jon wrote:

I'm confused, maybe I'm just a BDG, but how does 2 1/2 Men fit into your flawed commentary? Both men are college educated , one a chiropractor, the other a commercial television jingle writer, there are no women to bail them out, actually the few recurring characters with the exceptionof Rose serve as blatant irritants to otherwise bucolic beach life with recyclable girlfriends. Jake has become a minor character and has little to say that doesn't entail bodily noises and functions (which as a former child of the male gender is actually painfully normal).
As a BDG myself, I see little that is unreal about The war at Home. Teen girls are as much or more of a handful than their daughter, some boys are just odd like the eldest son, and some are horn dogs, like the youngest. The married couple argue and play off against the kids and each other. How is that formulaic and not LIFE?

posted at October 3, 2006 12:25 PM

cd wrote:

Thanks for this article.

I could not agree more with your thesis. The only reason I can think of that fathers are continually portrayed as you describe is because the creatives can't come up with another stereotype that won't be found to be offensive by some group; or the studios won't make pilots that are sharper and more intelligent because they might not pull the ratings; or the writers themselves have become BDG.

Shows that raise the bar like Freaks and Geeks or Arrested Development don't survive the ratings game. So apparently it is a case of America being what it watches (Which came first, dumbed-down television or dumbed-down people, I don't know).

I conclude that we as a species are nearing the end of our experiment as the highest life-form and dubious stewards of a lonely blue planet.

Where is that asteroid?

posted at October 3, 2006 03:25 PM

Bob wrote:

Too bad you didn't watch Raymond. You've missed what was probably the funniest show on television.

posted at October 4, 2006 01:59 AM

James wrote:

I agree with Bob. I was very slow to come around to Raymond, but I'm glad I did. Much like the author of this article, I figured it was another BDG show. I was wrong.

posted at October 5, 2006 05:26 PM

Sunny wrote:

I must be a BDG (big dopey girl) because I was duped....my husband didn't become the stereotypical BDG until about 3 years into our marriage....now he's the poster child for them all....I loved Raymond for the interaction between Deb and Ray but didn't watch it because Marie made me want to kill her. I agree with Frank...What contest in HELL did I win????

posted at October 6, 2006 01:34 PM

Chris wrote:

I'm curious who this inscrutable "WE" really is? They must actually be quite a petite group since the majority of the tv viewing audience disagrees with them by awarding "Two and a Half Men" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" various accolades. And as far as the other two shows are concerned, apparently there is another disagreement since they are back for another season. I tend to agree with Jon(poster from 10/3) when he said that "Two and a Half Men" doesn't fit the so called "BDG" formula. It doesn't! Me thinks that the "WE" is actually a clique of BDG's feeling what its like to be stereotyped like the majority of minorites. And since there is some truth to stereotyping they should also realize there really are men like that out there.... they are not alone! So you can get off your soapbox and perhaps do a little research before you ramble on so capriciously about your flawed "formula".

posted at October 6, 2006 06:11 PM

Dick Greenleaf wrote:

I watch War at Home for Kenny, the closeted kid who has a crush on the older son.

posted at October 9, 2006 09:32 AM

Dave wrote:

Whiners.

posted at October 9, 2006 10:31 AM

Tim wrote:

Home Improvment was the worst BDG show. totally took off Tim Allens N*ts. NO way was Everybody Loves Raymond the funniest show on TV, arrested Development was, and thats was NOT a BDG show. The War at home is at least funny, not like most crap out there. Still, I'd rather have BDG show than reality TV or women with superpowers or suoper spy skills, cause I just ain't buying 112lbs girls beating up 250 lbs Men.

posted at October 10, 2006 06:57 PM

Jessi wrote:

This article rocks. Very perceptive analysis of a bizarre trend in the suckiness of television today.

posted at October 11, 2006 08:39 PM

Jacki wrote:

Everybody Loves Raymond was only funny to people who enjoyed hearing the same exact joke told over and over and over.
I think BDG is a popular formula because deep DEEP down, everybody who is NOT a white male resents their position of power in the world, and everyone who IS a white male wants to deflect that resentment. Nothing says that better than making him the butt of a tv series worth of jokes. But notice that no matter how stupid and/or fat he is, he still manages to attract a hot wife.

