Capri Pants, Twin Beds, and Kisses - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SawgrassSteve · 12-18-2002, 07:19 PM

I thought I'd post this article under a separate topic.
Our ideas about sensuality were and still are confusing to me sometimes.
I understand the social climate at the time that would not allow a young, attractive couple such as Rob and Laura to lie in bed together, even for "art's" sake, and that also prevented Laura from showing any "undercupping" in her Capris; but what baffles me to no end is how at the same time, they got away with so much kissing!
Lucy and Ricky always had twin beds to my knowledge, but were allowed to put them together because everyone new that they were a real married couple. Many people, including my folks, thought Dick and Mary were married to each other too. I'm sure *chemistry* had a lot to do with this, but also, so did all of that kissing. Looking back, those two sucked face more than my folks did, or any other couple I knew.
To personalize it, ladies, can you imagine your husband going to work everyday and pressing lips with 1960's MTM so often as DVD did? Guys, can you imagine being married to a wife whose job it was to often smooch with DVD?
I wonder why socially we gave them a pass on those frequent lip locks, but would've cried foul over them simply lying next to each other in bed and talking! Any ideas?

Steve

Kristen · 12-18-2002, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve
I thought I'd post this article under a separate topic.
Our ideas about sensuality were and still are confusing to me sometimes.
I understand the social climate at the time that would not allow a young, attractive couple such as Rob and Laura to lie in bed together, even for "art's" sake, and that also prevented Laura from showing any "undercupping" in her Capris; but what baffles me to no end is how at the same time, they got away with so much kissing!
Lucy and Ricky always had twin beds to my knowledge, but were allowed to put them together because everyone new that they were a real married couple. Many people, including my folks, thought Dick and Mary were married to each other too. I'm sure *chemistry* had a lot to do with this, but also, so did all of that kissing. Looking back, those two sucked face more than my folks did, or any other couple I knew.
To personalize it, ladies, can you imagine your husband going to work everyday and pressing lips with 1960's MTM so often as DVD did? Guys, can you imagine being married to a wife whose job it was to often smooch with DVD?
I wonder why socially we gave them a pass on those frequent lip locks, but would've cried foul over them simply lying next to each other in bed and talking! Any ideas?

Steve

You raise a good point, Steve. It just goes to show how times have changed since the 1960's! Rob and Laura, given the times in which they lived, have always seemed to be a rather sexy couple to me. I've always thought that the kissing was the writers' way of reminding you that, yes, they did have twin beds, but that didn't mean they couldn't have a sex life!

Kristen

PicklesSorrell · 12-19-2002, 09:56 AM

Great point, Steve! it never really made sense, especially now, when we're old enough to realise that, hey! They can smooch but they cant sleep? Of course, at the time, it was rarely questioned. I mean, that just how things were and they were accepted. (Where we, indeed, led around by the noses? Media cattle? LOL). Even to this day, I dont understand the thinking of the "Purification League" (censors) of that time. "Catwoman" couldnt show butt, but Batman could show bulge. But, in my later years, I have often wondered why Rob and Laura kissed so much after having been married more than 5 years, when the "newlywed mystique" was supposed to have worn off by then. I remember cousins and aunts blushing and looking uncomfortable whenever there was a show of affection on tv. I felt it, too. It was just a wonderful time, IMO, where people showed restraint, self respect, decency, courtesy. You would never find "Jerry Springer" *there*. He would have probably been jailed for life or run out of town on a rail. And think about how "bad" the world has become now that these small proprietary measures have been cast to the four winds?

Getting back to the subject, I guess it was considered more "innocent" for a married couple to kiss, so they did it as often as possible, just because thats all they could really do to show their affection for one another. But, to lay next to each other in bed, though married, showed body contact in private (behind the door, under covers), suggesting illicitness. JMMHO, of course. Body contact in private is something you just wont find in any show from the days when respectibility meant something to general socierty.

~Pickles, waxing sentimental...

