and Maggie) in a beautiful, multi-disc DVD box set (complete with special features such as commentaries, gag reel, interviews with the surviving cast [Todd Bridges, Charlotte Rae, Danny Cooksey, Shavar Ross, and Janet Jackson] and crew, original network promos ["Strokes" aired on NBC for its first seven seasons before moving to ABC for its eight and final season], and even the original pilot, "45 Minutes From Harlem" [if it still exists]!)! Wouldn't that be great?

I'm surprised Shout! Factory hasn't taken the plunge and released "Strokes" in its entirety--hell, if Shout! can release a complete series DVD box set of "The Facts Of Life" (which was a spinoff from "Strokes"), surely Shout! can give "Strokes" the same treatment.

I know! It would be a day-one preorder from me!

04-02-2016, 07:41 AM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	Totally agree.
	__________________ Sonny

04-02-2016, 08:46 AM	#3
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	The sad thing is everyone basically agrees with this yet networks refuse to air family shows.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

04-02-2016, 12:52 PM	#4
Svenfan1234 Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 12, 2015 Posts: 11,200	^ It is sad. Family shows are great.
	__________________ [

04-02-2016, 03:01 PM	#6
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	Todd Bridges speaks the truth.Paul Petersen of The Donna Reed show also slammed modern TV a few years ago,and much harder than Todd did and he was right on the money.I'm confident that many actors,actresses etc. that actually worked back when TV was good have similair views about modern TV and how far television has declined in every way.They just don't come out and say it.
	Last edited by LUNCH; 04-02-2016 at 04:54 PM.

04-02-2016, 03:35 PM	#7
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,017	I'm not jumping on the bandwagon that all modern shows are bad, there's still good shows being made, and not all of the shows from the 80's and older were good. 30 years from now people will be looking back on the shows of today with the same rose colored glasses.
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

04-02-2016, 04:23 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,983	well all shows can't be family friendly because the adults wouldn't have anything to watch There would have to be a balance

04-02-2016, 05:45 PM	#14
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	90% of today's sitcoms are garbage. The Dramas are better.