Cliches in Television - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ThomasE · 12-04-2002, 05:42 PM

Can you name any that you have observed? I know one that I see constantly. It is a teenager character starting on the show as a sixteen year old. That happens a lot. Another is having the kids on the show stay the same age of two years. ie Family Matters, Step by Step.

Janice · 12-04-2002, 06:02 PM

The pain the neck, often silly neighbor such as Norton on The Honeymooners, Kramer on Seinfeld or Howard on The Bob Newhart Show.

The pain in the neck, my life's a mess, sister such as the one on Mad About You, Yes Dear or Still Standing.

The wisecracking character such as Buddy and Sally on the Dick Van Dyke Show, Rhoda on MTM, Florence on The Jeffersons, Carla on Cheers, Flo on Alice, Jack and Karen on Will & Grace, and what's his name on Becker...

The know-it-all character such as Dietrich on Barney Miller, Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Cliff Clavin on Cheers.

ThomasE · 12-04-2002, 06:17 PM

Decent! Any others? I know. The dreaded "I hate you mom and dad" thing that you see on shows.

Janice · 12-05-2002, 02:00 AM

There's always the classic dimwitted, zany but loveable best friend such as Ed Norton, Gilligan, Barney Fife, the Coach on Cheers, and Luther Van Dam on Coach.

Then there's the grouch or the hollerer with the heart of gold. Ralph Kramden, Archie Bunker, Lou Grant, George Jefferson, Sgt. Carter on Gomer Pyle USMC, The Skipper on GI, Oscar Madison, Mr. Drysdale, Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, Hayden Fox on Coach, Arthur on King of Queens, Frank Barone on Raymond, and Becker.

Chocoholic · 12-05-2002, 02:05 AM

There's the dim-witted husband and father, like Homer Simpson and Ray Barone.

There's also the very weird, dim-witted guy like Matthew from NewsRadio, Lowell from Wings, and Reverend Jim from Taxi.

There's also the simple-minded, naive guy like Antonio from Wings, Woody from Cheers, and Joey from Friends.

There's also the smart-alecky little kid and the baby that ages while the older kids don't.

Impressions · 12-05-2002, 05:23 PM

Many shows do the skit from The Christmas Carol, where the arrive in the future to see what their life would be like, and after they relize what their future holds for them, they decide to change their life.

ThomasE · 12-05-2002, 08:01 PM

What about, "the most popular guy/girl asked me to the dance!"

What about "I'll be the laughing stock of the school".

ThomasE · 12-28-2002, 08:49 PM

Smart people going airheaded. That is another one.

Janice · 12-28-2002, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasE
Smart people going airheaded. That is another one.

That's right. Mallory Keaton was bright in the early days of Family Ties.
Same deal with Chrissy Snow on Three's Company and Rebecca Howe on Cheers.

JT · 12-29-2002, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
There's always the classic dimwitted, zany but loveable best friend such as Ed Norton, Gilligan, Barney Fife, the Coach on Cheers, and Luther Van Dam on Coach.

Then there's the grouch or the hollerer with the heart of gold. Ralph Kramden, Archie Bunker, Lou Grant, George Jefferson, Sgt. Carter on Gomer Pyle USMC, The Skipper on GI, Oscar Madison, Mr. Drysdale, Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, Hayden Fox on Coach, Arthur on King of Queens, Frank Barone on Raymond, and Becker.

Vera from "Alice" fits perfectly in the first category, and Mel from "Alice" would be right there in the second category.

There's also the "bookworm" type character on some shows such as Janet from "Three's Company," Carol from "Growing Pains," Jessie from "Saved by the Bell," Kerry from "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," and Nancy from first season "Facts of Life."

AnaheimPMWitch · 12-29-2002, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
what's his name on Becker...

