The DU Lounge

alarimer

(17,146 posts)

58. Chlidless or unmarried people are also portrayed usually as workaholics.

Tue Jun 18, 2013, 09:57 PM

Jun 2013

Or their private lives are a mess. Think every police procedural since forever, especially if that single or childless person is a woman. Cagney and Lacey, Prime Suspect (the Helen Mirren version, but probably the short-lived American one as well), the Killing, The Fall (new show with Gillian Anderson as a hard-nosed detective married to the job), etc., etc.

Friends was one for a while, but then they married some of them off and gave them kids.

I can't think of any recent examples that go against the trend. Seinfeld was one.

On the other hand Dexter is a serial killer with a kid, so there's that.

Single people are almost invariably portrayed as messed-up, narcissistic, or desperate not to be single.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

67 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Just once I would like to see a TV show with a childless couple! [View all] Lady Freedom Returns Jun 2013 OP

For that matter, kentauros Jun 2013 #1

That would be a nice change. Lady Freedom Returns Jun 2013 #2

I've never been baby crazy.. HipChick Jun 2013 #3

I know how that goes. GoCubsGo Jun 2013 #8

True. kentauros Jun 2013 #4

Why? BainsBane Jun 2013 #16

Because it's one-sided as a commercial that can have two positive outcomes. kentauros Jun 2013 #23

How about for the sake of realism? Jokerman Jun 2013 #34

I don't think anyone is suggesting that JoDog Jun 2013 #62

Yes!!! In_The_Wind Jun 2013 #20

Like Bob Newhart? MrMickeysMom Jun 2013 #5

I was going to mention Bob Newhart too Tom Kitten Jun 2013 #7

Beat me to it, as well, and may I add... GoCubsGo Jun 2013 #9

Mad about you in the 1990's Momgonepostal Jun 2013 #6

And that's exactly when it started to suck and got cancelled. OrwellwasRight Jun 2013 #53

Took some time but remembered "Hart to Hart" Tom Kitten Jun 2013 #10

Childless couple TV shows Art_from_Ark Jun 2013 #11

mike and gloria eventually had a baby orleans Jun 2013 #12

Mike and Gloria had a baby? Art_from_Ark Jun 2013 #14

lol - spoiler alert? (for mike and gloria) orleans Jun 2013 #15

I don't remember any of that Art_from_Ark Jun 2013 #18

gloria had an affair? RILib Jun 2013 #31

from imdb dot com: orleans Jun 2013 #42

Mike and Gloria had a baby, Joey. femmocrat Jun 2013 #27

More and mindy did have a baby whistler162 Jun 2013 #30

Jonathan Winters! nolabear Jun 2013 #48

and I think Mork gave birth, didn't he? Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2013 #57

Mork and Mindy had a baby? Art_from_Ark Jun 2013 #67

This message was self-deleted by its author Angleae Jun 2013 #66

mary tyler moore show orleans Jun 2013 #13

Only those weren't couple shows. OrwellwasRight Jun 2013 #54

The Honeymooners Tabasco_Dave Jun 2013 #17

The Honeymooners tried... Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2013 #41

I remember it. It was one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen. nolabear Jun 2013 #49

The Closer BainsBane Jun 2013 #19

Battlestar had Helo and Athena's daughter Hera - one of the major themes in the series. n/t sarge43 Jun 2013 #22

I thought the point was couples with no children BainsBane Jun 2013 #43

I Love Lucy? ConcernedCanuk Jun 2013 #21

little Ricky was their child mucifer Jun 2013 #24

OMG.... and the episode when Lucy goes to the hospital to deliver... femmocrat Jun 2013 #28

One of my pipi_k Jun 2013 #33

Pete and Gladys. Topper. Oh, and the Real McCoys. Little Luke and Hassie were Luke's brother and raccoon Jun 2013 #25

Topper! OrwellwasRight Jun 2013 #55

The Bob Newhart Show - LiberalElite Jun 2013 #26

I find it very telling... Chan790 Jun 2013 #29

Yeah, that pretty much ruined the series Bones. sarge43 Jun 2013 #32

I disagree OriginalGeek Jun 2013 #39

Chlidless or unmarried people are also portrayed usually as workaholics. alarimer Jun 2013 #58

I agree, but there are a few. Depends on if its sitcom or drama. Inkfreak Jun 2013 #35

More childless couples shows... pipi_k Jun 2013 #36

You're saying the Lone Ranger and Tonto were a couple? maybe so. nt raccoon Jun 2013 #38

It never occurred pipi_k Jun 2013 #40

Bob Newhart Show, Newhart graham4anything Jun 2013 #37

I find it hard to believe that enlightened people are looking to TV to be representational... MiddleFingerMom Jun 2013 #44

"enlightened people" - ur kidding, right? ConcernedCanuk Jun 2013 #45

Yes, I do consider the people who frequent this website to be MUCH more enlightened... MiddleFingerMom Jun 2013 #46

"He and She" nuxvomica Jun 2013 #47

1 Season/Lots of awards; Head of CBS at the time called it 'the funniest show we ever canceled' Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2013 #56

Moonlighting? Having a kid is a famous shark-jumper for many shows. nolabear Jun 2013 #50

Dexter didn't really jump the shark until they killed off his wife. Chan790 Jun 2013 #51

I got pissed when Deb's therapist told her it was okay to sleep with Dexter. nolabear Jun 2013 #52

Never saw pipi_k Jun 2013 #59

Adopted siblings. n/t Chan790 Jun 2013 #60

Green Acres NoPasaran Jun 2013 #61

Watch reruns of Dyedinthewoolliberal Jun 2013 #63

And going back further, kiva Jun 2013 #64

Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier... Locut0s Jun 2013 #65