What would come of it? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

FOL85NatandMrsGRock · 11-28-2002, 11:57 PM

what would come of it if leave it to beaver had done topics that are going on with today's teens, such as sex, drugs, suicide, and stuff like that? do you think that they could have handled those topics well had they been allowed to do them? here's a nice area where maybe a few script ideas could formulate, but i just wanted to know what you think of if they had epsiodes on these topics!

Toodles!

DarleneIllyria · 11-29-2002, 12:24 AM

I think it would've been a good idea. I know we have some FOL fans on here and you know how they did different subjects. I think if they had conquered even more serious subjects, it would've set Beaver and the gang way ahead of the other 50s kids shows. People often place Beaver in the cheesy 50s show category. People don't remember that Beaver did do some serious shows involving alcohol and divorce instead of letting the kids run around being perfect all the time. Beaver was pretty realistic as it was, but it would've set it apart from the others if they did do suicide eps, drug eps, etc.

However, it being the 50s and 60s I don't really know how the censors would take care of it. Would they even show stuff showing drug abuse or suicide? Look at how the censors treated Jeannie's belly button. If you read any Rod Serling biographies, he had one helluva time with those censors.

Mijada · 11-29-2002, 01:06 PM

I think the show was perfect just the the way it was. The main reason I like it so much and why I prefer it over todays tv shows was because of it's innocence. It's a way for me to escape the harsh reality of this evil world for a half hour. If LITB has episodes dealing with sex and suicide I wouldn't enjoy it as much. And like jenny said, there would have been a major problem with censors. Heck they couldn't even show 2 people in the same bed, How on earth would they do a show about sex?

Laurel · 11-29-2002, 10:02 PM

Teenage sex wasn't completely forbidden in the 1960's because "Dr. Kildare" managed to do an episode on the topic in 1964. The episode starred Marta Kristen and Tony Dow as the prospective parents.

However, "Kildare" was a drama and perhaps that genre had more leeway with the censors at the time. Two other dramas of the time -- "Route 66" and "Mr. Novak" -- dealt with drug addiction and school hazing respectively.

One of the reasons I enjoy "Leave it to Beaver" is because of its innocence. I can sit and watch "Beav" (along with those two Friday night staples that I grew up with -- "Brady Bunch" and "Partridge Family" ) with my niece, and I know I won't see anything embarrassing on them.

Of course, "Beaver" had its own censor problem when it first went on the air in 1957: "Captain Jack" showed Wally and Beaver keeping their alligator in a toilet tank. Showing a toilet on TV was taboo, and censors agreed to let the episode air only if the toilet tank was shown and not the whole toilet.

Fourteen years later "All in the Family" arrived on TV, complete with the running gag of Archie flushing the toilet.

11-28-2002, 11:57 PM	#1
FOL85NatandMrsGRock The Lovable Sarah Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2000 Location: Wisconsin (Same Place Charlotte's From and where That 70's Show takes place!) .... Wish I was in Mayfield USA! Posts: 1,770	What would come of it? what would come of it if leave it to beaver had done topics that are going on with today's teens, such as sex, drugs, suicide, and stuff like that? do you think that they could have handled those topics well had they been allowed to do them? here's a nice area where maybe a few script ideas could formulate, but i just wanted to know what you think of if they had epsiodes on these topics! Toodles!
	__________________ Lorelai: (on the phone to Luke) So where are you anyways? Luke: I'm somewhere near if I lived here I'd shoot myself Lorelai: Oh I hear it's lovely there this time of year Gilmore Girls Eric: This guy's no good, I'm telling you, I have a 5th sense about these things! Jack: You mean a 6th sense? Eric: No, that's smell! You gotta be lucky to get that one! Boy Meets World

11-29-2002, 12:24 AM	#2
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	I think it would've been a good idea. I know we have some FOL fans on here and you know how they did different subjects. I think if they had conquered even more serious subjects, it would've set Beaver and the gang way ahead of the other 50s kids shows. People often place Beaver in the cheesy 50s show category. People don't remember that Beaver did do some serious shows involving alcohol and divorce instead of letting the kids run around being perfect all the time. Beaver was pretty realistic as it was, but it would've set it apart from the others if they did do suicide eps, drug eps, etc. However, it being the 50s and 60s I don't really know how the censors would take care of it. Would they even show stuff showing drug abuse or suicide? Look at how the censors treated Jeannie's belly button. If you read any Rod Serling biographies, he had one helluva time with those censors.
	Last edited by DarleneIllyria; 11-29-2002 at 12:26 AM.

11-29-2002, 01:06 PM	#3
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	I think the show was perfect just the the way it was. The main reason I like it so much and why I prefer it over todays tv shows was because of it's innocence. It's a way for me to escape the harsh reality of this evil world for a half hour. If LITB has episodes dealing with sex and suicide I wouldn't enjoy it as much. And like jenny said, there would have been a major problem with censors. Heck they couldn't even show 2 people in the same bed, How on earth would they do a show about sex?

11-29-2002, 10:02 PM	#4
Laurel "Lauriebelle" Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 20, 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 80	Teenage sex wasn't completely forbidden in the 1960's because "Dr. Kildare" managed to do an episode on the topic in 1964. The episode starred Marta Kristen and Tony Dow as the prospective parents. However, "Kildare" was a drama and perhaps that genre had more leeway with the censors at the time. Two other dramas of the time -- "Route 66" and "Mr. Novak" -- dealt with drug addiction and school hazing respectively. One of the reasons I enjoy "Leave it to Beaver" is because of its innocence. I can sit and watch "Beav" (along with those two Friday night staples that I grew up with -- "Brady Bunch" and "Partridge Family" ) with my niece, and I know I won't see anything embarrassing on them. Of course, "Beaver" had its own censor problem when it first went on the air in 1957: "Captain Jack" showed Wally and Beaver keeping their alligator in a toilet tank. Showing a toilet on TV was taboo, and censors agreed to let the episode air only if the toilet tank was shown and not the whole toilet. Fourteen years later "All in the Family" arrived on TV, complete with the running gag of Archie flushing the toilet.