Aside from Saturday morning cartoons, my childhood lacked substantial programming for young viewers. So, what’s a kid who prefers the indoors to do? Tune into adult shows, of course. The sitcoms of my era weren’t merely lighthearted entertainment; they tackled serious themes like the Korean War, life in the projects, quirky characters with questionable beliefs, abduction tales, and more divorced, frazzled mothers than you could count. Even Scooby and his crew couldn’t figure out why Ann Romano was perpetually single! “Ruh-ro, Raggy!”
And if you were home sick from school? You’d find reruns of shows that aired long before your time—think Barney Miller, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Odd Couple. The characters were often middle-aged, complex, and grappling with their own dissatisfaction and mild depression. In short, they were incredibly relatable!
The Current State of Children’s Television
Now, let’s talk about the current state of children’s television: sitcoms aimed at kids. As a parent of a 7-year-old, I’ve had my fair share of exposure to this drivel. The standard formula features impossibly attractive kids clad in designer outfits, living in sprawling mansions, largely ignoring their parents, and getting whatever they desire. Oh, and did I mention they’re often downright nasty? These children will tear into each other or any adult nearby, criticizing everything from appearance to personality.
I’m not claiming that kids in real life aren’t capable of being cruel. In my youth, I occasionally delivered sharp comments, but that was rooted in my own insecurities. No judge worth their salt would have found me guilty. At least my insults had some wit! Today’s TV kids seem to have it all yet complain about everything in an unfunny, cringe-worthy manner. These characters are labeled as “aspirational.” As a TV writer, I’ve sat through countless meetings where it’s emphasized that kids should look up to characters who are richer, prettier, and more popular than themselves. Apparently, that’s what we’re meant to endorse.
To be fair, I also aspired to be like the characters I saw on TV as a child. Hence, I’m now a somewhat neurotic comedy writer (thanks, Odd Couple) who’s made questionable choices in partners (cheers to Cheers) and has spent a good chunk of time in therapy (thank you, Bob Newhart). But I did grow up to be kind and a fantastic friend (shoutout to Mary Tyler Moore).
Introducing Better Content
However, I certainly don’t want my son to aspire to be like the obnoxious characters on screen. I did ban a certain Disney show from our home, but since I watched The Brady Bunch as a kid, I can’t deny him the chance to see every bad show ever made. So, when I watch these Disney or Nickelodeon programs with him, I do two things: I excuse myself to go throw up, and when I return, I loudly remark, “Wow, that kid is a brat!” or, “Why is he so nasty?” or, “Girls can be smart, you know!”
What worries me more is that my son finds this stuff humorous. To tackle this issue, I’ve adopted a two-pronged approach. First, I no longer pretend that the terrible shows are good. He values my opinion, so when he asks, “Isn’t that funny?” I respond with something like, “Not really my thing,” or, “Really? You didn’t see that coming?” Second, I make him watch the classics. We may not be at Rhoda or One Day at a Time yet, but he’s developing an appreciation for the Marx Brothers, and we’ve just started watching The Carol Burnett Show. His favorite so far? Dinah Shore’s rendition of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Unintentionally hilarious—tears of laughter streaming down his 7-year-old face!
We’ve also begun to introduce him to adult sitcoms like Fresh Off the Boat and black-ish. He doesn’t grasp all the jokes yet; the adult themes fly over his head, and the racial humor requires some explanation, which prompts interesting discussions about how race isn’t as apparent to him as it was to us. Yes, the kids on those shows are cute, but they’re well-developed, flawed characters. The best part is we can all gather around the TV and share a laugh together, just like I did with my family growing up. Because it’s not like we’re going camping or anything.
A Final Thought
So, if you find yourself at a restaurant enjoying a meal—perhaps some Avocado Club Egg Rolls—and notice a child at the next table complaining about their iPad’s battery dying while their dad simmers in frustration, just remember: those kids are simply achieving their aspirations of being little brats.
In summary, while today’s kids’ sitcoms often glorify superficial values and unkind behavior, there are ways to introduce children to more relatable and enriching content. By sharing classic shows and engaging with well-written adult sitcoms, we can foster a better understanding of humor and character development.
Keyphrase: kids sitcoms critique
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