TVgen62 · 12-20-2002, 02:45 AM

When television was in its nascent stages of development (as an industry and medium, that is), questions regarding censorship, morality and propriety were being debated.

Government authorities put the TV studios/networks in the hot seat regarding what measures would be taken to ensure the public (especially children) wouldn't be exposed to material of "questionable ethics".

Network and studio execs decided it would be preferable to police themselves rather than turn over control to the government. Many of the standards, such as the ones mentioned here, were established to appease a VERY conservative government (which had to answer to a VERY conservative constituency). There's a lot of material on the subject and I'm unable to recall many details.

Present-day "morality" is just as subjective as it was in the 50's and 60's. There are still subjects that the viewing public, in general, find either offensive, immoral or in bad taste. Perhaps our sensitivities will seem equally ridiculous 40 years from now.

PicklesSorrell · 12-20-2002, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVgen62
Present-day "morality" is just as subjective as it was in the 50's and 60's. There are still subjects that the viewing public, in general, find either offensive, immoral or in bad taste. Perhaps our sensitivities will seem equally ridiculous 40 years from now.

Thanks for pointing that out. In my distaste for what I consider "lack of morality", I forget that there are still things you wont find on tv...(though, after having viewed several Jerry Springer shows, your mind is pretty much numb to that...). For instance, homosexuality is still pretty much taboo...you can talk about, but you cant show it. (At least without heavy reprocussions). Animal and child abuse wont be seen. But, come on...arent we digging a little deep? I mean, the things I have mentioned are things that shouldnt even cross ones mind at all. Period, much less debate wether or not they would be acceptible for television. And, youre right (thanks for the little three stooges to remind me LOL) our censorship rules are about as silly today as it was yesterday...banning the 3 stooges because they were too violent, but grown men can wear diapers and mess themselves while women can show breasts (though blocked out, but you still know what theyre doing) on daytime tv.

I hate to think what tv will be like 40 years from now. I probably wont be around to see it. I could care less, cuz, as far as I am personally concerned, I'm convinced we've seen the best of television come and go already. :sigh:

~Pickles

Sitcom Sally · 12-20-2002, 04:40 PM

I just think the hypocrisy of the time is what is most amusing. As I mentioned the other day, it was ok to have Laura pregnant and we all know how she got that way, but to show Laura and Rob together in one bed, or even two pushed together was somehow a little too racy. I don't know what made it different with Lucy and Ricky ten years earlier. By the time ILL first aired, Desi and Lucy were separated and their marriage was pretty much over. They might even have been divorced but my memory is fuzzy on that...

And it is nothing short of incredible that they could do an entire show on Richie learning the "facts of life" without the word "sex" being mentioned, even once.

I don't know what tv will be like in 40-50 years, but it would be interesting if there was a return to modesty-- not in a provincial, uptight sense-- but I can sense a gradual shift from all the "in your face" overt sexuality and sex jokes in sitcoms in the '90s to the present. Mae West never stripped yet she is still remembered as one of the sexiest women on the big screen. Less is more, and there is a certain allure to that...

12-18-2002, 07:19 PM	#1
SawgrassSteve Loyal Worshipper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,423	Capri Pants, Twin Beds, and Kisses I thought I'd post this article under a separate topic. Our ideas about sensuality were and still are confusing to me sometimes. I understand the social climate at the time that would not allow a young, attractive couple such as Rob and Laura to lie in bed together, even for "art's" sake, and that also prevented Laura from showing any "undercupping" in her Capris; but what baffles me to no end is how at the same time, they got away with so much kissing! Lucy and Ricky always had twin beds to my knowledge, but were allowed to put them together because everyone new that they were a real married couple. Many people, including my folks, thought Dick and Mary were married to each other too. I'm sure chemistry had a lot to do with this, but also, so did all of that kissing. Looking back, those two sucked face more than my folks did, or any other couple I knew. To personalize it, ladies, can you imagine your husband going to work everyday and pressing lips with 1960's MTM so often as DVD did? Guys, can you imagine being married to a wife whose job it was to often smooch with DVD? I wonder why socially we gave them a pass on those frequent lip locks, but would've cried foul over them simply lying next to each other in bed and talking! Any ideas? Steve
	__________________ The Cult Of Laura

