Does TV do a disservice to everyone with how they portray "average" in America?
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).
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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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.0 -
Depends on what you watch. Most of the reality shows love to exploit the "low class" of it's casts.
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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.0 -
I've still yet to see a sitcom or reality show take place in a trailer0
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Has anyone watched "The Middle?" I think it does a pretty good job of portraying average American life without exploitation.0
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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"0 -
I thought the Cosby show was pretty accurate.0
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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!
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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.0 -
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Sanford and Son was popular. So was Taxi. Comedy sells regardless of status.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.
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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.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.0 -
Jackie0Marie wrote: »
Ah I forgot about that. was never into it and with that I can mention Everybody Hates Chris
He was pretty poor
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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 Molly0 -
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CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »Jackie0Marie 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.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 weird0 -
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.0
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CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »Jackie0Marie 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.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
true. Tom Cruise is consistently great. but still, knowing how much they charge people for all the various stuff they have to go through, it ain't cheap. I could never separate Jason Lee from the persona of a low rent kinda dude after that.
I just think of them as Aliens0 -
CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »Jackie0Marie 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.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
true. Tom Cruise is consistently great. but still, knowing how much they charge people for all the various stuff they have to go through, it ain't cheap. I could never separate Jason Lee from the persona of a low rent kinda dude after that.
I just think of them as Aliens
There ya go 0 -
CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »CircumcisedCokeCan wrote: »Jackie0Marie 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.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
true. Tom Cruise is consistently great. but still, knowing how much they charge people for all the various stuff they have to go through, it ain't cheap. I could never separate Jason Lee from the persona of a low rent kinda dude after that.
I just think of them as Aliens
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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.
Do you even Married With Children?!??!0 -
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I agree the british do middle class families on tv shows much better have you seen eastenders or keeping up appearances
Also the people look more real compared to the hollywood super pretty people with clean clothes and perfect makeup look0 -
_dracarys_ wrote: »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.
Do you even Married With Children?!??!
Ohhh yeah Married with Children I luhh that show
The whole house is furnished like its the 70s even though the show takes place in the 80s/90s aka what I grew up like as a tot0 -
_dracarys_ wrote: »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.
Do you even Married With Children?!??!
Ohhh yeah Married with Children I luhh that show
The whole house is furnished like its the 70s even though the show takes place in the 80s/90s aka what I grew up like as a tot
so was the house I grew up in...0 -
I've been trying to get a "People of Walmart" reality show going for years but it just hasn't taken off.0
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