how come all sitcoms are set in contemporary society?
brigit bardot brigade
why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
a sitcom set in roman times.
etc. etc.
Greg Carson
brigade) wrote:
\
It's about time, it's about space, about two men in the craziest
place. Hum what was the name of that 60's show, but first season took
place in stoneage times.
James A. Jones
I loved "It's About Time" as a kid. How about Mel Brooks' "When Things
Were Rotten"? Robin Hood and his merry men lasted 13 episodes on ABC
back in 1975.
James
Alex
"brigit bardot brigade" <brigit...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3cd79f7a.04072...@posting.google.com...
> flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were
cartoons.
>
> why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
american public is generally ignorant/apathetic when it comes to history?
John Duncan Yoyo
<jun...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Greg Carson wrote:
>> On 21 Jul 2004 19:24:10 -0700, brigit...@hotmail.com (brigit bardot
>> brigade) wrote:
>>
>>
>>>flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were cartoons.
>>>
>>>why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>>>
>>>a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
F- Troop came close
>>>
>>>a sitcom set in roman times.
>>>
>>>etc. etc.
>>
>> It's about time, it's about space, about two men in the craziest
>> place. Hum what was the name of that 60's show, but first season took
>> place in stoneage times.
>
>I loved "It's About Time" as a kid. How about Mel Brooks' "When Things
>Were Rotten"? Robin Hood and his merry men lasted 13 episodes on ABC
>back in 1975.
>
Black Adder is set all over time between the 1400's and 1917. Red
Dwarf is a far future sitcom.
Bruce Campbell's Jack of All Trades was an adventure comedy set in the
early 19th century. Similar in style to the Wild Wild West but
funnier.
--
John Duncan Yoyo
------------------------------o)
Brought to you by the Binks for Senate campaign comittee.
Coruscant is far, far away from wesa on Naboo.
manhn
Lewis.
"brigit bardot brigade" <brigit...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3cd79f7a.04072...@posting.google.com...
Greg Henry
That's why I liked the Blackadder series with Rowan Atkinson. There were
four seasons. The first took place in the mid 1400's, the second one
took place in the late 1500's, the third took place in the late 1700's
and the fourth took place during World War I.
Mitchell Holman
news:3cd79f7a.04072...@posting.google.com:
That 70's show
F-Troop
Hogans Heroes
McCales Navy
Laverne and Shirley
Happy Days
MASH
Shouse
>etc. etc.
But they didn't have cameras or even TV back then....
Nick Macpherson
The Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer
http://www.prairie.org/detours/lincoln/features/popleg.html
'Intended as a satirical sendup of shenanigans in the Clinton White House, it
takes viewers back to the Lincolns in 1861. Pfeiffer, the show's protagonist,
is an English nobleman of African descent who has emigrated to America and then
been hired as Lincoln's White House butler. His diary supplies each episode's
farcical plot, which in the first episode was supposed to center on the
president's bisexual tendencies, including lust for his voluptuous personal
secretary, named Mona (resembles Monica). His conjugal neglect of Mary triggers
tantrums and her own adulterous instincts, with slapstick consequences. After
accidentally ingesting an aphrodisiac (not Revivitol, but possibly Viagra),
Lincoln rekindles sex with his amorous wife. The next morning Mary is so
pleased that she declares, "the old Railsplitter is back" then dons his
stovepipe hat, stands on a chair, and croons a slow, sultry "Happy Birthday,
Mr. President" a la Marilyn Monroe to John Kennedy. Striving futilely to carry
this limp story are tasteless gags about slavery, Ulysses Grant's fondness for
alcohol, and gay sex. At the last minute producers responded to criticism by
substituting another, equally mindless episode, in which Lincoln furtively
engages in telegraph sex. These sophomoric stunts prompt Pfeiffer to complain
to Lincoln, "You're acting no better than a horny hillbilly from Arkansas."'
Otis Tyler
Beatles to Blink 182
"Greg Henry" <bigd...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:r-Cdnfy3t6E...@adelphia.com...
RT
"brigit bardot brigade" <brigit...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3cd79f7a.04072...@posting.google.com...
