Comments on: Cleavers to Lohans: The Downhill Slide of the American TV Family http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:43:26 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gozer the Carpathian http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-54470 Gozer the Carpathian Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:52:50 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-54470 Kirk has a point. I've been disapointed by some of the crap even our learning channels put out. As for the original topic I think there's a bit of "Apples and Oranges" going on here. Instead of these "reality" famlies (which I fully agree are quite messed up) you should really compair it to other scripted sitcom shows like the ones you started out with. The Bill Engval show is a good one that still retains the "children centric" problems you mention. Though I will fully admit it's probably the ONLY sitcom I watch anymore and I don't watch it regularly. Maybe "House of Paine" could be compaired? Any other scripted family sitcoms still on the air? Though by and large I agree the television portrayal of life in America is getting worse and worse. Folks from other countries believe this stuff too like my Aussie wife! OMG the things she thinks are true here because of TV. Sheesh... Kirk has a point. I’ve been disapointed by some of the crap even our learning channels put out.

As for the original topic I think there’s a bit of “Apples and Oranges” going on here. Instead of these “reality” famlies (which I fully agree are quite messed up) you should really compair it to other scripted sitcom shows like the ones you started out with.

The Bill Engval show is a good one that still retains the “children centric” problems you mention. Though I will fully admit it’s probably the ONLY sitcom I watch anymore and I don’t watch it regularly. Maybe “House of Paine” could be compaired? Any other scripted family sitcoms still on the air?

Though by and large I agree the television portrayal of life in America is getting worse and worse. Folks from other countries believe this stuff too like my Aussie wife! OMG the things she thinks are true here because of TV. Sheesh…

]]> By: Dina Lohan: Show Up Or Be Jailed! » Queen Of Snark http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-54245 Dina Lohan: Show Up Or Be Jailed! » Queen Of Snark Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:09:32 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-54245 [...] other Lohan news, don’t miss my article at Pajamas Media: Cleavers to Lohans: The Downhill Slide of the American TV Family. (What, did you think I couldn’t write more than one paragraph about this crap? [...] [...] other Lohan news, don’t miss my article at Pajamas Media: Cleavers to Lohans: The Downhill Slide of the American TV Family. (What, did you think I couldn’t write more than one paragraph about this crap? [...]

]]> By: Kirk http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-52794 Kirk Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:30:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-52794 Salt - Careful what you wish for. Many of those channels are BBC originated and carry the BBC doctrinal foundation as the base of the pillar. I.e. Global warming is real, western culture is inferior, the US is bad, all culture but western culture is to be admired, ect ect. Salt – Careful what you wish for. Many of those channels are BBC originated and carry the BBC doctrinal foundation as the base of the pillar. I.e. Global warming is real, western culture is inferior, the US is bad, all culture but western culture is to be admired, ect ect.

]]> By: Saltherring http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-52657 Saltherring Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:59:35 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-52657 "Network" television has been trash for decades, including the so-called "news". Thank goodness for the History, Discovery, Learning, etc., channels. “Network” television has been trash for decades, including the so-called “news”. Thank goodness for the History, Discovery, Learning, etc., channels.

]]> By: WR Jonas http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-52549 WR Jonas Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:10:46 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-52549 To one and all; turn off the television. It is a poison that destroys every thing it shines upon. You only encourage the slime to spread . To one and all; turn off the television. It is a poison that destroys every thing it shines upon. You only encourage the slime to spread .

]]> By: Laughing at the Lohans http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-52303 Laughing at the Lohans Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:02:47 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-52303 [...] article about Cleavers to Lohans: The Downhill Slide of the American TV Family is up at Pajamas [...] [...] article about Cleavers to Lohans: The Downhill Slide of the American TV Family is up at Pajamas [...]

]]> By: Kate http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-52298 Kate Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:57:59 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-52298 @J.C. - You're right, MwC was revolutionary in its shattering of the stereotypical sitcom family mold. @J.C. – You’re right, MwC was revolutionary in its shattering of the stereotypical sitcom family mold.

]]> By: Jose http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-51837 Jose Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:25:39 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-51837 Hi, Being portuguese and living in Portugal, the little I know about the american family is what I see on TV. And I will confess that I still have that impression of the 60's to 80's family when I think about americans. I used to see that series with Michael J Fox (Tinny Teans ?) when I was a teen and I remember thinking : this is the kind of family that I'd like to have. Not too many worries about money (contrary to what happens these days, I believe) and a permanent interaction between the individuals. It's this interaction that is being lost. People work too much to fill the needs of consumism (does this word exist ?) and they don't rest enough. They have litle time to have fun, take their home problems to their work and vice-versa. We need to stop, turn the tv off for a moment and seat together at the table while having a good meal. We need to talk with each other and know ourselves better. Have a nice week, José Hi,

Being portuguese and living in Portugal, the little I know about the american family is what I see on TV. And I will confess that I still have that impression of the 60’s to 80’s family when I think about americans.
I used to see that series with Michael J Fox (Tinny Teans ?) when I was a teen and I remember thinking : this is the kind of family that I’d like to have.
Not too many worries about money (contrary to what happens these days, I believe) and a permanent interaction between the individuals.
It’s this interaction that is being lost.
People work too much to fill the needs of consumism (does this word exist ?) and they don’t rest enough. They have litle time to have fun, take their home problems to their work and vice-versa.
We need to stop, turn the tv off for a moment and seat together at the table while having a good meal.
We need to talk with each other and know ourselves better.

Have a nice week,

José

]]> By: Wolf Pangloss http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-51834 Wolf Pangloss Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:17:29 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-51834 The Lohans don't need psychotherapy. Psychotherapy encourages wallowing in past failures, obsessing over roads not taken, and the assignment of blame on others. That is exactly the opposite of what they need. They need to take responsibility for their own lives and for the messages they send, understand what the right thing is, and get the strength to do the right thing. A good church would be a lot better for them than a good psycho-analyst. The Lohans don’t need psychotherapy. Psychotherapy encourages wallowing in past failures, obsessing over roads not taken, and the assignment of blame on others. That is exactly the opposite of what they need. They need to take responsibility for their own lives and for the messages they send, understand what the right thing is, and get the strength to do the right thing. A good church would be a lot better for them than a good psycho-analyst.

]]> By: J.C. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/comment-page-1/#comment-51821 J.C. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:51:35 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/cleavers-to-lohans-the-downhill-slide-of-the-american-tv-family/#comment-51821 I'm suprised you didn't mention "Married with Children". The entire creative premise (and indeed, it's original working title) was "Not the Cosby's". Given that it premiered in 1987 and was the focus of a quite large brouhaha, I'd really peg that show rather than The Simpsons if you're going to attack FOX. The Simpsons was satire of American life in general, but MwC marked the real beginning of a postmodern attack on "The Cosby's"-style families (or at least, their portrayal in the media). It was also far more offensive than The Simpsons was to most contemporary observers. I’m suprised you didn’t mention “Married with Children”. The entire creative premise (and indeed, it’s original working title) was “Not the Cosby’s”. Given that it premiered in 1987 and was the focus of a quite large brouhaha, I’d really peg that show rather than The Simpsons if you’re going to attack FOX.

The Simpsons was satire of American life in general, but MwC marked the real beginning of a postmodern attack on “The Cosby’s”-style families (or at least, their portrayal in the media). It was also far more offensive than The Simpsons was to most contemporary observers.

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