Day One Hundred and Twenty-Seven - Those Were The Days

I like to think of myself as being pretty pop culture savvy and something of an it-getter. I'm not a hipster or anything, but I know what's happening. And why. Well, invariably when one reads lists such as "best TV shows of all time" or "best TV characters of all time" there is always one that is at/near the top [just like how you can bet on Nirvana/Nevermind topping 90s lists]. That would be All In The Family. And, I have to admit - I just don't get it. Call me painfully stupid or say that I just don't get it or that I don't know from satire - whatever. To be honest, I've never watched this show and it wasn't on in my house when I was growing up. As you know though, I do have a rather slave-ish devotion to television and most of my favourites are older programmes.

So today I was @ TWoP reading a semi-humourous take on how racism has been presented on TV through the years and the author sited four different examples - one being All In The Family. It made me curious enough to give the show a chance and I watched All In The Family. I watched most of one episode [the Sammy Davis Jr. one - which has the longest sustained audience laugh ever recorded apparently] and then five-minute clips of a few other episodes. Yeah. I still don't get it. I mean, okay - I am aware of satire...but there is still something so unpleasant about this show and ALL of the characters. And yet, it's so beloved. Archie Bunker was apparently the inspiration for Eric Cartman [who I think - when well-written he is a complex, completely hate-able, yet vulnerable character - though in general South Park should also stay away from satire]. While I will admit that the writing/pacing was quick and snappy - it fails to really develop the characters into people you want to care about [and given their gigantic flaws, you need to work hard @ this]. Also, the live studio audience is so intrusive and makes it seem hacky [though this could be because it has been now done to death, literally - sitcoms don't use this anymore].

So, in short - I still feel pretty stupid about not getting this show. I still hate it, but now I know why [even if I'm kinda alone in this]. When it comes to TV born in the 70s give me Three's Company and WKRP in Cincinnati!