Greg Henry
> Comparing Blackadder to the current crop of shitcoms is like comparing The
> Beatles to Blink 182
While your comment is totally agreeable with me, my main point was that
what I liked about Blackadder was that it was set in different time
periods. I don't consider today's shitcoms as entertainment; it's
socio-psychological conditioning.
Anthony Buckland
brigitbardot brigade <brigit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
Steven O.
they don't count, I think, for purposes of this question. They are
basically sitcoms about Mom and Dad back when Mom and Dad were
teenagers.
What about Hogan's Heros, though, does that count as a sitcom?
Of course, when you think about it, *most* TV shows, apart from pure
sci-fi or fantasy, are set in the present. There's just not a lot of
shows about ancient Greeks discussing philosophy, or about medieval
theologians discussing God.
Steve O.
On 21 Jul 2004 19:24:10 -0700, brigit...@hotmail.com (brigit bardot
brigade) wrote:
Steven AATT Domain DDOOTT com
To send an e-mail, substitute @ for AATT, a . for DDOOTT, and OpComm for Domain
Standard Antiflame Disclaimer: Please don't flame me. I may actually *be* an idiot, but even idiots have feelings.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, aspiring to liberty and justice for all.
Feel free to use the above variant pledge in your own postings.
jayembee
In addition to what others have offered, there were:
(1) ANNA AND THE KING
(2) WIZARDS & WARRIORS
(3) QUARK
(4) DINOSAURS
-- jayembee
PCK
> In article <3cd79f7a.04072...@posting.google.com>, brigit
> bardot brigade <brigit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were
>>cartoons.
>>
>>why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
>
> Quark.
Wow... somebody else remembers Quark? What did it last, like 5 episodes?
Jeff George
<ta2eene...@comcast.com> added the following words, followed by my
wisdom:
Best of the West
--
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
- The Chimp 13-Sep-01 (the same day he was flying bin Laden's relatives out of the country)
"I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
- The Chimp 13-Mar-02 (less than six months later)
Default User
> F-Troop was not about the Cheyenne. It featured the Hakowie (relatives
> of the Fakowie) and the Shrug indians.
Shug.
Brian Rodenborn
Default User
> Wow... somebody else remembers Quark? What did it last, like 5 episodes?
TvTome lists eight, the pilot plus seven regular episodes.
http://www.tvtome.com/Quark/eplist.html
Comedy Central ran the series some years back, along with a few other
obscure ones like Captain Nice.
Brian Rodenborn
Bob
> > flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were cartoons.
> >
> > why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
> >
> > a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
> >
> > a sitcom set in roman times.
> >
> > etc. etc.
Well, there was "Homeboys from Outer Space". :-)
>
> That's why I liked the Blackadder series with Rowan Atkinson. There were
> four seasons. The first took place in the mid 1400's, the second one
> took place in the late 1500's, the third took place in the late 1700's
> and the fourth took place during World War I.
I doubt American audiances could even recognize the differences
between the 1400's, 1500's and 1700's.
SOMLAW
its been tried. Doesn't work.
Scott
The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer has probably put the industry off
of it forever.
You've recieved many examples to the contrary already. In general it's
the principle of lowest common denominator at work. Shows to hit big
need to be "relatable." People usually need to be able to see aspects
of their own life in them. Change the time period and that makes it
harder, so TPTB will be less likely to take a chance on something
that's more original.
Graham UK
We Brits seem to do quite a lot of this stuff.
In a few minutes my Wife and I thought of
Dads Army
Blackadder (4 series)
Hi-de-Hi
You Rang M-Lord
Jeevs and Wooster
Mapp and Luchia
'Ello 'Ello
Let them eat cake
the only 'future' offerings we could think of were:
Red Dwarf &
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Graham
Manchester, England.
Graham UK
Thought of some more more
The Army Game
Bootsie and Snudge
Up Pompeii
Graham.
Manchester UK
WQ
> flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were cartoons.
>
> why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
> a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
>
> a sitcom set in roman times.
>
> etc. etc.
--- Well, that would be disturbing the steady, rhythmic flow of the
generically-conceived, faithfully formulaic, contemporary suburban
whitebread middle-class American family sitcom genre, wouldn't it?
There was a handful of period sitcoms in the '50s, '80s and '90s each,
but their "golden" age ran through the '60s and '70s with ABC leading
the charge, followed by CBS, and NBC showing little interest.
