How little they evolved is unrealistic and later episodes culture clash unrealistic - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TheLittleFaerie · 11-21-2022, 07:44 AM

I know it's a comedy show, a lot is unrealistic, but I thought the culture clash in the later episodes was VERY unrealistic.

By season 9, the Clampetts had been in Beverly Hills for 9 years but they still seemed as unaware and clueless as they did in season 1 when they first moved there. I can understand them sticking with their old ways, but to just be so unaware of things about the city is ridiculous. I mean if you watched the last episode, you'd never guessed they'd lived in B. Hills for 9 years, you'd think they'd just moved there a few days ago

Alan Brady's Hair · 11-21-2022, 07:52 AM

Well, at least the last season was not very good.

Chocolate Moose · 11-21-2022, 03:59 PM

Correct. I think that is what made it so funny!

cd637299 · 12-17-2022, 11:44 PM

IMO, “fish out of water” sitcoms shouldn’t be meant to run as long as TBH did. The OP is correct.

Yes, I do understand that as long as the show is “money in the bank” for CBS, the staff would wring as much profit as possible.

There *are* some classic funny color episodes (Admiral Jed, and that one where Mrs Drysdale bought some monstrosity “artwork”) but I say generally the black and white episodes clobber the color ones by far—just a case of running outta ideas, IMO.

EDIT: I MUST also throw in the Robin Hood arc; “smokin’ crawdads” never fails to get a chuckle outta me!

cd637299 · 12-18-2022, 09:53 AM

^ To follow up,

Green Acres is a rare exception to the fish-out-of-water genre. It’s one of the extremely few shows to be funnier as it got older. And I’m glad of it. I also include Dick Van Dyke Show and the Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons in this category; the earliest shows are okay but I wouldn’t be sad if I missed them.

cd

stevea · 12-18-2022, 07:52 PM

Yes, just a sitcom, but way into the series, still referring to the pool as the ceement pond?

And Granny believing that frogman thing in the 9th season?

Anyway, by 1971, most of the actors were probably just wanting it to end.

cd637299 · 12-18-2022, 07:58 PM

+1 on the frogman…. (Rolling eyes)

Also it was sad to see Raymond Bailey slip into some megalomaniac. At least he cared early on, despite his greed.

Loved this exchange during the Epps arc….

Jed: Oh I can think of a whole lotta things more important than money.
Drysdale: **gulp** Me too.
Jane (tilting her head toward Drysdale, in a low voice): I bet THAT hurt!

cd

Alan Brady's Hair · 12-18-2022, 08:40 PM

In.a pure situation comedy, it's the situation that changes from week to week. The characters remain relatively static. Something disturbs them early in an episode, they react according to their funny natures, and then by the end of the episode everything resets, so the characters are back where they started and ready to be disturbed again the next week. So the characters don't have to learn or develop, ever.

Charles Knox · 12-18-2022, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Yes, just a sitcom, but way into the series, still referring to the pool as the ceement pond?

And Granny believing that frogman thing in the 9th season?

Anyway, by 1971, most of the actors were probably just wanting it to end.

I know Max Baer Jr was ready for it to end. On the E! True Hollywood Story, he had the same problems with the characters not becoming more self aware.

cd637299 · 12-18-2022, 09:23 PM

+1 on the frogman…. (Rolling eyes)

Also it was sad to see Raymond Bailey slip into some megalomaniac. At least he cared early on, despite his greed.

Loved this exchange during the Epps arc….

Jed: Oh I can think of a whole lotta things more important than money.
Drysdale: **gulp** Me too.
Jane (tilting her head toward Drysdale): I bet THAT hurt!

cd

GentlemanJim · 12-18-2022, 09:30 PM

Isn't there such a thing as contempt for the adoptive culture? An inherent belief by the inductee that assimilation = surrender?

I think the flaw in the basic premise of this thread is the assumption that our culture is mandatorily WORTHY of adoption, and therefore MUST be seen as an end goal. Perhaps the Clampetts witnessed enough of our progressivism to conclude it was something to be shunned?

Certainly real world examples in the current day we all live in. Not to get political, but we witness it everytime certain people open their mouths

If Jethro could find a source for a battle tank, and go on maneuvers in Griffith park, that is evidence of learning.

Charles Knox · 12-18-2022, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cd637299

+1 on the frogman…. (Rolling eyes)

Also it was sad to see Raymond Bailey slip into some megalomaniac. At least he cared early on, despite his greed.

Loved this exchange during the Epps arc….

Jed: Oh I can think of a whole lotta things more important than money.
Drysdale: **gulp** Me too.
Jane (tilting her head toward Drysdale, in a low voice): I bet THAT hurt!

cd

He de-evolved into a greedy cartoon villain in the later seasons.

biffbronson · 12-19-2022, 03:59 PM

Jethro evolved from being naive, gentle, and compliant, to brash, angry, and sometimes defiant. Early on, when he did something dumb, like removing the truck's brakes, it was only because he thought it was in compliance with his mom's wishes. He later took on all sorts of outlandish projects of his own creation. And he became disrespectful of others of the same rural background, dismissing them as "hay-shakers."

It's fun to see the Clampetts take their first plane ride in the b/w seasons; later that becomes routine as they travel to England. I guess that's an example of how the newness humor can only be deployed on the 1st trip, for the Clampetts themselves -- but when other characters from back home pop up, the unsophisticated aspects again come into scripts for them.

forn · 12-20-2022, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

In.a pure situation comedy, it's the situation that changes from week to week. The characters remain relatively static. Something disturbs them early in an episode, they react according to their funny natures, and then by the end of the episode everything resets, so the characters are back where they started and ready to be disturbed again the next week. So the characters don't have to learn or develop, ever.

