Friday, October 1, 2010

Men on TV

You know I've complained about how men are portrayed as buffoons on many TV shows (comedies in particular, of course) and how unfair that is.

But come to think of it, from The Honeymooners to Bewitched to I Dream of Jeannie to Married with Children and The Simpsons - even Mayberry, there has always been a buffoonish man on a TV show.

Discuss.

1 comment:

  1. Lord, you shouldn't have asked! For the past several months, I've been watching The Any Griffith Show, from about 1pm until 3, while eating my daily allotment of bon bons. [Family joke, since I don't "work." Actually, during this time, I'm dealing with the veggies I've harvested, cleaning the kitchen, doing some dinner prep work for the John, the cook, etc. But I digress.]

    Barney is obvious. But down deep, he's a more courageous character than he appears superficially to be. Goober. Gomer. Later, Howard. They're all buffoons superficially, and occasionally get their chance to shine as men.

    But what has been most stunning to me is how buffoonish Andy became over the years. For example, witness the string of relationships he had over the years-- each girlfriend emasculating him more than the last, his reactions to this becoming more & more slapstick-- culminating eventually in this summer's TV commercial.

    Off to watch the only other sitcom we watch, 2 1/2 men. Talk about buffoons!

    Hope your weekend is good!

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