Why doesn't any sitcom address the Iraq conflict, and other world events - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tvje · 03-21-2003, 06:32 PM

What happened to shows that addressed the problems in the world? Since "All in the Family", sitcoms addressed issues going in this country and around the world.

Why doesn't any sitcoms address the Iraq conflict. I remember during the first Iraq war, "A Different World" did an episode about the Gulf War when Blair Underwood played a solder about to go to war. Also "A Different World" did a two part episode about the LA riots. Also the "Fresh Prince of Bell Air" did an episode about the LA riots.

What is going with today's sitcoms? Also not one sitcom did an episode about 9/11. It is reverting back to the "Brady Bunch" style of dealing with the world's issues. Today's sitcoms seem to take place in the different universal.

Nanny Fine · 03-21-2003, 08:06 PM

I was surprised that Will & Grace/Friends, etc, (NYC Based Sitcoms) made NO mention of 9/11. Third Watch had a big episode, a 2 parter, on it. But your right. They dont' address world events.

I think people watch this stuff as an escape of sorts and watching comedy shows dealing with real life events (9/11, Iraq) defeats the purpose. I'm not saying this is how I feel, I'm saying this is what I Think might be the reason there isn't that sort of coverage.

Sitcomwriter · 03-22-2003, 12:14 AM

They don't want to be considered offensive.I learned that the hard way when I decided to write a 9/11 episode of my "Three's Company" spinoff "Melody & Chrissy".Ok so it was historically inaccurate and was written on 9/11/01 making it seem as though I only did it for ratings (I just wanted to start a trend which would be 9/11 episodes) and sure enough people made a big deal over it.I later scrapped the fact that the show took place in the future with the new episodes taking place in 2003 instead of 2010 which is where we would be by now.I also did a 9/11 episode of the M&C spinoff "Ally Goes to Harvard" this past 9/11 but instead of a storyline like M&C's 2-part "World Trade Center" episode, The cast of AGTH (Alexis Bledel,Natalie Portman,Evan Rachel Wood and Joyce DeWitt) played themselves and introduced musical guests such as Bruce Springsteen and Celine Dion and then did an all-star finale with many celebrities including Dennis Miller and the aforementioned Springsteen and Dion doing a rendition of "We are the world".The episode even made fun of the M&C episode's final seen words "9/11/01-A day that will live in infamy" with it's final seen words "9/11/01-A day that will live in infamy....and infancy".

I also plan to do an episode of my current hit sitcom "Gabaldi Bound" that will be about the war in Iraq which I plan to air this weekend called "Between Iraq and a Hard Place".

03-21-2003, 06:32 PM	#1
tvje Senior Member Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,362	Why doesn't any sitcom address the Iraq conflict, and other world events What happened to shows that addressed the problems in the world? Since "All in the Family", sitcoms addressed issues going in this country and around the world. Why doesn't any sitcoms address the Iraq conflict. I remember during the first Iraq war, "A Different World" did an episode about the Gulf War when Blair Underwood played a solder about to go to war. Also "A Different World" did a two part episode about the LA riots. Also the "Fresh Prince of Bell Air" did an episode about the LA riots. What is going with today's sitcoms? Also not one sitcom did an episode about 9/11. It is reverting back to the "Brady Bunch" style of dealing with the world's issues. Today's sitcoms seem to take place in the different universal. __________________ tvje

03-21-2003, 08:06 PM	#2
Nanny Fine Senior Member Justine and Holden.. Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Watching The Ellen Degeneres Show and luvin' it Posts: 2,787	I was surprised that Will & Grace/Friends, etc, (NYC Based Sitcoms) made NO mention of 9/11. Third Watch had a big episode, a 2 parter, on it. But your right. They dont' address world events. I think people watch this stuff as an escape of sorts and watching comedy shows dealing with real life events (9/11, Iraq) defeats the purpose. I'm not saying this is how I feel, I'm saying this is what I Think might be the reason there isn't that sort of coverage. __________________ * How it all came down to this, only the Devil knows. Retail Rodeo is at the corner on my left. The motel is down the road to my right. I close my eyes and try to peer into the future. On my left, I saw days upon days of lipstick and ticking clocks, dirty looks and quiet whisperings. And burning secrets that just won't ever die away. And on my right, what could I picture? The blue sky, the desert earth, stretching out into the eerie infinity. A beautiful never-ending nothing. ~Justine, "The Good Girl" * Bush for President!

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03-22-2003, 12:14 AM	#3
Sitcomwriter Banned!! Banned!! Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,277	They don't want to be considered offensive.I learned that the hard way when I decided to write a 9/11 episode of my "Three's Company" spinoff "Melody & Chrissy".Ok so it was historically inaccurate and was written on 9/11/01 making it seem as though I only did it for ratings (I just wanted to start a trend which would be 9/11 episodes) and sure enough people made a big deal over it.I later scrapped the fact that the show took place in the future with the new episodes taking place in 2003 instead of 2010 which is where we would be by now.I also did a 9/11 episode of the M&C spinoff "Ally Goes to Harvard" this past 9/11 but instead of a storyline like M&C's 2-part "World Trade Center" episode, The cast of AGTH (Alexis Bledel,Natalie Portman,Evan Rachel Wood and Joyce DeWitt) played themselves and introduced musical guests such as Bruce Springsteen and Celine Dion and then did an all-star finale with many celebrities including Dennis Miller and the aforementioned Springsteen and Dion doing a rendition of "We are the world".The episode even made fun of the M&C episode's final seen words "9/11/01-A day that will live in infamy" with it's final seen words "9/11/01-A day that will live in infamy....and infancy". I also plan to do an episode of my current hit sitcom "Gabaldi Bound" that will be about the war in Iraq which I plan to air this weekend called "Between Iraq and a Hard Place".