Sitcoms that had episodes that were too serious - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Sara Micelli · 08-01-2002, 03:10 PM

What are some sitcoms that had episodes that seemed too serious.

Brian Damage · 08-01-2002, 03:13 PM

Diff'rent Strokes- kidnapping, Bulemia, Child molestation.

Mysty Eyes · 08-01-2002, 04:24 PM

Well, an obvious series would be M*A*S*H.

Plata · 08-01-2002, 04:32 PM

There was one episode of Family Ties. I think it was called something like "Uncle Arthur". Anyway, I thought the part where the uncle Arthur kisses Mallory was a little too serious a plot for a family sitcom. I mean, like yuck, it was almost, but not quite, around the borderlines of incest. There shouldn't be stuff like that on a sitcom.

ClassicComedyFan2 · 08-01-2002, 04:48 PM

Friends...almost soapoperaish in its seriousness. One of the reasons it doesn't personally appeal to me.

TJL · 08-01-2002, 04:59 PM

Pretty much every sitcom tries to do a serious episode once in a while.
You can tell when the commercials feature the announcer saying "On a very special Growing Pains..." or whatever show they were talking about, usually accompanied by some sad piano music.
Any time a series does their "very special" episode, or as NBC puts it "the one episode you cannot miss," I grab a book.

ABC1 · 08-01-2002, 06:08 PM

The Love Boat's Forties Fantasy cruise. That was too serious, and not a very good episode, IMO. Granted, I think it was a dream of one of the characters, but I still hated it.

FOLrocks1 · 08-01-2002, 07:31 PM

The Facts of Life had 'em. "Dope" "Breaking Point" and "Fear Strikes Back" to name a few.

ZeldaGilroy · 08-01-2002, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
Pretty much every sitcom tries to do a serious episode once in a while.
You can tell when the commercials feature the announcer saying "On a very special Growing Pains..." or whatever show they were talking about, usually accompanied by some sad piano music.
Any time a series does their "very special" episode, or as NBC puts it "the one episode you cannot miss," I grab a book.

LOL!!!

GoldenFamilyTies · 08-01-2002, 08:26 PM

Family Ties: "Give Uncle Arthur A Kiss", "A, My Name Is Alex", "Oops"

Will and Grace Fanatic · 08-01-2002, 10:22 PM

Roseanne had many serious topic some of which were:

Masturbation-Roseanne discover that DJ has been masterbating.

Drugs-Roseanne and Dan discover their drugs that Dan was soppose to get rid of 20ish years ago and they decide to try them again.

homosexuality- this show had many gay characters so many topics on this Leon's wedding, Roseanne's mom comes out, the gay kiss Roseanne had on her show that ABC threatened not to air but in the end did air.

spousel abuse- Roseanne discovers Fisher beat up Jackie and then Dan goes out and beats up Fisher to teach him a lesson.

kids who run away- Becky runs away and elopes with Mark.

There are more examples but this is enough.

Will and Grace Fanatic · 08-01-2002, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Silver Daze
They never did an episode on this did they? That's just sick!

Yeah, they did. I've seen it numerous times. It is one of the funniest episodes ever.

mstewart · 08-02-2002, 12:02 AM

All of Norman Lear's sitcoms. He was the one who started the need to tackle serious issues within a sitcom format. Now every sitcom have this dire need to save the world instead of giving the world an half hour of laughs and entertainment. That's great if it's a drama series but let's keep the sitcoms as sitcoms not sitcom/drama.

~*Hannah_Lee*~ · 08-02-2002, 12:59 AM

I totally agree with Roseanne, there were several serious episodes for that show. Almost too many.

Will and Grace Fanatic · 08-02-2002, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeannieindallas
I totally agree with Roseanne, there were several serious episodes for that show. Almost too many.

That's what attracted the viewers such as myself to the show Roseanne. Taking real life serious topics and making jokes out of them. Those are the funniest jokes.

Other serious topics her show had were:

Divorce-Roseanne's mom and dad got divorced after many years of marriage and Jackie got divorced in the 7th or 8th season.

infedelity- Roseanne's dad had an affair with some woman for many years. Sorry I can't remember the years on these things. Crystal's husband had an affair and then Crystal had an affair. Dan had an affair in the last season.

Racism- DJ refused to kiss a black girl in a play. It has been mentioned that Dan's father is a racist.

08-01-2002, 03:10 PM	#1
Sara Micelli Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,122	Sitcoms that had episodes that were too serious What are some sitcoms that had episodes that seemed too serious.
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08-01-2002, 03:13 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Diff'rent Strokes- kidnapping, Bulemia, Child molestation.
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08-01-2002, 04:48 PM	#5
ClassicComedyFan2 Coolicious! Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 28, 2001 Location: AL, United States, Alpha Quadrant Posts: 698	Friends...almost soapoperaish in its seriousness. One of the reasons it doesn't personally appeal to me.
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08-01-2002, 04:59 PM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Pretty much every sitcom tries to do a serious episode once in a while. You can tell when the commercials feature the announcer saying "On a very special Growing Pains..." or whatever show they were talking about, usually accompanied by some sad piano music. Any time a series does their "very special" episode, or as NBC puts it "the one episode you cannot miss," I grab a book.
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08-01-2002, 06:08 PM	#7
ABC1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 04, 2001 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 279	Love Boat The Love Boat's Forties Fantasy cruise. That was too serious, and not a very good episode, IMO. Granted, I think it was a dream of one of the characters, but I still hated it.

08-01-2002, 04:24 PM	#3
Mysty Eyes Dreaming... Senior Member Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 1,144	Well, an obvious series would be MAS*H.

08-01-2002, 04:32 PM	#4
Plata Member Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: Regina,Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 1,201	There was one episode of Family Ties. I think it was called something like "Uncle Arthur". Anyway, I thought the part where the uncle Arthur kisses Mallory was a little too serious a plot for a family sitcom. I mean, like yuck, it was almost, but not quite, around the borderlines of incest. There shouldn't be stuff like that on a sitcom.

08-01-2002, 07:31 PM	#8
FOLrocks1 My favorite ladies! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,103	The Facts of Life had 'em. "Dope" "Breaking Point" and "Fear Strikes Back" to name a few.
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08-01-2002, 08:26 PM	#10
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	Family Ties: "Give Uncle Arthur A Kiss", "A, My Name Is Alex", "Oops"

08-01-2002, 10:22 PM	#11
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	Roseanne had many serious topic some of which were: Masturbation-Roseanne discover that DJ has been masterbating. Drugs-Roseanne and Dan discover their drugs that Dan was soppose to get rid of 20ish years ago and they decide to try them again. homosexuality- this show had many gay characters so many topics on this Leon's wedding, Roseanne's mom comes out, the gay kiss Roseanne had on her show that ABC threatened not to air but in the end did air. spousel abuse- Roseanne discovers Fisher beat up Jackie and then Dan goes out and beats up Fisher to teach him a lesson. kids who run away- Becky runs away and elopes with Mark. There are more examples but this is enough.
	__________________ love is love

08-02-2002, 12:02 AM	#13
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	All of Norman Lear's sitcoms. He was the one who started the need to tackle serious issues within a sitcom format. Now every sitcom have this dire need to save the world instead of giving the world an half hour of laughs and entertainment. That's great if it's a drama series but let's keep the sitcoms as sitcoms not sitcom/drama.

08-02-2002, 12:59 AM	#14
~Hannah_Lee~ Let's dance in style Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 09, 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,358	I totally agree with Roseanne, there were several serious episodes for that show. Almost too many.
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