Interestingly, in the '60s, half the shows lasted a season, or less in
one case, and the other half between 2 and 6 years. In the '70s,
however, the success/failure rate was much more striking, with most
lasting less than 1/2 year, one lasting a year and a half, and the
remaining few lasting 7 to 11 years. Anyway, this is likely a
complete list of such shows during that time.
1960 ABC The Flintstones - prehistoric cartoon [6 years]
1961 ABC Margie - Roaring 1920s [1 year]
1962 ABC McHale's Navy - WWII [4 years]
1962 ABC The Jetsons - futuristic cartoon [1 year]
1964 ABC Broadside - WWII [1 year]
1965 ABC F Troop - Western [2 years]
1965 CBS Hogan's Heroes - WWII [6 years]
1965 NBC Mister Roberts - WWII [1 year]
1966 CBC Pistols 'n' Petticoats - Western [1 year]
1966 CBS It's About Time - Prehistoric [1 year]
1967 ABC Rango - Western [1/2 year]
1971 CBS The Chicago Teddy Bears - Roaring 20s [1/2 year]
1972 CBS Anna and the King - 19th century [1/2 year]
1972 CBS M*A*S*H - Korean War [11 years]
1974 ABC Happy Days - 50s [10 1/2 years]
1974 CBS Dirty Sally - Western [1/2 year]
1974 ABC Paper Moon - Depression 30s [1/2 year]
1975 ABC When Things Were Rotten - Middle Ages [1/2 year]
1976 ABC Laverne & Shirley - 50s [7 1/2 years]
1977 ABC Operation Petticoat - WWII [1 1/2 years]
1978 NBC Quark - Futuristic Space Spoof [2 months]
1978 ABC Apple Pie - Depression 30s [2 weeks]
Jordan Lund
> flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were cartoons.
>
> why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
Dinosaurs was live action puppet dinosaurs, was a pretty big hit...
<BANG!> "NOT THE MAMA!"
Game Over was a CGI video game family which pretty much stunk up the
place.
- Jordan
Jana Peterson
> > why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
> >
> > a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
> >
> > a sitcom set in roman times.
> >
> > etc. etc.
well, we liked the show 'dinosaurs', I think it was called...about a
family (kind of like Family Guy) of, well, dinosaurs...they had a baby
that called the dad 'not-the-mama'. It didn't last though.
rick++
>
> F-Troop
>
> Hogans Heroes
>
> McCales Navy
>
> Laverne and Shirley
>
> Happy Days
>
> MASH
Most westerns
William Tell
Davy Crockett
Lost in Space
Mk40
"Scott" <bkl...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:31c5522d.04072...@posting.google.com...
>
> You've recieved many examples to the contrary already. In general it's
> the principle of lowest common denominator at work. Shows to hit big
> need to be "relatable." People usually need to be able to see aspects
> of their own life in them. Change the time period and that makes it
> harder, so TPTB will be less likely to take a chance on something
> that's more original.
Which is a good reason that Westerns died off. Name a successful
"old west" TV series after "Gunsmoke" left the air in 1975. I can't think
of any. The old west is simply too far into the past for anyone to relate
to it anymore. And don't say "Little House On The Praire", that wasn't
a Western. It was basically "Full House" set in the 1800s.
Avatar
LHotP predated Full House by several years.
---
Remove whiz to email
----
Default User
> Most westerns
> William Tell
> Davy Crockett
> Lost in Space
Those aren't sitcoms.
Brian Rodenborn
Brian Thorn
brigade) wrote:
>flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were cartoons.
>
>why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
>a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
>
>a sitcom set in roman times.
>
>etc. etc.
Maverick
F-Troop
Hogan's Heroes
Happy Days
Laverne And Shirley
When Things Were Rotten
The Wonder Years
Brooklyn Bridge
Thanks!
That 70s Show
That 80s Show
Brian
jayembee
> Comparing Blackadder to the current crop of shitcoms is
> like comparing The Beatles to Blink 182
That's right. BLACKADDER isn't a "shitcom". It's a "shitecom".
-- jayembee
John Dean
> flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were
> cartoons.
>
> why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
> a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
>
> a sitcom set in roman times.
Like Up Pompeii?
