What shows have you grown out of, or has society grown out of? Were they popular in their time? Were they not so much? Why do you feel like they’ve aged? I’ll leave mine below
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big bang theory probably had the biggest fall off for me. was something that my ex wife and i always had on in the background. law&order on tnt aired less frequently than we watched big bang theory. the ball of anxiety bits appealed to her and sheldon got a lot of lines that made me laugh. our entire social circle was shitty to eachother like the characters, so it seemed normal. post divorce we’ve stayed close friends but both emptied out our social circles and restarted. that show has come up a few times and neither of us can finish a full episode anymore.
sitcoms all feel gross these days though. new girl is really the only one i can still enjoy.
I actually love New Girl, a guilty pleasure. Everyone is still a sociopath because in a sitcom every character has to be for a show to be interesting, but putting that aside they all were relatable and gelled well together.
South Park.
Pretty much any cop shows.
Monk, NCIS, whatever. They’ve got so many narratives that are basically: it’s ok for cops to ignore laws so they can get the bad guy. Somebody else in the thread mentioned Frasier for the misogyny, and that reminded me there’s also an episode where the dad talks about being proud of lying on the stand to put someone in jail.
You might enjoy “The Wire”.
A typical cop show has this abuse of authority and rights in the service of justice, to serve and protect. There’s usually a clear cut good vs bad, and the “good guy” is ok to act badly because I guess “the ends justifies the means”.
In real life there is rarely a clear cut good vs bad, and we read all too many news articles about abuses of authority and excessive violence that are just not in the service of justice, not to serve and protect, and make us suspect those bad apples of being the real bad guys.
In real life, checks and balances are everything. In real life, the best chance of fairness, of justice, is when everyone follows the rules, everyone is provided due process, no one is above the law
When I was in flight school still living with my parents, they went on this huge crime procedural bend. Chief among them was The Closer, which is pure copaganda.
I wrote an SNL parody episode of it. I’ll post it if three people request it.
Requested!
That’s one.
Here’s number two
You ever noticed who the real bad guys in cop shows are? It’s not drug dealers it’s not serial killers it’s not violent gangs, no it’s usually the internal affairs guy or some fictional prosecutor or other politician who has it out for “good” cops.
Ugh a warrant?! We don’t have time, he’s the bad guy and we need to get in there now! If you hold up the process DA then you’re responsible!
Gullible viewers: “Yeah! Stupid DA, holding up the perfect bold cops by… respecting the 4th amendment”
I’m not a fan of cops, but I do like the occasional cop show. I think it’s the portrayal of idealized actions. Bad cops get punished, only bad guys get shot, innocent people aren’t held in questioning until they confess just to leave, most don’t show casual use of excessive force, etc.
I’m rewatching How I Met Your Mother. One of my favorite rewatch shows, especially when I’m feeling a bit low it’s a feel good show.
But man has it not aged well. Spoilers ahead if you care:
Barney is just sexist, flat out. What I (and most Americans) thought was funny 15 years ago is just not anymore, how he thinks women are just dumb items to be used makes my stomach turn just a bit now. They redeem it a bit later with him realizing why he was like that with past trauma, but that doesn’t make up for several seasons of that behavior.
Ted was a lovable romantic when I first watched, but now he seems just as bad as Barney, if not a bit worse. At least Barney is obvious about his womanizing, Ted is with dozens of women, and lies just as much as Barney does all while whining about not being able to find true love.
Robin and Marshall are pretty fine on my radar, both have issues, but nothing huge in my book.
Lily is probably the worst character, and just a straight up narcisist. Her problems are always the most important problems no matter what else she goes for. The biggest ones I have seen
- Saying yes to marry Marshall, then not telling him of her worries and just up and leaving
- Coming back to Marshall and being surprised when he doesn’t just jump at the opportunity
- Being mad at Ted who put Marshall back together after she left
- Hiding what seems to be tens of thousands of dollars of Credit Card debt from Marshall, even into their marriage
- Pushing Marshal to take jobs he hates to continue hiding her credit card debt
- Puts Ted’s career in danger for her own selfish reasons (with his Boss’ baseball)
- Continuously breaks up anyone she doesn’t personally approve of, this happened multiple times to Ted, she attempts to break up Robin and Barney, and does it a few other times in the show
- When Marshall finally is happy in his corporate job (that again she pushed him into) she has this meltdown realizing he’s gone corporate and literally says “I want you to be the person I fell in love with”. What?! Who says that about their spouse?
- When Marshall does change his values and decides to leave said corporate job, he is un-employed for a few months. (Few months). Lily has a meltdown in this time and abandons him to go on a solo trip to Spain saying he “Doesn’t pay attention to her anymore”. So lose-lose for Marshall. Then we’re supposed to clap and be happy that she decides not to go after abandoning Ted at the airport.
