I used to watch TV, like all the main shows at the time. All the conversations about did you watch ___ last night etc. (HS in the 80s.) I quit when I got to college and only had one stint (when I had free cable in an apartment) of "relapse."
So when I look back on the shows now, I'm amazed at how much little shit was in there, chipping away, back then. One example, everyone watched "The Facts of Life." Well while memory is fuzzy by now, I remember there was a hinted-at (I don't know if ever confirmed) lesbian character, and also the normal, pretty character was generally portrayed negatively - IIRC these two being at odds was one of the main themes. At the time, this seemed like ah good for the underdog etc, but now it's a whole other angle.
Of course, not all shows had some undercurrent like this...often it was just vapid entertainment. "Cheers" would be a period example here. It's justified as "looking at real people and real life etc" when in reality it's "you don't need anything inspiring or heroic, just some - VIRTUAL mind you - drinking buddies." How many people went to bed feeling THEIR lives were fulfilled by this?
Needless to say none of this has let up, I'm just glad I lost interest. I still can't believe when people make a joke and I'm like "huh" and they're like "HAVEN'T YOU SEEN THAT COMMERCIAL?"
And don't get me started about Seinfeld. Here come the downpoots but the most vacant of the whole lot. $1M an episode for what he admitted is about nothing.
Ugggh I could go on for days...but back to your point yes I bet we could look at popular shows in each era and find tons of the little insertions and I guarantee it's a trend - probably an exponential curve would be my guess.
The sexuality in all those shows blows my mind. I was young watching Friends and Seinfeld and watching reruns today I can't believe how much went over my head!
But seinfeld was sooo hilarious, as is curb your enthusiasm with Seinfeld’s creator and main character, Larry David. Yes, he’s a horrible leftist human being but his humor and writing skills are top notch. My wife and friends say I’m just like him in many ways and maybe that’s why I like his show so much, since I can totally relate to the way he sees social situations and doesn’t just let things slide.
Total East Coast/NYsarcasm. It’s an art form. If you aren’t like, you don’t get your balls busted.
But if you have ever watched 5 or 6 Curb Your Enthusiasms in a row…it’s really easy to see why Larry David is divorced. He’s a real asshole. But constantly…all day long. Every day.
But I do like seeing the humor in everyday life. Maybe “absurdity” is more apropos. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I also love Fletch and Young Frankenstein and The Jerk.
I used to watch TV, like all the main shows at the time. All the conversations about did you watch ___ last night etc. (HS in the 80s.) I quit when I got to college and only had one stint (when I had free cable in an apartment) of "relapse."
So when I look back on the shows now, I'm amazed at how much little shit was in there, chipping away, back then. One example, everyone watched "The Facts of Life." Well while memory is fuzzy by now, I remember there was a hinted-at (I don't know if ever confirmed) lesbian character, and also the normal, pretty character was generally portrayed negatively - IIRC these two being at odds was one of the main themes. At the time, this seemed like ah good for the underdog etc, but now it's a whole other angle.
Of course, not all shows had some undercurrent like this...often it was just vapid entertainment. "Cheers" would be a period example here. It's justified as "looking at real people and real life etc" when in reality it's "you don't need anything inspiring or heroic, just some - VIRTUAL mind you - drinking buddies." How many people went to bed feeling THEIR lives were fulfilled by this?
Needless to say none of this has let up, I'm just glad I lost interest. I still can't believe when people make a joke and I'm like "huh" and they're like "HAVEN'T YOU SEEN THAT COMMERCIAL?"
And don't get me started about Seinfeld. Here come the downpoots but the most vacant of the whole lot. $1M an episode for what he admitted is about nothing.
Ugggh I could go on for days...but back to your point yes I bet we could look at popular shows in each era and find tons of the little insertions and I guarantee it's a trend - probably an exponential curve would be my guess.
The sexuality in all those shows blows my mind. I was young watching Friends and Seinfeld and watching reruns today I can't believe how much went over my head!
But seinfeld was sooo hilarious, as is curb your enthusiasm with Seinfeld’s creator and main character, Larry David. Yes, he’s a horrible leftist human being but his humor and writing skills are top notch. My wife and friends say I’m just like him in many ways and maybe that’s why I like his show so much, since I can totally relate to the way he sees social situations and doesn’t just let things slide.
Not my style in the slightest. I thought it was sooo stupid, full stop.
Agreed
Total East Coast/NYsarcasm. It’s an art form. If you aren’t like, you don’t get your balls busted.
But if you have ever watched 5 or 6 Curb Your Enthusiasms in a row…it’s really easy to see why Larry David is divorced. He’s a real asshole. But constantly…all day long. Every day.
But I do like seeing the humor in everyday life. Maybe “absurdity” is more apropos. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I also love Fletch and Young Frankenstein and The Jerk.