Don't forget the various Blackadders
Petticoat Junction
Chelmsford 123
F Troop (Some of the Fukawis looked like Cheyenne to me)
Hogan's Heroes
Red Dwarf
Allo Allo
Dad's Army
M*A*S*H
Hell, there's dozens of 'em. Goodnight Sweetheart even had a time
travelling theme. Do you actually *watch* any TV?
--
John Dean
Oxford
jayembee
> Of course, when you think about it, *most* TV shows,
> apart from pure sci-fi or fantasy, are set in the present.
> There's just not a lot of shows about ancient Greeks
> discussing philosophy, or about medieval theologians
> discussing God.
Have you ever seen the movie OPEN SEASON? The basic plot
is that, due to some Nielsen [1] boxes getting damaged
in shipment, they don't work properly and PBS [1] ends
up being logged as the highest-rated network. As a result,
a "culture fad" sweeps the country, and all the networks
jump on the bandwagon.
During the course of the film, they come up with some
hilarious fake TV shows, one of which is a sitcom --
exactly what you describe above as "ancient Greeks
discussing philosophy -- "Greek's Company", starring
Alan Thicke and Jimmy Walker.
-- jayembee
Brian Thorn
<john...@frag.lineone.net> wrote:
>Petticoat Junction
That was set in contemporary times, as were "The Beverly Hillbillies"
and "Green Acres" which shared some characters and locales.
Brian
Brian Thorn
The creators of "Happy Days", "Laverne And Shirley", and "M*A*S*H" no
doubt have a different opinion on the matter. All were Top 5 shows for
a significant period of time.
Brian
Brian Thorn
>Which is a good reason that Westerns died off. Name a successful
>"old west" TV series after "Gunsmoke" left the air in 1975.
"Paradise", "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman", and "Deadwood" all lasted
more than one season (HBO's "Deadwood" has been green-lit for Season
2.)
>I can't think
>of any. The old west is simply too far into the past for anyone to relate
>to it anymore. And don't say "Little House On The Praire", that wasn't
>a Western. It was basically "Full House" set in the 1800s.
Although derived from Alcott's various books, NBC's "Little House"
came to TV mainly as a result of the success of CBS's "The Waltons".
Brian
Brian Thorn
<bra...@kamikaze.orgy> wrote:
>> Although derived from Alcott's various books, NBC's "Little House"
>> came to TV mainly as a result of the success of CBS's "The
>> Waltons".
>>
>> Brian
>>
>
>Alcott? Don't you mean Wilder?
Whoops, wrong "Little..." :-)
Brian
Russell Watson
brigade) wrote:
>flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were cartoons.
>
>why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
>a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
>
>a sitcom set in roman times.
>
>etc. etc.
McHale's Navy, Hogan's Heroes, and Operation Pettycoat, all set in
WW2.
That '70s Show, set long ago in galaxy far, far away (at least it
seems like it now)
'97 FLSTF
To reply by e-mail, remove nospam from address.
Rocinante
> flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were cartoons.
>
> why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
> a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
>
> a sitcom set in roman times.
>
> etc. etc.
When they are set in the past, why are they usually about the old west?
Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, etc.
--
You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying over
the future.
Rocinante...@gmail.com
7/22/2004 11:37:39 PM
Pisano
may be some action with that ass in later episodes..., Greg Henry
<bigd...@adelphia.net> wrote:
>Otis Tyler wrote:
>> Comparing Blackadder to the current crop of shitcoms is like comparing The
>> Beatles to Blink 182
>
>While your comment is totally agreeable with me, my main point was that
>what I liked about Blackadder was that it was set in different time
>periods. I don't consider today's shitcoms as entertainment; it's
>socio-psychological conditioning.
>
So true, along with the "news", and the "Judge ( Whoever )"
genre of "reality" shows.
Seems to be working, too . . . unfortunately.
Xomicron
news:3cd79f7a.04072...@posting.google.com:
> flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were
> cartoons.
>
> why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
> a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
>
> a sitcom set in roman times.
Because no one would be able to relate to it.
Shouse
Mirror Spock
<bra...@kamikaze.orgy> wrote:
>PCK <pck...@buffalo.edu> wrote in rec.arts.tv:
>
>> Roy Knable wrote:
>>
>>> In article <3cd79f7a.04072...@posting.google.com>,
>>> brigit bardot brigade <brigit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they
>>>>were cartoons.
