Does TV do a disservice to everyone with how they portray "average" in America?

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_John_
_John_ Posts: 8,641 Member
edited February 2016 in Chit-Chat
I've had a huge issue with this for years. Most TV shows (and movies, but TV shows get the most screen time with it) show "average" as what is actually much closer to "upper class" .

For many reasons, I think this is a huge problem and disservice.

(apologies in advance if this gets too political, not really meant to be).
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Replies

  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
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    I grew up in a 1500 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house built in the 1960s and the people I were friends with thought I was rich. It's all about perspective.

    Nobody wants to watch a show about poor people.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,669 Member
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    Depends on what you watch. Most of the reality shows love to exploit the "low class" of it's casts.

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  • branflakes1980
    branflakes1980 Posts: 2,516 Member
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    Holly_Roman_Empire wrote: »
    I grew up in a 1500 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house built in the 1960s and the people I were friends with thought I was rich. It's all about perspective.

    Nobody wants to watch a show about poor people.

    Disagree, Two Broke Girls is a fantastic show.

    OP, yes I agree with you. As an adult, and knowing what it's like to struggle from time to time with things, this is almost never portrayed in the TV world, and I have also noticed my adult self noticing from time to time and thinking to myself "what do these people do for work, how are they affording that house" I get it for sure.
  • pie_eyes
    pie_eyes Posts: 12,964 Member
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    I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer
  • Kvm11628
    Kvm11628 Posts: 7,386 Member
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    Has anyone watched "The Middle?" I think it does a pretty good job of portraying average American life without exploitation.
  • hazman81
    hazman81 Posts: 86 Member
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    Holly_Roman_Empire wrote: »
    I grew up in a 1500 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house built in the 1960s and the people I were friends with thought I was rich. It's all about perspective.

    Nobody wants to watch a show about poor people.

    Not true I loved "Sanford and son"
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
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    I thought the Cosby show was pretty accurate.
  • jbuzzed
    jbuzzed Posts: 10,172 Member
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    pie_eyes wrote: »
    I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer

    Have you seen Trailer Park Boys?
  • fun2love
    fun2love Posts: 8 Member
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    "Mike and Molly" TV show not only shows an average couple in an average world...but still living at home with a pretty funny dysfunctional family. To make things even stretching the bar further, Mike and Molly are both overweight at I'd say about 3 to 400+ pounds. By far it shows how most working class families live. My fiance and I watch it religiously and laugh at the similarities between our story and theirs. Highly recommended! :D
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,641 Member
    edited February 2016
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    Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »
    I thought the Cosby show was pretty accurate.

    Yeah, but that wasn't even remotely a middle class family. A Dr. and a lawyer in one household both likely in their 40's. They're supposed to be doing well. That is NOT a "middle class" family.

    Even implying that is "middle class" proves my point for the thread.
  • branflakes1980
    branflakes1980 Posts: 2,516 Member
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    jsummd wrote: »
    pie_eyes wrote: »
    I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer

    Have you seen Trailer Park Boys?

    I couldn't help myself.
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  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited February 2016
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    pie_eyes wrote: »
    I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer

    It exists. And it's a trainwreck.

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,669 Member
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    Holly_Roman_Empire wrote: »
    I grew up in a 1500 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house built in the 1960s and the people I were friends with thought I was rich. It's all about perspective.

    Nobody wants to watch a show about poor people.
    Sanford and Son was popular. So was Taxi. Comedy sells regardless of status.

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  • MommysLittleMeatball
    MommysLittleMeatball Posts: 2,064 Member
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    pie_eyes wrote: »
    I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer

    My Name is Earl. I enjoyed it, it was funny.
    kimvmajor wrote: »
    Has anyone watched "The Middle?" I think it does a pretty good job of portraying average American life without exploitation.

    The Middle is good. It started around the same time as Modern Family, so I don't think many people have heard of it because it's in Modern Family's shadow. I agree, The Middle is a decent representation of middle class in comparison to Modern Family which is def upper.
  • pie_eyes
    pie_eyes Posts: 12,964 Member
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    Jackie0Marie wrote: »
    pie_eyes wrote: »
    I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer

    My Name is Earl. I enjoyed it, it was funny.

    Ah I forgot about that. was never into it and with that I can mention Everybody Hates Chris

    He was pretty poor

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
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    There have been numerous shows about poor or lower middle class people

    My Name Is Earl
    Raising Hope
    Trailer Park Boys
    Green Acres
    Good Times
    Rosanne
    Big Bang Theory (Penny)
    King of Queens
    Mike and Molly
  • pie_eyes
    pie_eyes Posts: 12,964 Member
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    CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »
    Jackie0Marie wrote: »
    pie_eyes wrote: »
    I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer

    My Name is Earl. I enjoyed it, it was funny.
    kimvmajor wrote: »
    Has anyone watched "The Middle?" I think it does a pretty good job of portraying average American life without exploitation.

    The Middle is good. It started around the same time as Modern Family, so I don't think many people have heard of it because it's in Modern Family's shadow. I agree, The Middle is a decent representation of middle class in comparison to Modern Family which is def upper.

    could never watch it or any of his Kevin Smith stuff since I found out he was a scientologist though. sucked me out of the reality of the show way too much.

    Scientologists are amazing actors. it's really weird
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
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    My biggest issue with TV is that everyone has about 160 hours of free time per week and only need to work 8 hours to maintain a 1500sq ft apartment in NYC where they live alone.

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