Response to Nik's Blog #6

Nik
I understand why you would say that men are portrayed as weaker in sitcoms - but I think it's purely for the laugh-factor. Bumbling fools have always been funny to the masses and since the shows are predominantly written by men, I don't think this is because of feminism or meninism. As for the feminist substance - we aren't in the 1970s anymore, Toto. The things that Mary Richards fought for in the Mary Tyle Moore show and her "going to make it after all" aren't things that people today feel women would struggle against. Lou Grant was a misogynist with a heart of gold, played for laughs by Ed Asner. I think the media has found that reality TV is more lucrative than all other TV. So watching The Bachelor brings in more women than, say, King of Queens. So pushing feminist topics on a sitcom is probably not lucrative which is what TV is all about.

Watching Sex and the City, while portraying four strong women in the own ways, did not push the feminist agenda and this show was seen by millions. "All in the Family" pushed the boundaries of racism, feminism, machoism, and other isms I can't think of. In the politically correct world of today, that show would probably not be allowed to air. But like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Maude and Rhoda, they pushed their agendas - now those agendas are played out and are no longer needed.

It is still almost forbidden on TV for a woman to have an abortion without any thought or discussion - instead, she miscarries before the big day, taking the onus off her shoulders and that of the network. "Maude" did it in the 1970s and it was discussed for a long time.

Finally, I think there are many shows out there that portray strong men and women such as: House, Criminal Minds, 30 Rock, The Office, Samantha Who, Lie to Me, Numbers, Ghost Whisperer - to name a few.