When it comes to television programming for children, aside from Saturday morning cartoons, there hasn’t been much variety. So what’s a kid who shies away from nature supposed to do? Tune into adult shows, of course. The sitcoms from my childhood were not all simple entertainment. They tackled serious themes, from the Korean War to life in the projects, featuring flawed characters dealing with real issues like divorce and family dynamics. Even Scooby-Doo couldn’t figure out why Ann Romano was still single! “Ruh-ro, Raggage!”
If you were sick and stayed home from school, reruns of classic sitcoms such as Barney Miller, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Odd Couple were your only companions. The adult characters were complex, often grappling with dissatisfaction, mild melancholy, and an unkempt appearance—completely relatable!
This brings me to a troubling trend in today’s television landscape: sitcoms aimed at children. As a parent of a 7-year-old son, I have endured my share of these shows. The formula typically involves a cast of impossibly attractive kids dressed in designer attire who live in lavish homes, barely interact with their parents, and have everything handed to them. And let’s not forget their inexplicable meanness—these kids will ruthlessly mock each other and any adult nearby.
I’m not suggesting that kids in real life aren’t capable of cruelty. As a child, I occasionally made cutting remarks, but that stemmed from my own insecurities. At least my humor was clever! Today’s on-screen kids have it all yet complain incessantly in the most unfunny, cringe-inducing ways. These characters are deemed “aspirational,” a term I’ve encountered frequently as a TV writer in meetings. This idea suggests that these kids are meant to be superior to your average viewer’s child—richer, more attractive, and more popular. What happened to encouraging kids to be their authentic selves?
To be fair, I too aspired to emulate the television characters I watched growing up. That led me to become a somewhat neurotic comedy writer (influenced by The Odd Couple), making questionable decisions in relationships (thanks to lessons learned from Cheers), and spending significant time in therapy (inspired by The Bob Newhart Show). I also pride myself on being a kind and supportive friend (like Mary Tyler Moore).
However, I certainly do not wish for my son to look up to the self-centered characters on today’s shows. While I’ve banned a few Disney productions from our home, I still allow him to explore a variety of content, just as I was permitted to watch The Brady Bunch. When we sit down to watch these shows together, I often excuse myself briefly to process my feelings, only to return and comment loudly about the characters’ behavior: “Wow, that kid is a brat!” or “Why are they being so mean?” I also remind him that girls can be smart, too!
My greater concern is that my son finds this content amusing. To address this, I employ a two-part strategy. First, I no longer feign enjoyment of the questionable material. Acknowledging my opinion matters to him, I’ll respond to his questions about whether something is funny with phrases like, “Not my cup of tea,” or “Really? You didn’t see that coming?” Second, I introduce him to classic sitcoms. While we haven’t yet explored Rhoda or One Day at a Time, he has developed an appreciation for the Marx Brothers, and we recently began watching The Carol Burnett Show. So far, he was in stitches at Dinah Shore’s rendition of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”
We’ve also started watching adult sitcoms like Fresh Off the Boat and black-ish. Although he doesn’t grasp all the jokes—especially the more mature themes—the dialogues can serve as valuable learning moments, particularly regarding race and social dynamics. The children in these shows, while adorable, are well-rounded and imperfect, allowing us to share laughs together, much like my brother and I did with our parents. After all, family bonding over TV is much more enjoyable than camping trips!
So, the next time you find yourself at CPK enjoying delectable Avocado Club Egg Rolls, and you overhear a nearby child complaining about their iPad’s low battery while their father looks visibly frustrated, remember: these kids are merely achieving their goal of becoming self-centered individuals.
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In summary, while current children’s sitcoms may lack depth and relatability, parents can encourage critical thinking and laughter by introducing kids to classic shows and engaging in thoughtful conversations about the content they consume.