Shocking things in old TV shows

[luvsvacation]

This weekend my husband and I were bored looking for something to watch and found old episodes of Punky Brewster from the 80s. I loved that show as a kid. We turned on one that had Punkys cousin visiting from out of state. She was overweight and that was the entire focus of the episode. I was absolutely shocked by the things being said. The poor girl was actually wearing a shirt that said “blimp on board” on the back. Henry, Punkys dad made a joke about her buying her clothes at Goodyear. Of course she goes on a diet and starts exercising and comes back to visit several months later and has lost the weight and that’s the happy ending. I could not believe the “jokes” that were being made. I often rewatch Cheers and always joke that the character of Sam would never fly today, but wow! This episode of Punky Brewster was something else!

 

[Christine]

This weekend my husband and I were bored looking for something to watch and found old episodes of Punky Brewster from the 80s. I loved that show as a kid. We turned on one that had Punkys cousin visiting from out of state. She was overweight and that was the entire focus of the episode. I was absolutely shocked by the things being said. The poor girl was actually wearing a shirt that said “blimp on board” on the back. Henry, Punkys dad made a joke about her buying her clothes at Goodyear. Of course she goes on a diet and starts exercising and comes back to visit several months later and has lost the weight and that’s the happy ending. I could not believe the “jokes” that were being made. I often rewatch Cheers and always joke that the character of Sam would never fly today, but wow! This episode of Punky Brewster was something else!

While I never watched that show (I was an older teen/young adult during that time period), I can assure you that there was ZERO acceptance of overweight people at that time. Nothing. Zilch. Very frowned upon and kids were ridiculed. Mostly because they were very noteworthy at that time--not many of them school-aged. That happened later. So, that show example doesn't shock me in the least. It was what the times were then.

 

[kdonnel]

American Housewife debuted in 2016. The first few episodes are all about how Katie Otto is/or will be the fattest housewife in Westport.

Another good example of 80s TV is the Mr Belvedere episode that centers around AIDS. They didn't even bother to remove the laugh track so you have such wonderful moments like:

Well I have AIDS, but other than that I’m doing pretty good.

Followed by the canned laugh track.

Good times.

 

[BrianL]

That's pretty wild. By my recollection shows like that would not have had the main "good" characters making fun of the girl. The show may have taken a distinct stance against obesity and encouraged weight-loss, etc. (almost certianly) but that sounds quite mean-spirited. Typically I'd remember there being some bullies at school, but the hero character would stand up for their friend, or, if they went along with the bullying, would learn by the end of the episode that it was wrong. I do remember watching Punky as a kid, but I really can't recall no details of it. I remember a theme song, but I think that might have actually been from a cartoon version? It's a bit hazy - I was surprised to see there is a new series on Peacock continuing the show.

 

[tvguy]

I've been binge watching Adam 12. Wow, things you would NEVER say today happen a lot.

 

[luvsvacation]

That's pretty wild. By my recollection shows like that would not have had the main "good" characters making fun of the girl. The show may have taken a distinct stance against obesity and encouraged weight-loss, etc. (almost certianly) but that sounds quite mean-spirited. Typically I'd remember there being some bullies at school, but the hero character would stand up for their friend, or, if they went along with the bullying, would learn by the end of the episode that it was wrong. I do remember watching Punky as a kid, but I really can't recall no details of it. I remember a theme song, but I think that might have actually been from a cartoon version? It's a bit hazy - I was surprised to see there is a new series on Peacock continuing the show.

Probably should clarify Punky did not make fun of her cousin. The adults were making jokes about her while the kids were outside. And then their snobbish friend Margot came over and make jokes to her face and Punky told Margot to stop. But just in general the whole theme seemed really over the top. The girl was carrying a big duffle bag that had “FEED BAG” in big letters on it. Her shirt said I brake got doughnuts on the front and blimp on board on the back. Way over the top!

 

[disneychrista]

I idolized punky. I was the girl in school who DID wear two different colored high top sneakers with coordinated different color slouch socks.

I’m looking forward to watching the new reboot version. Anyone know if it is on FREE version of Peacock or is it only on the paid / premium version?

 

[BrianL]

Probably should clarify Punky did not make fun of her cousin. The adults were making jokes about her while the kids were outside. And then their snobbish friend Margot came over and make jokes to her face and Punky told Margot to stop. But just in general the whole theme seemed really over the top. The girl was carrying a big duffle bag that had “FEED BAG” in big letters on it. Her shirt said I brake got doughnuts on the front and blimp on board on the back. Way over the top!