- My number one hated one, she comes up with the “8 or higher” rule when she does have a child. Nothing her friends say is relevant to her unless she and Marshall deem it an “8 or higher”. It doesn’t matter if it was a breakup, or someone needed some support, or whatever, unless it was life altering it was not important.
Lily is one of the worst characters on television. She is manipulative, constantly plays the victim card, and is arguably worse than Barney. This didn’t start out as a rant against her…but here we are. Now that I’ve seen it, I can’t unsee it.
I’ve watched this series several times, and i think a lot of what you are saying is fair, but i think you miss the point a bit on Barney. The entire show is a framed story of Ted retelling things that happened decades earlier. The way the show is written, Ted is making it seem like Barney behaves over the top, either to fit his narrative or simply because that’s how he remembers it.
One of the reasons it’s funny is because a lot of people know “that one guy or girl” who behaves that way, but then when you tell stories about that person you make it even more wild.
Lily does suck though, and I’m surprised she’s still friends with anyone
Wow, very Interesting comment, thanks
My girlfriend is rewatching the Big Bang theory. Not a fan of the laugh tracks, but even beyond that the humor seems quite dated and offensive due to using a lot of negative stereotypes: ableism, sexism, racism, etc
My parents tried to get me to watch it because “you would love this show!”
Worst fucking garbage I’ve ever seen. Unwatchable trash.
Some friends of mine told me I would like it because I would be able to relate to Sheldon. I watched one episode, and now I wonder if those friends don’t like me and were intending to insult me.
This was a hard one for me, the show definitely started as “Let’s laugh at the nerds”, and for me I was like “Oh great, let’s just normalize my bullying growing up”. Then they had to pivot because thanks to Marvel now nerdy stuff was cool, and then haha isn’t it fun being nerdy?! I never got over that. These guys make a ton of money and are incredibly smart, but the laughable thing is they like Star Trek. Swap out nerds for other groups of people and you quickly realize how offensive it can be. “Lets make a show that shows _____ group of people and laugh about their love of ______ because it’s not normal”
Hey now, they did not make a ton of money. The only one living alone had wealthy parents. I’m pretty sure they covered the whole research doesn’t pay well thing a few times. You’re right about the early seasons though, they were very much insulting nerd culture. The later seasons seem to be more a generic dating sitcom with the occasional nerd joke.
Yes, definitely agree. My girlfriend is aware about those issues, but she knows the show so it’s just a way for her to unwind after work
Yeah, definitely what I still do with sitcoms. Ignoring the obvious flaws as a way to unwind
I found the show offensive when it started because I don’t care for how they made fun of the neurodivergent. It grew on me but I never became a big fan. Betting it didn’t age well
My brother in law loves that show but I’ve always thought it was pandering at best and outright stupid most of the time.
Anything with a laugh track.
Red Dwarf would beg to differ.
I don’t watch much bad television, but two shows come to mind.
The first is Walker, Texas Ranger. It’s basically “Excessive Force: The Show”. To be fair I got into the show as a kid in the last 4 seasons so they define the show to me, and I saw the first few episodes of the show with my family earlier this year and they’re not as bad as the later episodes. But still, it’s just…awful. Running around kicking bad guys without probably cause, beating up people when peaceful means are necessary, and bad guys resorting straight to violence without running away or trying to lie their way out of a situation, it’s all very cartoonish. Not to mention replaying every one of Chuck Norris’ roundhouse kicks three times.
The second is The Carmichael Show. It’s actually excellent, and probably my favorite modern multicam sitcom. On a sidenote, if there’s any modern spiritual successor to All in the Family, it’s this show. Anyways, it’s based on Jerrod Carmichael’s life and family (if loosely), and a key catalyst for the start of the show is that Jerrod has a girlfriend who has just moved in with him. It feels a bit off since he’s come out as gay.
Fucking Bones.
When it was spread out week by week, over multiple seasons, it was easier to miss how horrible the writing was.
They turned every character into a one dimensional caricature about midway through the run. And, when you watch it binge style, you realize that Booth was a major asshole. Just shitty to any of the other men, despite claiming to be friends.
some shows just do not work at all when binged. one being house m.d.
not because its bad but its because it gets tiring how similar episodes are. best watched spread out
That show is one of two I gave up on due to egregious product placement. The other being Eureka!
“The bones are at the crime scene, let’s get in my all new 2014 Toyota Prius and go look at them.” And this was a show that once knew how to do product placement. In an early episode Brennan’s book money came in and there’s a scene where she has like a Mercedes sports car, and there’s an exchange like “New car?” “Decided to splurge.” “Nice.” And they didn’t tape over the badges. We didn’t get “My new Mercedes Fuck Class has dual side fuckbags and adapive fuck control, handy when I’m on the go.”
