An episodic podcast on looking at the evolution (devolution) of the sitcom would be AWESOME! I'm sure it exists somewhere, but each host could make it their own. The death of Mr. Lear gives you an in and, it sounds, your work in college might pay off lo these many years later;-)
The watchalong is a fascinating idea as well. I recall shortly after college being a buddy's apartment after a late-night Friday shift in the sports department at the local paper and a late-night "All in the Family" came on as we were enjoying a libation or two. I felt extremely uncomfortable watching along with a mixed demographic audience. I've offered wondered how these shows were received by certain segments of the American population. Did they have the (believed) desired impact Mr. Lear was aiming for or did they fall short?
Regardless, this was one of your best pieces yet:-)
I saw bits and pieces of Lear's work growing up but I didn't get my first full dose until college. It was jarring. We're talking 2003/04 with Nick at Nite and TV Land. When I started slowly rewatching Sanford and Son about year or so ago, it was still jarring. These characters have more in common with the anti-heroes of 2000s: Tony Soprano, Greg House, Jack Bauer, Don Draper, and Walter White than the sitcom characters post Seinfeld.
I think in today's increasingly sensitive social political landscape Lear would have a lot of tomatoes thrown at him.
Sure, he'd get his fair share of tomatoes tossed his way, but with the various non-traditional places/boundary-pushing locales for his shows to find homes (Netflix, Apple+, Paramount+, Prime, etc.) I bet you he'd still fare pretty well.
Terrific work on this, James. I'd love for a longer form piece on this topic (the impact of Lear on U.S. TV); perhaps even a panel of folks rewatching original episodes and overlaying today on top of it to see what the freshness factor is. I gotta believe his genius is still "Certified Fresh" 50-plus years later. Don't you?
Interesting ideas. I had not thought of a panel. Its something to consider. Maybe I'll host a watch along.
I've watched chunks of Sanford and Son and All in the Family over the last few years. I think his genius is obvious but I wonder how people would react to it today. These shows were vulgar in ways that people under 40 have never seen on TV. In many ways, I'd argue that current shows are closer to the Leave it to Beaver, Brady Bunch world than The Jeffersons.
As I was writing and editing the piece I was thinking of a longer "podcastumentary" about these shows and evolution of the American sitcom. I wrote about it extensively in college and always wanted to come back to it.
An episodic podcast on looking at the evolution (devolution) of the sitcom would be AWESOME! I'm sure it exists somewhere, but each host could make it their own. The death of Mr. Lear gives you an in and, it sounds, your work in college might pay off lo these many years later;-)
The watchalong is a fascinating idea as well. I recall shortly after college being a buddy's apartment after a late-night Friday shift in the sports department at the local paper and a late-night "All in the Family" came on as we were enjoying a libation or two. I felt extremely uncomfortable watching along with a mixed demographic audience. I've offered wondered how these shows were received by certain segments of the American population. Did they have the (believed) desired impact Mr. Lear was aiming for or did they fall short?
Regardless, this was one of your best pieces yet:-)
Thank you,
Doug
I'm working on my version of that show.
There's so much there.
Its something to be excited about.
I saw bits and pieces of Lear's work growing up but I didn't get my first full dose until college. It was jarring. We're talking 2003/04 with Nick at Nite and TV Land. When I started slowly rewatching Sanford and Son about year or so ago, it was still jarring. These characters have more in common with the anti-heroes of 2000s: Tony Soprano, Greg House, Jack Bauer, Don Draper, and Walter White than the sitcom characters post Seinfeld.
I think in today's increasingly sensitive social political landscape Lear would have a lot of tomatoes thrown at him.
Sure, he'd get his fair share of tomatoes tossed his way, but with the various non-traditional places/boundary-pushing locales for his shows to find homes (Netflix, Apple+, Paramount+, Prime, etc.) I bet you he'd still fare pretty well.
Terrific work on this, James. I'd love for a longer form piece on this topic (the impact of Lear on U.S. TV); perhaps even a panel of folks rewatching original episodes and overlaying today on top of it to see what the freshness factor is. I gotta believe his genius is still "Certified Fresh" 50-plus years later. Don't you?
Thank you!
Interesting ideas. I had not thought of a panel. Its something to consider. Maybe I'll host a watch along.
I've watched chunks of Sanford and Son and All in the Family over the last few years. I think his genius is obvious but I wonder how people would react to it today. These shows were vulgar in ways that people under 40 have never seen on TV. In many ways, I'd argue that current shows are closer to the Leave it to Beaver, Brady Bunch world than The Jeffersons.
As I was writing and editing the piece I was thinking of a longer "podcastumentary" about these shows and evolution of the American sitcom. I wrote about it extensively in college and always wanted to come back to it.
Loved this piece
Thank you. I had a blast working on it.