Thursday, 18 September 2008
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TV Marriages and Stock Characters
Mr. Giraffe
What happened to normal couples like Claire & Cliff Huxtable and Niles & Daphne Crane?
I am a television addict. I enjoy sitcoms, even the bad ones. The main problem is that the characters aren't real people, but stock characters. The only network show that has actual people is How I Met Your Mother.
But if you watch The King of Queens, Yes, Dear, 'Til Death, Standing Still, Everybody Loves Raymond and a host of others, you'll find these types of people:
1. The Shrew and the Slob. She nags. He whines. She wants to talk about feelings and watch romances. He'd rather play golf and watch football. She is an overworked housewife and he just sits on the couch. The "comedy" in this couple is how he complains about her and how.
2. Hot Wife/Ugly Husband. This is one of my favorites. What could be a statement about love being blind to looks is actually just a stereotype.What guy wouldn't like to be married to someone like Leah Remini without having to return the favor of looking presentable?
3. The Cool Wife. This is the kind of wife who enjoys beer and a football game. She is the ultimate male fantasy because she doesn't nag and can enjoy stereotypically male activities.
4. The Uncultured Husband. These guys have a problem with enjoying the fine arts. They think it is too feminine and are afraid what the other men will think. Their wives often have to drag them to these places and cannot even enjoy it without complaints.
Eventually these stock characters will become unbearable for the audience. What do you think? Do you think the future of televison is at stake because of these lame characters? Who's your favorite TV couple?
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Comments (35)
How I Met Your Mother is an AMAZING show, despite being a homosexual I WOULD SO SLEEP WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS.
Oh my, that came out wrong. Wait, no it didn't.
I love Barney. Lily and Marshall are like my boyfriend and I, and I despise Ted and Robin, though they get more bearable, then worse, then better... yeah.
But NEIL PATRICK HARRIS!
WOOOO!!!
well the reason many of these sitcoms won't ever go away is because many American's can relate to these characters right?
I liked the Huxtables. Cliff always made jokes but Claire stood her grounds.
The future of television has been at stake because of reality TVs and junk Celebrity shows, not because of these sitcoms.
i never watched "how i met your mother". maybe i should! i hate those "typical" shows where the man is fat & losing hair while the woman is slim.
I like Charlie and Allen from Two and A Half Men(I know technically they're not a couple, but they might as well be most of the time, they act like it)
Tv is dying because of crappy celebrity shows, and "reality TV"(I think we all know those shows aren't real)
i like Tim the Toolman Taylor.
and i know this is an unconventional couple... but what about the gay guy and his fag hag? i mean who could be better than Will and Grace??
Haha they are lame, but manipulated to be entertaining in my point of view (:
My favorite tv couple is def. (well from back in the day) Ross and Rachel from Friends because they were always "on a break" and shit and idk it was hysterical.
I like Dr. Cox and his wife, Jordan, from Scrubs. He's a jerk and she's a bitch, but deep down, you know they love each other and they manage to be selfless once and awhile. I wouldn't want to be them by any means, but they both have practical wisdom for the younger ones on the show and their lack of example is sometimes a good example in itself.Â
Hmm, I find some people in real life to be as fake as some tv caracters.
I like watching The King of Queens though I don't really watch sitcoms. I usually watch things like CSI or Family Guy. I guess Seinfeld and Two and a Half Men but those don't really have families.
@GodArt@xanga - I completely agree! The Cox's are the best couple because they're different... and you can see them being able to work in the "real" world.
Claire and Cliff are a good couple as well. I agree.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Cory and Topanga! Can you have a more unrealistic couple?! Even still, they're my favourite :) Probably because they are so fantastical.
And, this one is different but... I love Archie and Edith. I don't know if they're a good example of the typical American couple, but, as lame is it'll sound, I think it's obvious to see that they truly love each other. They're both idiots in their own right... and I don't know if they'd have it any other way :P
Other than that, I don't watch much TV!
Peace&love,
Brooke
I miss real couples such as the Huxtables.
In a way, reality Tv shows make up for that.
I was watching the show Jon and Kate plus 8 on TLC. ( google it! )
it puts things into perspective when watching two parents trying to be patient, and sane taking care of eight kids.
Now that's a real couple facing real challenges.
I think that too many people are used to having their entertainment spoon-fed to them. To be fair, most of us are comforted by the familiar. Eventually, most will grow tired of it, and the face of entertainment will change, and will find an entirely new rut to get stuck in for the next 20 years.
By blowing stereotypes out of proportion, normal couples think "MAN. I KNOW EXACTLY HOW HE/SHE FEELS!" But can also feel smugly rewarded by also thinking "Thank GOD(-dess) I don't have it THAT bad."
Marketing! Yay!
i think those shows are terrible examples to people on how marriage is. in my opinion, it encourages husbands to be like homer simpson.
First thing that popped up was the mom and dad in Malcolm in the Middle. I didn't get to watch a lot of it, and they were rather unconventional and very interesting people, but what I did get to watch of it, was that they really stood by each other and truly loved each other, despite all the craziness.
the hot wife/ugly husband one is EVERYWHERE. there is nary an unattractive woman on tv but all the men have beer bellies and dress like slobs. WHY! it may be funny to watch their interactions but i still hate it..
UGH I hate those shows with the hot wife &ugly husband!
Even though it's unrealistic, I think it's having a terrible influence on our current society -__-"
My favorite couple is a tie between Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky (Rebecca) from Full House and Dr Cox and Jordan (Scrubs).
I like the couple from Home Improvement. Tim the Toolman and Jill always seemed real to me. They reminded me a lot of my parents.
@big_fat_stupid_ugly_seal@xanga - i agree! not only are these shows a step backwards for women, but the the wise father figure ("father knows best") doesn't exist anymore.
except, the only show I'm thinking of right now is 7th heaven. But I wouldn't classify this show with the rest of the domestic sitcoms.
so true. Although, I thought "Everybody Loves Raymond" was hilarious.Â
I like Marge and Homer.
That's why I very rarely watch tv... because there's nothing but crap on television.
I like Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter. (100 cool points if you know what show I'm talking about.)
I love king of Queens, and Everybody Loves Raymond. What about My Wife and Kids? She is not the typical beauty, but I think she is perfect as the mother. Far too many shows have a supermodel as a mom, who is also stick thin, a little unrealistic! To me that couple from My Wife and Kids is reminiscent of the Cosby couple.