posted at October 12, 2006 05:25 PM

ed wrote:

Only a small portion of the tv audience is fruity. TV is for the rest of us. Arrested was a weekly meeting of borderline retards.

posted at October 13, 2006 11:28 PM

Jim Middleton wrote:

And what the WOMEN on TV are portrayed in a real fashion? Its TV, get over it. Geez.

posted at October 14, 2006 08:38 AM

Stogoe wrote:

Raymond was probably the biggest steamer that ever fell into the bowl, and King of Queens comes in a close second. Not funny in the slightest.

Please, can we fire the BDG?

posted at October 16, 2006 07:17 PM

Lisa wrote:

As you can see, the guys that are supporting big and stupid shows such as: "Everybody loves Raymond" are MEN!! Not surprisingly. :S I really enjoy your RIGHT point of view. I haven't met a nagging wife in my short life. It's the opposite of that. They are cleaning the house, cooking for the family, working the minimun wage; and they are not "nagging" - just expressing their opinions. I'm a teenager and surely my BDG of brother or father are NOT my role models. Thanks!

posted at October 17, 2006 07:40 PM

gail wrote:

I too have never watched any of the shows you mention but I love love Family Guy.

posted at October 18, 2006 09:22 AM

Keith wrote:

I liked "Raymond." I like "Two-and-a-half Men," even though at times it is painful to watch Allen's character interaction with his ex. The truth hurts, I guess. Women are bitches, men are dumb assholes.

Like Rodney King said (clutching his 2 million dollar check), "Can't we all just have a riot and beat each other senseless already?"

But the guy is right about BDG. Still, as someone else said, it's only television. Then again, there is a certain influence it wrecks on weak minds...or feminists. (Jacki - you've obviously tasted lemons.)

And boy, CD, I love that line..."where is that asteriod?" Only I'd add - "...already."

Peace out peeps - Keith

posted at October 18, 2006 03:50 PM

Caroline Habicht wrote:

Well, to respond to what Lisa said, I am a 21-year-old female, and I love Everybody Loves Raymond, and not just because the title tells me I should. Not every season was the best, I'll admit, especially the beginning seasons which I have seen in reruns, where Debra is really just a nag like the BDG formula states. I got into Raymond during later seasons, and there is a real depth to it that I love. It shows a real family, not just a two-dimensional BDG family, a family that hates each other, has resentments and problems, but underneath all that still cares and loves each other. There is incredibly witty dialogue at times, observational humor, and great comedic talent displayed here. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but really, give every show a chance before damning it (as I did to According to Jim before dubbing it the stupidest most assanine show on television.)
And to whoever commented that teen girls are a handful, parents are at odds with kids and each other, while this is true in some/many cases, there often are a lot more differences and a lot more depth going on underneath. I think there should be some more shows out there that show a different kind of family dynamic, and delve a little more below the surface of its characters like Freaks and Geeks did.
Anyway, I agree that this trend is over-used and a bit tired, but I think that shows like Raymond that give a new spin on it are worth watching, and that if some of these shows were to change up the formula and put some more thought and depth into the premises, they could liven things up a bit and change things for the better. Though at this point, I must admit I am kind of in agreeance with the asteroid comment. Yikes.

posted at October 22, 2006 10:57 AM

Shell wrote:

Although I liked watching ELR & absolutely love 2 1/2 men, I do get tired of the wife being portrayed as a nag (Debra- ELR) or accepting of constant lies, schemes, etc. (Cheryl-According to Jim). But, one of the all time greats, Still Standing was cancelled. I too would like to know how these guys with less-than-perfect looks do manage to get the hot wives...maybe they're HSG's - Hot Stupid Gals........

posted at October 24, 2006 07:50 AM

Tim wrote:

