Two things I don't understand about TV sitcoms:

[Barb D]

1. Why do people who live in city apartments never lock their doors?

2. Why are the big kids always bullies? Or stupid? Or both?

 

[minkydog]

Same reason the parents are always idiots.

 

[Uuaww]

same reason why fat dumb guys can marry bangin' hot, younger women.

 

[DISUNC]

Same reason why the Dads are ALWAYS taller than their teen/grown sons!

Same reason why when ever someone on a sitcom comes home from food shopping NEVER EVER did they have a plastic bag, its always a nice clean brown paper bag with a loaf of french bread (that no one ever eats) sticking out!

Same reason why the next door neighbors are always a bit kookier than the stars.

 

[MomofKatie]

Same reason people with low-paying jobs in the big city can live in HUGE apartments that would cost major $$$ in real life.

 

[Stacerita]

Same reason why smart aleck kiddos are seen as cute and not brats.

 

[aprilgail2]

What really bugs me is that they always make the fathers out to be idiots! We watched 4 sitcomes one night and the dads were idiots in them all.

 

[Magic Mom]

What really bugs me is that they always make the fathers out to be idiots! We watched 4 sitcomes one night and the dads were idiots in them all.

I hate that about sitcoms. 9 times out of 10, the men are made out to be morons who can't sit in a chair without the assistance of their "super" wife, who spends the whole show rolling her eyes at his incompetence.

 

[Todd&Copper]

same reason why fat dumb guys can marry bangin' hot, younger women.

What really bugs me is that they always make the fathers out to be idiots! We watched 4 sitcomes one night and the dads were idiots in them all.

Those are the two things about so many sitcoms that really irks me. DO we all expect men to be fat, lumbering and stupid and all women to be skinny, hot and have great hair. Bring back Roseanne. At least then the expectations for me were lower.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I hate that about sitcoms. 9 times out of 10, the men are made out to be morons who can't sit in a chair without the assistance of their "super" wife, who spends the whole show rolling her eyes at his incompetence.

That is why you have to watch 2 and a Half Men...

It is the housekeeper that rolls her eyes. That show is funny. I usually don't watch sitcoms but I seem to be drawn to this one.

 

[Disney Ella]

Yes, most of the men are big, stupid idiots, yet they manage to attract skinny, hot wives without being rich or rock stars.

I would like to find a contractor who works as fast as a sitcom contractor. Something major happens to the sitcom family's house and it's all torn apart, yet in the next episode, everything is back to normal.

 

[agnes!]

Same reason that there are more roles for older men and fewer roles for older women.

Same reason that network execs seem to think that the word is populated by teenagers with token adults on the fringes (Zoey 101, 90210, that Aussie show about Mermaids, etc.). Sometimes these teenagers/young adults are completely sex-crazed (the OC, The Hills, BBC's "skins") and seem to not have jobs. Or go to school. Or do anything other than talk to each other. And go to bed with each other.

Same reason that supposedly a *very* modestly talented lounge-singer who, as a benefit of singing full-time at the hotel, gets to live in a two-room suite at that posh hotel along with her twin boys.

Same reason that even though women outnumber men they have fewer roles on TV.

Same reason that one season there can be no primetime serial dramas.
The next season a serial drama is picked up by ne of the networks.
It is a big hit.
The season after *that*, all the networks are awash in serial dramas.
Same reason that one season there aren't any reality shows.
The next season a reality show is picked up by one of the networks.
It is a big hit.
The season after *that*, all the networks are awash in reality shows.
There is even a reality show network on cable.
Same reason that one season there are no Westerns.
The next season....

agnes!

 

[Stew_Mouse]

I hate that about sitcoms. 9 times out of 10, the men are made out to be morons who can't sit in a chair without the assistance of their "super" wife, who spends the whole show rolling her eyes at his incompetence.

I once read an article about how King of the Hill is the only show on right now that has the bumbling mom and the eye-rolling dad.

 

[Camicar]

I know. As much as I love Friends, it always drives me crazy how their doors are ALWAYS unlocked, especially in a building without a doorman.

And ITA about the physical disparity and general competence levels between men and women on the shows, which then percolates into movies like Knocked Up. It's all about the fantasies of obese, middle-aged slacker boy-men who are incompetent idiots. IRL, Katherine Heigl married a successful hottie, not pothead Seth Rogen.

 

[mickeysgal]

Same reason people with low-paying jobs in the big city can live in HUGE apartments that would cost major $$$ in real life.

"Friends" - that apartment was huge.

 

[legalsea]

One reason I love The Honeymooners: they had a tiny apartment (two rooms). If they remade the show today (for TV, not that idiot movie) I guess the bus driver and his wife would have a 2000 square foot apartment in Manhatten.

Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, etc. In those shows the father was the wise, experienced person, while the children had to learn life's lessons. Now, it seems to be the parents who have to learn about life from their children.

PS: the reason no one knocks on doors: to save time, since a sitcom is only 22 minutes lnog. At least in Seinfeld they made Kramer's entrance funny.

 

[mickeymo]

Somethings I've always pondered about Happy Days:

- that was a huge remodel of the 1st floor in between season 1 and season 2! The front door even changed sides....

- the upstairs bathroom/bedrooms were huge for a post WWII house! I'd love that bathroom!!!

- Did the gang ever pay for food at Arnold's/Al's?

And finally,

Where did Chuck go? What did he do that was so awful to be shunned from the family never to be mentioned again, or invited back to Richie's wedding or Joanie's wedding?

 

[Disney Ella]

Where did Chuck go? What did he do that was so awful to be shunned from the family never to be mentioned again, or invited back to Richie's wedding or Joanie's wedding?

Chuck ran off with Mike, the oldest son from My Three Sons (also never mentioned again once he married Sally.) People were not so enlightened about alternative lifestyles back then, and both Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Douglas insisted that Mike and Chuck never be mentioned again. Or so I've heard.

 

[mickeymedic]

Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, etc. In those shows the father was the wise, experienced person, while the children had to learn life's lessons. Now, it seems to be the parents who have to learn about life from their children.

I think the Hollywood wacko's believe that it is politically incorrect to portray sitcom men as anything other than bumbling idiots. It's either that, or a genius marketing sceme: the women watch because they like to laugh at the men. The men watch because of the hot women.

 

[Uuaww]

I once read an article about how King of the Hill is the only show on right now that has the bumbling mom and the eye-rolling dad.

I love this show, hate Peggy though, worse character on the show. Best is Dale