>>>>
>>>>why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>>>
>>>
>>> Quark.
>>
>> Wow... somebody else remembers Quark? What did it last, like 5
>> episodes?
>
>Was that with Richard Benjamin? If not, what am I thinking of?
Indeed it is... I'm surprised folks remember that.
* Robinson
Default User
> > Wow... somebody else remembers Quark? What did it last, like 5
> > episodes?
>
> Was that with Richard Benjamin? If not, what am I thinking of?
That's the one.
Brian Rodenborn
Mike Harrison
Everyone mentions Flintstones and Jetsons, but forgets to mention
Futurama. That is a comedy that takes place in the future.
Default User
> Everyone mentions Flintstones and Jetsons, but forgets to mention
> Futurama. That is a comedy that takes place in the future.
For the most part, occasionally in the past or what was the present.
Very good show too.
Brian Rodenborn
Tim May
<russell...@comcast.net> wrote:
> On 21 Jul 2004 19:24:10 -0700, brigit...@hotmail.com (brigit bardot
> brigade) wrote:
>
> >flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were
> >cartoons.
> >
> >why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
> >
> >a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
> >
> >a sitcom set in roman times.
> >
> >etc. etc.
>
> McHale's Navy, Hogan's Heroes, and Operation Pettycoat, all set in
> WW2.
>
> That '70s Show, set long ago in galaxy far, far away (at least it
> seems like it now)
"Wackiest Ship in the Army," 1965, set in WW II.
"It's About Time," 1966-67, set in prehistoric times.
"Wizards and Warriors," 1983, a satire set in fantasy medieval times.
Maybe by "sitcom" the OP is asking why 19-minute comedies with
smart-mouthed pre-teens dissecting the sex lives of their divorced
parents are not often set in the 1950s, or during WW II, or in the Old
West. Probably because in those years such smart-mouthed kids would
either be sent off to military school, or sent up the chimneys, or
shot, depending on which of these eras was involved.
--Tim May
Paul
"Bob" <bus...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:be82888b.04072...@posting.google.com...
> Greg Henry <bigd...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:<r-Cdnfy3t6E...@adelphia.com>...
> > brigit bardot brigade wrote:
> > > flinstones and jetsons were prehistoric and futuristic but they were
cartoons.
> > >
> > > why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
> > >
> > > a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
> > >
> > > a sitcom set in roman times.
> > >
> > > etc. etc.
>
>
>
> >
> > That's why I liked the Blackadder series with Rowan Atkinson. There were
> > four seasons. The first took place in the mid 1400's, the second one
> > took place in the late 1500's, the third took place in the late 1700's
> > and the fourth took place during World War I.
>
> I doubt American audiances could even recognize the differences
> between the 1400's, 1500's and 1700's.
Of course one can. One can always tell by the difference in the codpieces
they wore.
Paul
"Default User" <first...@boeing.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:4100388C...@boeing.com.invalid...
> rick++ wrote:
>
> > Most westerns
> > William Tell
> > Davy Crockett
> > Lost in Space
>
> Those aren't sitcoms.
What?
Lost in Space was funny.
Between Jonathan Harris and the "Danger Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!"
robot, it was a bundle of laughs.
>
>
>
> Brian Rodenborn
Brian Thorn
<Rocinante...@gmail.com> wrote:
>When they are set in the past, why are they usually about the old west?
>
>Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, etc.
They were cheaper to produce, especially in the 50s and 60s, because
of the huge number of standing sets and costumes leftover from
Hollywood's love affair with the Movie Western. That in turn was
because Westerns were enormously popular from the 40s to the early
60s.
"The Waltons" (30s), "Homefront" (40s), "I'll Fly Away" (50s), and
"American Dreams" (60s) are exceptions as period dramas not set in the
Old West ("Little House" is not a typical case, either.)
Brian
metroman
>
> why can't we have a sitcom set in another world, another time?
>
> a sitcom about a cheyenne tribe.
>
> a sitcom set in roman times.
>
> etc. etc.
Wasn't these an episode of Life With Skippy where thay had a dream
about being cave men? I think it was set in pre-historic times.
Gummy was attacked by a Wooly Mammoth. Skippy came to his rescue.