Free Republic

Cleavers to Lohans: The Downhill Slide of the American TV Family It used to be kids in TV families who caused the problems and the parents who solved them. In the brave new world of reality television, parents are the problem. June 2, 2008 - by Katherine Berry There was a time in American television when parents and children alike would gather in front of the TV to watch Leave it to Beaver or even The Cosby Show, programs that affirmed the importance of the family structure and reminded us that loving parents can guide their children through even the...

Jerry Belson, Emmy-winning comedy writer, dies of cancer at 68 ANDREW GLAZER LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jerry Belson, an Emmy-winning comedy writer for "The Tracey Ullman Show" whose wit graced numerous other films and TV shows, including "The Odd Couple" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show," has died. He was 68. Belson died of cancer at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday, said friend and writing partner Garry Marshall. A "writer's writer," Belson inserted into his scripts what was funny to him, even if he thought only four others in his television audience would join him in laughter, said Marshall,...

Probably over now unless they're continuing it today on the MLKing holiday but hope you were able to catch this. Great show--writing, acting, etc. Yeah, a bunch of libs put it together and they portrayed a traditionalist/ conservative as an ignorant bigot while liberal Mike was a college student, but whaddaya expect. Still entertaining. So many phrases and lines pop into one's head: Stifle; Meathead; Dingbat; lil' girl; ya figured that out, hah?; Edith, get me a beer, hah?; You're a pip, etc. More than a few dramatic moments mixed in with the comedy. What other comedy show ends an...

Is there a weekly contest at Air America to see which host can make the most asinine public statements? Perhaps there's a chart in the breakroom where each silly press outburst gets a happy face sticker next to the person's name?

I have recently begun watching reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond. It is a pretty funny show, but I hear everyone talk about how it is how real couples are. This is somewhat scary. I am not married yet, so I will have to take your word for it. All sitcom wives seem to be bleating nags who are represented as being the only smart person of the family. I saw a clip of Everybody Loves Raymond in which his wife calls him dumb and another in which she punches him in the groin! You would never see a sitcom in...