If I were to make a Karnaugh map of sitcoms with abusive TV families versus dysfunctional families, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Honeymooners would be the only notable shows occupying the “abusive, not dysfunctional” square in the grid. There are plenty of shows where the family dynamic is certainly dysfunctional but not abusive, and other shows like Titus * where the dynamic is abusive but it’s called out as such. Even as a small child The Honeymooners upset me, because Ralph was abusive but we were expected to play along like it was all okay. Everybody Loves Raymond is a continuation in that same theme.
*great show, really miss it
If I think about Friends, it’s utter nonsense. None of it makes any sense. However, I watch it for the gags and little inside jokes. Same thing with Seinfeld.
Oh goodness yes. I really wanted to like this show. It had a great cast including Harry Lennix in his usual “jerkass with a heart of gold” role, and of course James Spader wonderfully chewing up every scene he was in not to mention the numerous notable guest stars and supporting characters. I was even willing to forgive the hokey premise, after all Veronica Mars was wonderful in spite of its completely hokey premise.
I basically wrote it off during the completely cliched twist reveal in Season 1 of the husband being a secret super spy and assassin. Give me a fucking break. I got through part of Season 2 and just gave up.
The writers drive me KRAYZEE by turning a 20 second story into a minute and half of what they think is more dramatic. (And also fills air-time.)
They constantly talk in ‘duplicate’ form…IE:
"A 17 year-old teenager
went to the ATM machine
and was entering her PIN number
when a stranger she didn’t know snuck up from somewhere
and demanded cash be withdrawn
…etc., etc.
Local news can be really stupid. Mine comes from Detroit, so small time robbery at ATM’s doesn’t normally rate unless it’s a very slow news week. The NBC and ABC affiliates are much more likely to show feel-good puffery on those slow weeks, though, because it’s Detroit: America’s Most Hated City (and we all know it). It’s enough to make it mostly watchable.
I have bad news and worse news. First the bad news. Will and Grace is returning to NBC. The worse news is Debra Messing promises it’ll be just like the original.
My wife loved this show. I will be walking the dog or at the gym.
I couldn’t stand it, BUT it was probably a small part of the process that started some gears in my adolescent head thinking being gay might be a normal thing.
I had to listen to it. Too dark to be a violin, not nearly rich enough to be a cello. What the hell use is it? Just put some violin strings on it and play bluegrass.
The downfall of humanity’s just an extra bonus.
