Sitcoms Stereotypes

It is crazy how many similar characters there are in television sitcoms.  I never really realized it before we had the big discussion in class but now that I have started thinking about it I can’t stop seeing all of the similarities between characters.  Some are pretty obvious.  The whole overweight husband who is not the sharpest tool in the shed is everywhere.  Homer Simpson from the Simpsons, Jim from According to Jim, Jimmy Hughes from Yes, Dear the list goes on.  But I thought it was curious to see this idea of the less than average husband in other places of TV too.  Phil Dunphy from Modern Family is not always the smartest person in the show.  Yet he is seen to be a very competent Realtor and salesman.  It is weird how he has to be this goofy person as well.  Why do we need this comedic relief character when we have others on the show that fills that role?

I also thought a lot about how television portrays class.  I never realized that there were many characters that should not have had the life they were living that somehow made their life work.  There is also no mention of a working class in these television shows.  I often wonder why that is?  Do people who watch these shows relate to the characters more than they would if they were working class?  One show that is currently airing right now called The Middle features a working class family.  They are constantly in financial trouble, and often there are shots of their house falling apart.  The only thing is that they somehow manage to make everything work out by the end of the week.  It might be a little unrealistic but I think it is interesting that they are pointing out all of these financial troubles.  It kind of reminds me of my family.  My mom is a Teacher and my dad was a Forrester.  We were by no means poor but we did not have a lot of extra money, especially once my oldest sister started going to college.  Maybe that I why I like the show.  I wonder if the show was more realistic and not meant to be a comedy if I would like it as much.  Would I think that it was too real?  I wonder how well a show like that would do?  Or maybe people like that they are unrealistic.  Maybe they want TV to help them escape not remind them of their problems.