That makes a little more sense as the parents in shows like that are traditionall portrayed as clueless - they are often adversarial to the children and so can be the "bad guys." Still, that's pretty wild to have them legitimately making fun of her, and she even making fun of herself. The more you talk about it, I feel like I can almost remember the episode.

 

[Karin1984]

I have some Dutch tv shows from the early 90s on DVD, characters smoked on screen. One tv show ran for over two decades, the smoking character trying to quit became a plotline.

In the Broadway musical of Disney's Aladdin fatshaming is also a thing as in: The fat character is obsessed with food and they use that for comic relief.

 

[Poohlove]

The first episode of Golden Girls was pretty risqué, All in the Family would never make it by today’s standards. American Housewife carries the fat housewife theme through the whole series, almost to where it is annoying.

 

[BrianL]

The first episode of Golden Girls was pretty risqué, All in the Family would never make it by today’s standards. American Housewife carries the fat housewife theme through the whole series, almost to where it is annoying.

Man, All in the Family would be totally misunderstood and taken out of context today. It was extreme and provocative, but it wasn't actually espousing the ignorant and bigoted beliefs of Archie Bunker - quite the opposite, actually.

 

[mjkacmom]

Man, All in the Family would be totally misunderstood and taken out of context today. It was extreme and provocative, but it wasn't actually espousing the ignorant and bigoted beliefs of Archie Bunker - quite the opposite, actually.

Same with the Jeffersons.

 

[BrianL]

Same with the Jeffersons.

Oh yeah. People today really don't understand nuance and I'm sure both shows would be taken to task for daring to even broach the topics that they did. Interesting that they were lauded and considered much-needed at the time.

 

[Wendy31]

I’m a huge fan of the TV show “Friends” & rewatch all the episodes at least once a year.

And there is a lot in “Friends” that wouldn’t be okay today.

“Fresh Prince of Bel Air” is on HBO-Max, & we’re currently rewatching it w/ our kids. And there have been a few times when either my husband or I have commented to each other, “They wouldn’t be able to do that/say that today.”

 

[BrianL]

On this topic, even watching The Muppet Show, they put warnings on some episodes because of cultural depictions, and yet in episodes without the warnings they make a few eyebrow-raising jokes regarding women. Kermit even chided Statler and Waldorf about making those "chauvinistic pig jokes" but they were still doing it. By the way, Miss Piggy is tired of ALL pig jokes.

 

[dclpluto]

Dukes of hazard and a team being cool running from the cops don’t think that will happen today in tv shows.

threes companies making fun of someone who they thought was gay.

 

[Southernmiss]

I've also recently thought about what was acceptable in the past on tv and how a lot of it would not fly today.

However, on the flip side, how about the sex and language of today that IS allowed on tv? We've traded questionable for questionable.

Another one--

Yesterday, I was watching Molly Yeh (love her). She was using peppermint Schnops in a chocolate mint trifle dessert. She tasted one of the bars and said "I'm a little drunk now." Lol

I've seen Tricia Yearwood and Ree Drummond tell us how to make mixed drinks.

Dukes of hazard and a team being cool running from the cops don’t think that will happen today in tv shows.

threes companies making fun of someone who they thought was gay.

Dukes of Hazzard had a lot of no nos in it--the car for one.

DH and I watched a few episodes of Three's Company recently and there's a lot of sexism and harassment that we thought was funny back in the day.

 

[Mysterian]

I remember the Halloween episode of Punky Brewster was pretty nuts. Some moments were surprisingly freaky for a kids show, at the time.

There was a Saturday Night Live skit "The Sinatra Group", and Phil Hartman as Frank throws out a gay slur that you'll likely never see on TV today.

Benny Hill running around chasing scantily clad women is a thing of the past. Like that moment in Pirates.

One I'm unsure about is the Different Strokes episode where Gordon Jump from WKRP was a pedophile attempting to lure Arnold and his friend. They were trying to educate the public, but it was a creepy way of doing it.

 

[slo]

When I watch Glee it totally blows my mind what was allowed to be said back then (and this shows not that old) - amazing how quickly things changed for the better.

 

[RedAngie]

Ricky occasionally spanking Lucy in I Love Lucy would be verboten today.

The same with Ralph threatening to punch Alice on The Honeymooners. POW!! Right in the kisser!