You Mean Bob ... Yeah hes pretty Funny But I wouldnt classify him as the Smartmouth Type I think Reggie was more of a Smartmouth But thats mainly because she reminds me of ME AND WELL EVERYONE knows I'm A Smartmouth

TJL · 12-29-2002, 07:35 PM

I love when you have the leading man and the leading lady who are complete opposites of each other, hate each other but are destined to fall in love...

Usually by Februeary sweeps...

Kitt · 12-29-2002, 08:09 PM

The middle-sybling syndrome. He or she lacks attention and strives to out-do their syblings.
Aaron on the Waltons
Jan and, to a lesser degree, Peter on The Brady Bunch

Sara Micelli · 12-29-2002, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
I love when you have the leading man and the leading lady who are complete opposites of each other, hate each other but are destined to fall in love...

Usually by Februeary sweeps...

That's funny.

ThomasE · 01-01-2003, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
I love when you have the leading man and the leading lady who are complete opposites of each other, hate each other but are destined to fall in love...

Usually by Februeary sweeps...

I love that! LOL.

12-04-2002, 05:42 PM	#1
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Cliches in Television Can you name any that you have observed? I know one that I see constantly. It is a teenager character starting on the show as a sixteen year old. That happens a lot. Another is having the kids on the show stay the same age of two years. ie Family Matters, Step by Step.

12-04-2002, 06:02 PM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	The pain the neck, often silly neighbor such as Norton on The Honeymooners, Kramer on Seinfeld or Howard on The Bob Newhart Show. The pain in the neck, my life's a mess, sister such as the one on Mad About You, Yes Dear or Still Standing. The wisecracking character such as Buddy and Sally on the Dick Van Dyke Show, Rhoda on MTM, Florence on The Jeffersons, Carla on Cheers, Flo on Alice, Jack and Karen on Will & Grace, and what's his name on Becker... The know-it-all character such as Dietrich on Barney Miller, Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Cliff Clavin on Cheers.
	Last edited by Janice; 12-05-2002 at 01:50 AM.

12-05-2002, 02:00 AM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	There's always the classic dimwitted, zany but loveable best friend such as Ed Norton, Gilligan, Barney Fife, the Coach on Cheers, and Luther Van Dam on Coach. Then there's the grouch or the hollerer with the heart of gold. Ralph Kramden, Archie Bunker, Lou Grant, George Jefferson, Sgt. Carter on Gomer Pyle USMC, The Skipper on GI, Oscar Madison, Mr. Drysdale, Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, Hayden Fox on Coach, Arthur on King of Queens, Frank Barone on Raymond, and Becker.
	Last edited by Janice; 12-05-2002 at 02:05 AM.

12-29-2002, 07:35 PM	#12
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I love when you have the leading man and the leading lady who are complete opposites of each other, hate each other but are destined to fall in love... Usually by Februeary sweeps...
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

12-04-2002, 06:17 PM	#3
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Decent! Any others? I know. The dreaded "I hate you mom and dad" thing that you see on shows.

12-05-2002, 02:05 AM	#5
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	There's the dim-witted husband and father, like Homer Simpson and Ray Barone. There's also the very weird, dim-witted guy like Matthew from NewsRadio, Lowell from Wings, and Reverend Jim from Taxi. There's also the simple-minded, naive guy like Antonio from Wings, Woody from Cheers, and Joey from Friends. There's also the smart-alecky little kid and the baby that ages while the older kids don't.

12-05-2002, 05:23 PM	#6
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	Many shows do the skit from The Christmas Carol, where the arrive in the future to see what their life would be like, and after they relize what their future holds for them, they decide to change their life.

12-05-2002, 08:01 PM	#7
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	What about, "the most popular guy/girl asked me to the dance!" What about "I'll be the laughing stock of the school".

12-28-2002, 08:49 PM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Smart people going airheaded. That is another one.

12-29-2002, 08:09 PM	#13
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	The middle-sybling syndrome. He or she lacks attention and strives to out-do their syblings. Aaron on the Waltons Jan and, to a lesser degree, Peter on The Brady Bunch