Some folks tried to play off making an entire episode of Eureka about Degree For Men as being tongue in check fun. No, a couple episodes earlier when the new corporate boss lady mentions “New funding from corporate sponsors” and uses a TV remote to turn on the Degree For Men logo on the back of a lab coat, that’s tongue in cheek fun. Though if I’m honest I was basically already out. That show had a major problem with continuity. Sets would change, characters came and went, Carter was seeing the dry cleaning girl, they were going on a vacation, never heard from her again. I thought “the writers don’t care about this show, why should I?”
Any good examples? It’s been a long time since I watched
Bug boy. That’s what Booth called Hodgins (spelling?) right up to the end of the show. The same thing he called him at the beginning when swinging his fbi dick and trying to intimidate people. He was constantly trying to pull top dog shit on Sweets.
Bones herself went from a fairly believable scientist with friendships and an understanding of people to being either the absent minded professor that’s behind the times, or (as some people have phrased it), an autistic savant with no ability to understand basic human interaction.
Angela stayed pretty consistent though. So did Cam.
Sounds like our flanderization of each of them. Can’t blame it too much, there’s only so much the original premise of the show can do. Bones helps FBI. Character growth doesn’t make fun TV according to TV execs
Frasier. So much misogyny.
I haven’t watched that in many years, but I thought that was the point. We have this very intelligent guy who has become elitist, snobbish, misogynistic, and just plain awkward , getting hit with a healthy dose of reality. His faults are the point, the payoff is where there’s character development, where he becomes more human.
…. Then they needed Niles to come in and play the role Frazier once owned
I didn’t discover frasier until ~5 years ago, but I just love it.
The character frasier is definitely misogynist. But isn’t that the point? Laughing at a pompous and deeply flawed individual was the whole idea, I thought.
I didn’t discover frasier until ~5 years ago, but I just love it.
Same, I grew up knowing about Frasier, but it’s always “old bald man” show to me. But several years ago (7ish?), I was bored and started a nostalgia trip and I loved it. Frasier and Niles is just perfect. I took a few year break in between and binged it about 3 years ago.
Over the last few years I did some stretches of a lot of 90’s and early 2000’s sitcoms.
In regards to the ones I now cant stand: Home Improvement, Everybody Loves Raymond and King of Queens tops my list. I adored those shows growing up, now I wouldnt watch bored flicking through the channels.
Was very surprised how much I ended up loving some I hated growing up. Seinfield, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Frasier, just to name a few.
If you’d like to see a version of King Of Queens/Everybody Loves Raymond done really well for the modern age, the show ‘Kevin can Fuck Himself’ does it amazingly. Its a single camera sitcom from the dopey husbands point of view, and a dark, moody drama from the wife’s point of view. 10/10 television.
Really? I haven’t watched older shows recently but last time I saw a snippet of Seinfeld, my reaction was why did we ever think that was funny
I feel like everybody loves Raymond was bordering on aged when it premiered.
Third rock is on my to-watch list, I’ll have to bump it up. I agree with you on the can’t watches. You can tell Home Improvement just wanted to solidify male toxicity as a normal thing, albeit they goofed with it a bit, and at least Jill went on to get her doctorate - but there were still very much gender roles throughout the show. King of Queens is just… annoying now, the only positive is when Patton Oswalt is on screen. Everybody Loves Raymond I’ll admit is a comfort show. Not for it’s award winning acting or anything, but I still find it a chill veg-out tune-out show.
Third Rock absolutely slaps, to this day.
3rd Rock is quite good. Definitely a product of its time, it has what appears at first to be all the same poorly-aged sentiments, but almost always with the purpose of parodying how backwards and savage that behavior is
a lot of ’90s* and early 2000s* sitcoms
I don’t know if it aged horribly but I have no interest in rewatching The Cosby Show.
Agreed. That pudding eatin motherfucker.
It’s unfortunate. That was a good show at the time and might still be. However I won’t be finding out either
Anything by Graham Linehan. He put out some excellent tv, then when he got a social media audience reveals he’s a gigantic TERF.
Going back, you can start to see it in his work.
Seinfeld and Friends. Products of their time, and they need to stay there.
seinfeld is sure a product of its time but it also suffers from everybody copying it to a point where if youve watched a lot of shows post seinfeld and then watch seinfeld for the first time it seems seinfeld isnt anything too special
Seinfeld is for sure hilarious, in context of a 90s show. I don’t think it would work at all now
Cell phones made most of the situations in Seinfeld obsolete.
30 Rock
As the kids say: it just hits different 🤷🏼♀️ Maybe I was just too young & naive to understand what it portraying was when it came to racism & sexism.
You can take my werewolf bar mitzvah from my cold dead hands
I never watched it originally, but having seen most of it later I just don’t find it that funny. The show wasn’t as clever as it thought it was.
I can still enjoy it, but there are definitely things in there that would not fly anymore. I try to take it in stride, that we should be happy that those sort of jokes aren’t okay anymore, but I still cringe at some of them.
I agree w you 100% 🥴😵💫😅
