[hosepipe]

[ The overriding theme of successful tv comedy is to make the principle male look like an idiot and a wimp whose wife barely tolerates his existance. ]

Exactly...
Your basic Femi-Sitcom, male bashing, especially white male bashing.. opiate of the much maligned Oprah Harpocrites and Hillaryphonic riders of brooms(with vibrator).. male or female..

[SONbrad]

I would suggest that you haven't watched much of this particular show. There is plenty of Debra and Marie "bashing", if you want to call it that, in this show. I have to say that the producers and writers seem to make all characters fair game for showing their foibles.

Marie is the "nosy Mother in Law" that tries to bend everyone to her will.

Debra is the high-strung, has to be right about everything, thinks she's better than everyone else, wants-everything-perfect, wife.

Ray is the lazy, sports-obsessed, spoiled by his mama, husband.

Frank is the grouchy, demanding, hard-as-nails, father-in-law.

Robert is the sad, second-favorite, jealous, obsessed, brother.

Yet, throughout the show's run, they have all been shown in ppositive lights throughout the show in different ways.

[Blood of Tyrants]

It crosses racial boundaries. Look at the sitcom with George Lopez.