Ok. So everyone's allowed to have an opinion. But let's face it. This is entertainment. After I come home from working all day, all I want to do is watch something that makes me laugh and forget about the CRAP I've had to put up with all day. Maybe these shows don't reflect reality, but who would watch a show that does? No one could have as much drama going on in their lives as those Dr.s on ER or Jack on 24! Television is and escape from reality! Those folks on Survivor "place your next remote place here" aren't roughing it. Look at our soldiers and servicemen in Iraq and Afganistan, they are roughing it. I don't want to see reality, I live it evryday. So give me ELR, According to Jim and 2 1/2 Men...they make me laugh.

posted at October 26, 2006 04:49 AM

Glynnjamin wrote:

First off: Married With Children was the best BDG show ever. I don't even see how no one mentioned it.

Secondly: Raymond was terrible. I can't believe it's on like 6 times in a row on TBS.

Finally, and most importantly, I am coming to the defense of Michael Rappaport. His Dave character is neither dumb or bullied by his children. In fact, I've found some of his parenting techniques to be quite inspired. Not only are he and his wife equally fallible but they are equally redeeming. At the same time, one week there may be a child who gets away with something by "outsmarting" the parents but the next week the parents exert their dominance over the child. There is a balance...as much as there was one between you and your parents as you were growing up. Sure, Dave may not be the college educated type but he assuredly can match wits with anyone else on the show.

posted at October 31, 2006 12:24 PM

Casey wrote:

Anyone else miss All In The Family..?

posted at November 2, 2006 02:55 PM

Kristen wrote:

Thank God for shows like Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (this show is actually pretty smart for network television)! The male and female characters are smart, creative, and career driven! There are a lot of other really great shows with characters that have a little more dimension to them....Entourage for example. Sopranos even. So Tony isn't exactly a role model but he's not stupid either. These shows have real complex characters and plots that aren't stale and formulaic. There are two kinds of shows, ones that appeal to stupid, simple people and those that appeal to educated people that appreciate smart television. I suppose there has got to be something out there for everyone.
p.s.
I'm watching Happy Hour right now. No one should watch this show... it is almost insulting how aweful it is!

posted at November 2, 2006 10:26 PM

Peter Gaffney wrote:

I don't have a TV, so I only watch the shows my girlfriend watches, and she's always been a huge fan of Raymond. It was very much a traditional sitcom, with cliche situations and formulaic plots, but it was well-written and well-acted, and it often makes me laugh.

That being said, the BDG genre is pretty tiresome (I won't say "offensive," because being "offended" is an attitude I associate with an uptight, humorless sensibility -- although I don't think that's the sensibility of the people posting here who have used the word)... primarily because it's so ubiquitous.

"King of the Hill" sort of falls into the genre, but Hank and Peggy are very specific, unique characters. They're exaggerated -- they're cartoons, after all -- but they're not generic. Maybe part of the irritation people (especially men) jkhave with these BDG shows is that the guys are so generic and there are so many of them that the implication is that the BDG is Everyman -- the quintessence of the 21st Century American male.

posted at November 6, 2006 03:45 PM

Jay Dees wrote:

I agree 100% with Tim. I think you're being way too critical about many of the shows you've mentioned except perhaps Brad garrett's new show.

posted at November 22, 2006 11:24 AM

VIA LOUIS wrote:

I thought I agreed with most of the above comments; Raymond's character is an imbicile. Most of the sitcoms currently running are a mindless waste of time; not in the least relaxing--NOR FUNNY. Take Homer Simpson, a textbook moron, but funny as hell; the writers are tops, so what in the hell did we need the family guy for? Most sitcoms are mindless bores; the worst: anything with james belushi, charlie sheen or the shrew who plays Carrie on king of queens. Speaking of Queens, Ben Stiller's dad is still one of the funniest men on TV (his wife too); the son--sucks BALLS; playing the same character on everything!!! No range, timing-nothin'

reminds me of the old Alf show; keep THE ALIEN, burn the rest of the family. Don't get me started on that hickory-smoked King O the Hill storyline; Dale, should be the grand marshall of DUMBASSES. thank god for HBO & Showtime series.

posted at December 12, 2006 10:34 PM