Good point. For a modern example of this, look at The Goldbergs (the current series, not the '50s show). The characters learn the same lesson over and over again, but revert to their normal behavior for every episode.

TheLittleFaerie · 12-24-2022, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Yes, just a sitcom, but way into the series, still referring to the pool as the ceement pond?

And Granny believing that frogman thing in the 9th season?

Anyway, by 1971, most of the actors were probably just wanting it to end.

It's funny, I watched an episode the other night, a color episode, in which ALL the characters were referring to the "cement pond" as the "swimming pool"!!! Not once did any of the characters say "cement pond", they call called it "swimming pool" every time. I dunno what was up with that lol

11-21-2022, 07:44 AM	#1
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,948	How little they evolved is unrealistic and later episodes culture clash unrealistic I know it's a comedy show, a lot is unrealistic, but I thought the culture clash in the later episodes was VERY unrealistic. By season 9, the Clampetts had been in Beverly Hills for 9 years but they still seemed as unaware and clueless as they did in season 1 when they first moved there. I can understand them sticking with their old ways, but to just be so unaware of things about the city is ridiculous. I mean if you watched the last episode, you'd never guessed they'd lived in B. Hills for 9 years, you'd think they'd just moved there a few days ago

11-21-2022, 03:59 PM	#3
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,898	Correct. I think that is what made it so funny!
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

12-17-2022, 11:44 PM	#4
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 849	IMO, “fish out of water” sitcoms shouldn’t be meant to run as long as TBH did. The OP is correct. Yes, I do understand that as long as the show is “money in the bank” for CBS, the staff would wring as much profit as possible. There are some classic funny color episodes (Admiral Jed, and that one where Mrs Drysdale bought some monstrosity “artwork”) but I say generally the black and white episodes clobber the color ones by far—just a case of running outta ideas, IMO. EDIT: I MUST also throw in the Robin Hood arc; “smokin’ crawdads” never fails to get a chuckle outta me!
	Last edited by cd637299; 12-18-2022 at 09:56 AM. Reason: Crawdads!

12-18-2022, 09:30 PM	#11
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Isn't there such a thing as contempt for the adoptive culture? An inherent belief by the inductee that assimilation = surrender? I think the flaw in the basic premise of this thread is the assumption that our culture is mandatorily WORTHY of adoption, and therefore MUST be seen as an end goal. Perhaps the Clampetts witnessed enough of our progressivism to conclude it was something to be shunned? Certainly real world examples in the current day we all live in. Not to get political, but we witness it everytime certain people open their mouths If Jethro could find a source for a battle tank, and go on maneuvers in Griffith park, that is evidence of learning.
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

11-21-2022, 07:52 AM	#2
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,828	Well, at least the last season was not very good.

12-18-2022, 09:53 AM	#5
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 849	^ To follow up, Green Acres is a rare exception to the fish-out-of-water genre. It’s one of the extremely few shows to be funnier as it got older. And I’m glad of it. I also include Dick Van Dyke Show and the Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons in this category; the earliest shows are okay but I wouldn’t be sad if I missed them. cd

12-18-2022, 07:52 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,673	Yes, just a sitcom, but way into the series, still referring to the pool as the ceement pond? And Granny believing that frogman thing in the 9th season? Anyway, by 1971, most of the actors were probably just wanting it to end.

12-18-2022, 07:58 PM	#7
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 849	+1 on the frogman…. (Rolling eyes) Also it was sad to see Raymond Bailey slip into some megalomaniac. At least he cared early on, despite his greed. Loved this exchange during the Epps arc…. Jed: Oh I can think of a whole lotta things more important than money. Drysdale: gulp Me too. Jane (tilting her head toward Drysdale, in a low voice): I bet THAT hurt! cd

12-18-2022, 08:40 PM	#8
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,828	In.a pure situation comedy, it's the situation that changes from week to week. The characters remain relatively static. Something disturbs them early in an episode, they react according to their funny natures, and then by the end of the episode everything resets, so the characters are back where they started and ready to be disturbed again the next week. So the characters don't have to learn or develop, ever.

12-18-2022, 09:23 PM	#10
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 849	+1 on the frogman…. (Rolling eyes) Also it was sad to see Raymond Bailey slip into some megalomaniac. At least he cared early on, despite his greed. Loved this exchange during the Epps arc…. Jed: Oh I can think of a whole lotta things more important than money. Drysdale: gulp Me too. Jane (tilting her head toward Drysdale): I bet THAT hurt! cd

12-19-2022, 03:59 PM	#13
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,493	Jethro evolved from being naive, gentle, and compliant, to brash, angry, and sometimes defiant. Early on, when he did something dumb, like removing the truck's brakes, it was only because he thought it was in compliance with his mom's wishes. He later took on all sorts of outlandish projects of his own creation. And he became disrespectful of others of the same rural background, dismissing them as "hay-shakers." It's fun to see the Clampetts take their first plane ride in the b/w seasons; later that becomes routine as they travel to England. I guess that's an example of how the newness humor can only be deployed on the 1st trip, for the Clampetts themselves -- but when other characters from back home pop up, the unsophisticated aspects again come into scripts for them.