Posted on 04/28/2002 4:33:42 PM PDT by Starmaker
It seems that only a few years ago television brought Ozzie and Harriet Nelson into our homes each week. Then again, the current popularity of the MTV show, "The Osbournes," makes it seem like an eternity ago. Outside of similar sounding first names, there is nothing similar between the two principal characters. Neither is there anything similar between the two cultures they represent.
"Ozzie and Harriet" represented traditional America. The family had disagreements but never cursed or used foul language. The father was humorous but never irreverent. The wife was strong but always ladylike. The boys were mischievous but never sinful.
Families could watch an entire season of "Ozzie and Harriet" without ever having their morals attacked or their piety insulted. In fact, fundamental virtues such as honesty, morality, and integrity were integral themes of the show. The show was not the only thing pictured in black and white - so was right and wrong.
However, today's Ozzy knows no such decorum. The Osbournes are crude, vulgar, and profane. Four letter words flow from their mouths faster than water falls over Niagara. That they could even be allowed on television speaks to the debauchery of today's society. That they have become the biggest hit show in MTV's history (even President Bush is said to be "a big fan") means the culture has thoroughly collapsed.
One family therapist explained the show's success saying, "There's a domineering mother and a feeble father, something that's common to many families." She also said, "In some ways, they live a very normal life in this upper-middle-class environment, mixed with a really strange mentality and dysfunction." In other words, people like the Osbournes because they are mixed up and dysfunctional also. If that isn't a commentary on where we are as a culture, I don't know what is!
Then again, is everyone watching MTV? Are the Osbournes truly reflective of our culture? The change agents, who desire to turn America into a place Lucifer himself would enjoy visiting during winter vacations, say, "Yes." Of course, those same people would deny that the Nelsons ever reflected American society. (It's not clear how they can have it both ways.)
Obviously, millions of people in this country today have never heard of "Ozzie and Harriet" and, therefore, have never experienced life in traditional America. Furthermore, the Osbournes and MTV are helping to make sure they never will.
I also love "The Osbournes" and watch it whenever I can. I cannot explain the dichotomy. If not for "The Osbournes" I wouldn't know or care if MTV was on the air.
But, it does say a great deal about how low our culture has sunk.
Ozzy and family are just like my family: real people who aren't perfect, yet love each other very, very much. His show is outstanding, and a perfect example of why you shouldn't drink to excess or do drugs. He's even Christian and pro-war, for Heaven's sake.
Don't let a few bad words throw you off from the message of the show, man.
I like the Osbournes ----I think I realized why when I read that MTV might have more celebrity shows like this ---I realized that most celebrities wouldn't be interesting at all because they would use the time to preach and condescend to us. Ozzie and his family aren't arrogant, they aren't trying to show us political correctness like Cher, Alex Baldwin, Bono of U2, Julia Roberts, Rosie, and on and on do. He's just a simple man he says, he can't even figure out the remote control --and maybe that's what is nice. Very rare in celebrities.
The difference, in my opinion: People in the 21st century talk more about it. People get out of detox or rehab and tell everyone they know. People take meds for mental illnesses and tell everyone they know. We're living in a huge, Oprah-like world, where disclosure is king.
Better, or worse? Or just different?
Well, someone had to say it!
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It's the same reason the Clintons have hysterical appeal to many. They are a validation of the corrupt dysfunctional lives their supporters are living.
But some say the 50s had already turned down that road. Harriet may not have been domineering like Osbourne's wife, but Ozzie Nelson was already pretty bland, detached and feeble. Maybe TV itself dethrowned the father and helped to create a void that domineering mothers could step into. But for better or worse, Ozzie Nelson, Ward Cleaver and the other TV dads of the 50s were far from older models of male or paternal dominance.
Don't include us in that 'we'. I watched it once. I came away stunned that that they weren't too humiliated to allow it to be shown on TV.
The fact that many, even here at FR, are saying that the Osborns reflect how many freepers grew up, shows how far we've plummeted. It's very troubling, obviously my generation failed terribly.
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Throughout my younger years I never heard even one of the men in our neighborhood use the language now routinely heard in movies and on TV. To do so would have got them blackballed from association from other men of stature in the community. How old are you?
That sounds like an old friend of mine growing up.His Dad was lame from a Korean War wound [and having his wife back the car over him].His mother was mean as a snake and kept him[the Dad] in the basement.One time having an argument she shoved a hot punkin pie in his face and shoved him down the stairs of the basement.There was never a dull moment in that household.
Shocking Language!
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