When you think of the 70's, specifically TV in the 70's TBB has to come to mind pretty quickly. Yes, it was dumb and saccharine, but producer, Sherwood Schwartz obviously had a talent for nailing shows of that nature, since this one, along with Gilligan's Island are, to this day, among the most cherished of so-called "classic" TV sitcoms.
Almost nothing about it could be termed or seen as realistic and the show has to be interpreted simply as a way overly idealized version of the traditional American family. Perhaps one of the great ironies of the show, revealed only decades after it wrapped production was that the idealized American father was in fact gay.
Although it was supposed to be a comedy, in reality, it was more silly than funny. The actual funniest thing about the show, at least in retrospect is how seemingly, and ridiculously out of step the show appeared to be with the times. The may have worn bell bottoms, had perms and uttered the occasional "groovy" now and then, but apart from superficial acknowledgements of the era, this was basically Ozzie and Harriet in color. It's no wonder that the 1995 BB movie really nailed it by sarcastically playing up the truly funniest aspect of the show - how unbelievably "square" they were in comparison to any era, except for, maybe the 50's.
I suppose not too many other comedies in the 70's concerned themselves with Vietnam, Kent State, civil unrest, drugs or Watergate, because ... well, they were comedies ! But, while there were ground-breaking comedies like All in the Family and Mary Tyler Moore being made, Schwartz and co. Stuck to their guns and insisted on making a wholesome, milquetoast and probably unrealistic show with actual family values. Kudos to them, because, despite the odds being against them, they still created something that half a century later, still resonates with American culture.
Almost nothing about it could be termed or seen as realistic and the show has to be interpreted simply as a way overly idealized version of the traditional American family. Perhaps one of the great ironies of the show, revealed only decades after it wrapped production was that the idealized American father was in fact gay.
Although it was supposed to be a comedy, in reality, it was more silly than funny. The actual funniest thing about the show, at least in retrospect is how seemingly, and ridiculously out of step the show appeared to be with the times. The may have worn bell bottoms, had perms and uttered the occasional "groovy" now and then, but apart from superficial acknowledgements of the era, this was basically Ozzie and Harriet in color. It's no wonder that the 1995 BB movie really nailed it by sarcastically playing up the truly funniest aspect of the show - how unbelievably "square" they were in comparison to any era, except for, maybe the 50's.
I suppose not too many other comedies in the 70's concerned themselves with Vietnam, Kent State, civil unrest, drugs or Watergate, because ... well, they were comedies ! But, while there were ground-breaking comedies like All in the Family and Mary Tyler Moore being made, Schwartz and co. Stuck to their guns and insisted on making a wholesome, milquetoast and probably unrealistic show with actual family values. Kudos to them, because, despite the odds being against them, they still created something that half a century later, still resonates with American culture.