Very Special Episodes can actually be life-changing for viewers - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 11-26-2020, 08:02 AM

https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/...-peoples-lives

"Very Special Episodes — i.e., the ones in which a TV series would take a break from its regularly scheduled programming to deal with a difficult or controversial subject (like The Next Generation’s two-part school shooting arc) — are as old as television itself," says Desi Jedeikin. "Case in point: Leave It to Beaver grappled with divorce, and The Andy Griffith Show tackled alcoholism. But they really took off in the 1970s when TV legend Norman Lear wove the social issues of the era into his numerous prime-time hits. I’m talking some pretty dark stuff, too, including Edith’s sexual assault on All in the Family and the now legendary abortion storyline on Maude, both of which were revolutionary and redefined what a sitcom could be. Lee Gambin, author of Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious, says the left-leaning sentiments of shows like Maude were early flashpoints in the culture war. As such, conservatives regularly railed against Hollywood’s subversive influence. But once Ronald Reagan was elected president, Gambin says, 'conservatives started realizing that they could use Very Special Episodes as a tool to promote their own agenda. That’s when you started seeing Nancy Reagan show up on shows like Diff’rent Strokes, peddling her Just Say No campaign.'"

GentlemanJim · 11-28-2020, 10:24 PM

I think that it's a positive that they try to tackle important issues, so I'm not trying to take away from that.

But, in my personal experience I believe that branding the experience as "life changing" might be a tad of overkill.

I don't think I was personally any more likely to let Norman Lear prescribe my political awareness, than I was to strap a skyrocket to my butt and go chase a roadrunner down the highway?

I recall very distinctly being as put-off by Meathead's pushy arrogance, as I was by Archie's bigotry. Maude didn't particularly strike a chord with me as a cultural hero either. (fwiw)

But yeah, it was valuable that they trotted these vexing issues out in front of us, to show that other people were struggling to cope with these topics just as we were.

Maybe I'm the oddball, but just like today, I no more look to the likes of Colin Kaepernick for political guidance than I look to Joe Biden for pointers on how to throw a curveball.

11-26-2020, 08:02 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,374	Very Special Episodes can actually be life-changing for viewers https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/...-peoples-lives "Very Special Episodes — i.e., the ones in which a TV series would take a break from its regularly scheduled programming to deal with a difficult or controversial subject (like The Next Generation’s two-part school shooting arc) — are as old as television itself," says Desi Jedeikin. "Case in point: Leave It to Beaver grappled with divorce, and The Andy Griffith Show tackled alcoholism. But they really took off in the 1970s when TV legend Norman Lear wove the social issues of the era into his numerous prime-time hits. I’m talking some pretty dark stuff, too, including Edith’s sexual assault on All in the Family and the now legendary abortion storyline on Maude, both of which were revolutionary and redefined what a sitcom could be. Lee Gambin, author of Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious, says the left-leaning sentiments of shows like Maude were early flashpoints in the culture war. As such, conservatives regularly railed against Hollywood’s subversive influence. But once Ronald Reagan was elected president, Gambin says, 'conservatives started realizing that they could use Very Special Episodes as a tool to promote their own agenda. That’s when you started seeing Nancy Reagan show up on shows like Diff’rent Strokes, peddling her Just Say No campaign.'"

11-28-2020, 10:24 PM	#2
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I think that it's a positive that they try to tackle important issues, so I'm not trying to take away from that. But, in my personal experience I believe that branding the experience as "life changing" might be a tad of overkill. I don't think I was personally any more likely to let Norman Lear prescribe my political awareness, than I was to strap a skyrocket to my butt and go chase a roadrunner down the highway? I recall very distinctly being as put-off by Meathead's pushy arrogance, as I was by Archie's bigotry. Maude didn't particularly strike a chord with me as a cultural hero either. (fwiw) But yeah, it was valuable that they trotted these vexing issues out in front of us, to show that other people were struggling to cope with these topics just as we were. Maybe I'm the oddball, but just like today, I no more look to the likes of Colin Kaepernick for political guidance than I look to Joe Biden for pointers on how to throw a curveball.