12-19-2002, 09:56 AM	#3
PicklesSorrell Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 12, 2002 Location: San Pablo, CA Posts: 103	Great point, Steve! it never really made sense, especially now, when we're old enough to realise that, hey! They can smooch but they cant sleep? Of course, at the time, it was rarely questioned. I mean, that just how things were and they were accepted. (Where we, indeed, led around by the noses? Media cattle? LOL). Even to this day, I dont understand the thinking of the "Purification League" (censors) of that time. "Catwoman" couldnt show butt, but Batman could show bulge. But, in my later years, I have often wondered why Rob and Laura kissed so much after having been married more than 5 years, when the "newlywed mystique" was supposed to have worn off by then. I remember cousins and aunts blushing and looking uncomfortable whenever there was a show of affection on tv. I felt it, too. It was just a wonderful time, IMO, where people showed restraint, self respect, decency, courtesy. You would never find "Jerry Springer" there. He would have probably been jailed for life or run out of town on a rail. And think about how "bad" the world has become now that these small proprietary measures have been cast to the four winds? Getting back to the subject, I guess it was considered more "innocent" for a married couple to kiss, so they did it as often as possible, just because thats all they could really do to show their affection for one another. But, to lay next to each other in bed, though married, showed body contact in private (behind the door, under covers), suggesting illicitness. JMMHO, of course. Body contact in private is something you just wont find in any show from the days when respectibility meant something to general socierty. ~Pickles, waxing sentimental...
	__________________ "...Buddy's mother never really has liked me..."

12-20-2002, 02:45 AM	#4
TVgen62 My baby! <aawww> Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 02, 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 476	When television was in its nascent stages of development (as an industry and medium, that is), questions regarding censorship, morality and propriety were being debated. Government authorities put the TV studios/networks in the hot seat regarding what measures would be taken to ensure the public (especially children) wouldn't be exposed to material of "questionable ethics". Network and studio execs decided it would be preferable to police themselves rather than turn over control to the government. Many of the standards, such as the ones mentioned here, were established to appease a VERY conservative government (which had to answer to a VERY conservative constituency). There's a lot of material on the subject and I'm unable to recall many details. Present-day "morality" is just as subjective as it was in the 50's and 60's. There are still subjects that the viewing public, in general, find either offensive, immoral or in bad taste. Perhaps our sensitivities will seem equally ridiculous 40 years from now.
	__________________ *************************** "Consider yourself lucky that you are not, at this moment, an artichoke*!" -- Endora (to Darrin) Bewitched* - ep. #4, "Mother, Meet What's His Name"

12-20-2002, 04:40 PM	#6
Sitcom Sally Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 25, 2002 Posts: 48	I just think the hypocrisy of the time is what is most amusing. As I mentioned the other day, it was ok to have Laura pregnant and we all know how she got that way, but to show Laura and Rob together in one bed, or even two pushed together was somehow a little too racy. I don't know what made it different with Lucy and Ricky ten years earlier. By the time ILL first aired, Desi and Lucy were separated and their marriage was pretty much over. They might even have been divorced but my memory is fuzzy on that... And it is nothing short of incredible that they could do an entire show on Richie learning the "facts of life" without the word "sex" being mentioned, even once. I don't know what tv will be like in 40-50 years, but it would be interesting if there was a return to modesty-- not in a provincial, uptight sense-- but I can sense a gradual shift from all the "in your face" overt sexuality and sex jokes in sitcoms in the '90s to the present. Mae West never stripped yet she is still remembered as one of the sexiest women on the big screen. Less is more, and there is a certain allure to that...