Aside from the delightful realm of Saturday morning cartoons, there wasn’t much available for kids when I was growing up. So what’s a kid who cringes at nature to do? Why, dive into adult programming, of course! The sitcoms of my childhood offered a surprising depth, covering topics like the Korean War, life in the projects, quirky characters with outdated views, child abduction, and an abundance of divorced, frazzled mothers. Even the beloved Scooby-Doo gang couldn’t quite figure out why Ann Romano was still single! “Ruh-roh, Raggage!”
And if you happened to be home sick from school? You’d find yourself watching reruns of shows that aired long before you were born. Think Barney Miller, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Odd Couple. The characters in these series were multifaceted, often grappling with dissatisfaction in their lives, mild depression, and a touch of unattractiveness. In other words, they were relatable!
This brings me to the unfortunate trend of today’s television landscape: the proliferation of sitcoms designed for and starring children. As the parent of a 7-year-old son, I’ve been subjected to an endless stream of this content. The formula seems to be a group of impossibly attractive kids clad in designer outfits, living in sprawling homes, and barely interacting with their parents. And, of course, they’re downright mean to one another for no apparent reason. These kids will tear down anyone—whether peer or adult—based on looks, behavior, or even breathing.
Now, I’m not saying that kids can’t be unkind; I certainly had my moments of cruelty as a child, though it stemmed from my own insecurities and awkwardness. But at least my jabs were clever. The current crop of TV kids seem to have everything yet whine about it in the most cringeworthy and unoriginal ways. They are portrayed as “aspirational” characters—something I learned in countless meetings as a TV writer. The industry wants characters who are, in some way, superior to the viewers—wealthier, better-looking, more popular. Apparently, that’s what kids should aspire to.
To be fair, I, too, looked up to the characters on TV during my childhood. Ironically, this led me to become a somewhat neurotic comedy writer (think The Odd Couple), make questionable choices in partners (maybe Cheers), and spend a fair amount of time in therapy (The Bob Newhart Show). Yet, I also strive to be a kind and loyal friend, much like the characters on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
I certainly don’t want my son to idolize the obnoxious characters on TV. While I did ban one particularly dreadful Disney show from our home, I also recognize that I enjoyed The Brady Bunch when I was young, so I’m not about to restrict him from watching whatever he desires. When we watch these Disney or Nickelodeon shows together, I find myself doing two things: first, politely exiting to compose myself, and upon my return, I’ll exclaim things like, “Wow, that kid is such a brat!” or “Why are they so mean?” or “Girls can be smart, you know!”
My primary concern is that my son finds this content genuinely amusing. To address this, I’ve developed a two-pronged strategy. First, I no longer pretend that the bad shows are good. He values my opinion, so when he asks, “Isn’t that funny?” I’ll respond with, “Not really my thing,” or “Seriously? Did you not see that twist coming?” Second, I make him watch classic shows. We haven’t made it to Rhoda or One Day at a Time yet, but he’s beginning to appreciate the humor of the Marx Brothers, and we just started watching The Carol Burnett Show. So far, the highlight has been Dinah Shore’s performance of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Unintentionally hilarious—he’s in stitches!
Recently, we’ve also started exposing him to adult sitcoms like Fresh Off the Boat and black-ish. Naturally, he doesn’t grasp all the jokes—much of the adult humor sails over his head, and the racial commentary requires some explanation. This has led to some fascinating conversations, especially since he views race differently than we did growing up. Yes, there are charming kids in those shows, but they’re well-crafted, flawed characters. The best part is, we can all gather around the TV and laugh together, just like I did with my brother and parents. After all, it’s not like we’re going camping or anything!
So, the next time you find yourself at your local eatery, enjoying a meal while a nearby child is complaining about their iPad battery and their dad looks utterly defeated, just remember that those kids are merely achieving their goal of becoming little terrors.
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Summary
The article critiques modern kids’ sitcoms, contrasting them with the more relatable and complex characters of older shows. It discusses the impact of these portrayals on children and emphasizes the importance of introducing classic, meaningful content to young viewers.