Two new shows premiered in 1971. One was "All in the Family"--Norman Lear's brash distopia with a far-left Democrat's vicious (and founded) view of Republicans in Archie Bunker. Bringing foul language to the small screen, Lear smeared his comedy full of "issues" making it a show that is set in its own time, with, as always happens in Democrat-produced shows, the Democrats coming out on top in arguments while Republicans are simply crass bigots incapable of intellectual thought.
While in another show, lifelong Republican and one of America's finest and most beloved actors ever, James Stewart, brought his quiet charm to the small screen. Like the characters he played in "Mister Smith Goes to Washington" and "It's a Wonderful Life" Stewart is all-American in the best sense. A brilliant comic actor (he won his Oscar for a comedy) Stewart starts his show talking to the audience and often breaks the "fourth wall" by giving knowing looks to the camera, bringing the audience in as conspirators on his side.
The story: Stewart (I can't recall his name but it hardly matters) plays an Anthropology professor in a small college in a small town (I'm a country boy but it's like the sort of town I grew up near). For a variety of reasons he lives with his wife (Julie Adams, Stewart's co-star in "Bend in the River") and their young son. Then his grown son and his family moves in.
The children provide a clever running gag. Both boys are about the same age, but the professor's grandson calls the professor's younger son "Uncle Ted."
The quiet charm Stewart emits pervades this slice of small-town life. Rather than a family at each others throats in New York (face it, most of the country doesn't know New York and could care less), this family works through its problems.
Also on the scene is the ever-welcome character actor John McGiver.
However, the series had some problems. While "All in the Family" changed the laugh track to a live-audience ambiance (forever after dooming us to stage-bound overacting and forced laughter from audiences who may be trying to summon up the ability to laugh at a tenth take), the Stewart show went out without a laugh track, or any cues to New Yorkers or anyone else with low mentalities that it's time to titter.
At the time, "comedies" were broadcast with laugh tracks while only serious shows did not. The absence of a laugh track probably confused viewers accustomed to being told when to laugh. Another favorite show of mine, "Andy Richter Controls the Universe", tried the same stunt and ended up making fewer shows than Stewart. But believe me, Stewart's show is funny enough without it.
Then there's the fact that Stewart portrays an Anthropology professor. While I don't have any figures on it, this may have proved just a little too outre for viewers at the time. And maybe more so now, since society seems a lot dumber as a whole than it was then.
Overall, a family show that doesn't tackle "issues" (why should it? It's a comedy, for God's sake! Enjoy it!). It's in a nice little town (not quite so rural nor as well-populated as Mayberry, but the show was hardly given time to expand). It's a great show and it's a shame it lasted only one season. But perhaps it's best, before the whole thing devolved into a smaller version of the lousy "Room 222."
While in another show, lifelong Republican and one of America's finest and most beloved actors ever, James Stewart, brought his quiet charm to the small screen. Like the characters he played in "Mister Smith Goes to Washington" and "It's a Wonderful Life" Stewart is all-American in the best sense. A brilliant comic actor (he won his Oscar for a comedy) Stewart starts his show talking to the audience and often breaks the "fourth wall" by giving knowing looks to the camera, bringing the audience in as conspirators on his side.
The story: Stewart (I can't recall his name but it hardly matters) plays an Anthropology professor in a small college in a small town (I'm a country boy but it's like the sort of town I grew up near). For a variety of reasons he lives with his wife (Julie Adams, Stewart's co-star in "Bend in the River") and their young son. Then his grown son and his family moves in.
The children provide a clever running gag. Both boys are about the same age, but the professor's grandson calls the professor's younger son "Uncle Ted."
The quiet charm Stewart emits pervades this slice of small-town life. Rather than a family at each others throats in New York (face it, most of the country doesn't know New York and could care less), this family works through its problems.
Also on the scene is the ever-welcome character actor John McGiver.
However, the series had some problems. While "All in the Family" changed the laugh track to a live-audience ambiance (forever after dooming us to stage-bound overacting and forced laughter from audiences who may be trying to summon up the ability to laugh at a tenth take), the Stewart show went out without a laugh track, or any cues to New Yorkers or anyone else with low mentalities that it's time to titter.
At the time, "comedies" were broadcast with laugh tracks while only serious shows did not. The absence of a laugh track probably confused viewers accustomed to being told when to laugh. Another favorite show of mine, "Andy Richter Controls the Universe", tried the same stunt and ended up making fewer shows than Stewart. But believe me, Stewart's show is funny enough without it.
Then there's the fact that Stewart portrays an Anthropology professor. While I don't have any figures on it, this may have proved just a little too outre for viewers at the time. And maybe more so now, since society seems a lot dumber as a whole than it was then.
Overall, a family show that doesn't tackle "issues" (why should it? It's a comedy, for God's sake! Enjoy it!). It's in a nice little town (not quite so rural nor as well-populated as Mayberry, but the show was hardly given time to expand). It's a great show and it's a shame it lasted only one season. But perhaps it's best, before the whole thing devolved into a smaller version of the lousy "Room 222."