Macleans magazine had an article about this subject back in early October, but I just recently found the link.
It elabourates on how the father figure has either been removed from many shows (due to financial aspects) or downgraded to a very small or even rarely recurring part of a tv show and how in shows where the father is present, he is often portrayed as a fool that gets no respect from his family or his peers.
Remember the TV dads controversy? A recent theme in journalism has been the bad image of fathers on television. Pundits like John Tierney of the New York Times and Ray Richmond of The Hollywood Reporter wrote articles complaining that fathers are, in Richmond’s words, “the last subculture in America whom it is permissible to bash and malign with impunity.” What did networks do in response to the complaints? Cut out fathers entirely.
I think the two shows that started this lack of respect were Married With Children and The Simpsons. But the torch is carried on.
Meanwhile, many of the returning shows are the ones that helped create the image of the “doofus dad”: shows featuring a fat oaf with no good advice to give his kids, and a beautiful wife who really ought to take the kids and leave. The networks have brought back Jim Belushi on According to Jim, Mark on Still Standing, and animated insensitive guys like Peter Griffin on Family Guy and Homer on The Simpsons. On other shows, like Gilmore Girls, there’s no father at all, and the kids don’t seem any worse off for the lack of one.
Is it too much to ask to see more fathers like Ward Cleaver and Mr. Brady?
Goofball dads abound in commercials as well. (The one that immediately comes to mind is the Oatmeal Raisin Crisp guy). I, myself, now call this cereal Goatmeal Raisin Crisp thanks to him.
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This is deliberate. It is part of the war on boys and men launched by the feminists and their leftist allies.
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But why are men buying into it?
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Joanne (#2) it’s not the men buying into it that will perpetuate it, it’s the children.
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Good point, Mulder. But parents can temper what their children watch. First of all, they can discuss these types of stereotypes so that the kids look at the shows more critically.
Secondly, they could make an effort to lure the kids away from the TV with family board games, etc. (I know. I’m dreaming).
😉
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Joanne, I agree. But most parents use the TV as a babysitter when the parent should be a TVsitter.
Don’t get me wrong. I watch a lot of these shows (and enjoy them). I am just trying to make people aware so they can do exactly what you suggest. I have already had the talk with my 14 year old because he is the one that will a) look down on his dad due to the humour of these shows and b) suffer the consequences when he gets older and becomes a dad.
I watch a lot of TV with my daughter so she gets the feedback pretty quick. I still can’t believe she wants to watch shows like the Family guy because they are a cartoon. For those who are not aware of this show do NOT let your kids watch it. It is a cartoon for adults, not children. (And it can be SOOO funny….but, again, not for kids)
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Mulder, you sound like a very good Dad. Your daughter is lucky. So many are either physically or emotionally absent.
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why are these women ganging up on us guys?
come on, leave us alone!
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I’ve also heard an opposing theory: that these oafs only appear funny if we recognize that their behaviour is oafish and not to be emulated: that it’s an escape, not an example.
It isn’t universally true, but it is at least mildly comforting.