Bring back shows like "Roseanne"

By: JT Shroyer

Posted: 11/18/08

The middle class may still be around, even if some are only hanging on by a thread. But on TV, shows portraying the middle class have virtually disappeared. Today, we are bombarded by reality shows about the rich and famous showcasing people who are nothing like the typical American family.

For instance, take Paris Hilton's new reality show "My New BFF" or shows like "Desperate Housewives," "The Hills," "Laguna Beach," "My Super Sweet Sixteen" or "Cribs." All of these shows are typically filled with ultra-rich, attractive people who don't have a care in the world.

Unlike Roseanne, Archie Bunker or Al Bundy, they don't worry about making ends meet, clipping coupons or checking every price tag. They seem to have an endless supply of cash, and "spend, baby, spend" is their motto.

As a society, we have become obsessed with those who have an abundance of wealth and privilege to the point of wanting that same life - even if we can't afford it. Maybe the desire to have a little piece of that lifestyle has contributed to many Americans biting off more than they can chew by using credit irresponsibly, as well as buying homes, cars and things they can't afford by adopting a "buy now, pay later" mentality.

At least Roseanne gave us a weekly dose of reality mixed with humor, and I think we were better off for it. Her show grounded us and, for many, made our lives actually look pretty good compared to hers.

For instance, in the show's pilot, the oldest daughter Becky is taking cans of food to school for a food drive and says it's for "poor people," and Roseanne quips back, "Well tell 'em to drive some of that food over here!" Unfortunately, this show probably has more relevance and "realism" in today's economy than back when the show first aired. Roseanne was recently quoted in Entertainment Weekly saying, "I'm very proud of it's timelessness and, you know, the fact that it has a political edge; that it is even more relevant now than it was then."

I couldn't agree more. Families like the Conners who live paycheck to paycheck are rarely, if ever, seen on television today. The ironic thing is her sitcom is probably more realistic than half of the "reality" shows dominating television right now.

We're all too busy watching shows like "The Hills," where money is never a problem and going to expensive restaurants is no big deal. In fairness, there has been some balance over the years between shows that portray the rich and shows that portray the rest of us.

Shows like "Dynasty," "Dallas," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Clueless," "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" are one extravagant end, and then "Happy Days," "Full House," "Home Improvement," "Friends" and "Seinfeld" highlight life in the "middle." Right now, there seems to be a major lack of balance between what kind of characters and people we see on television.

Granted, I like "The Hills," but sometimes I have to ask myself "why?" Do we not want to face our grim reality on TV? Would we rather escape our problems and go into a totally different world for half an hour? Whatever the reason, I've always felt a sense of comfort watching those on TV go through the same problems as me. I think to myself, "Hey, I'm not alone. They're going through it, too, and we're all in this together." Although all of these shows are funny, I find that when I'm watching the "rich," I tend to laugh at them and their problems, but when watching the average folks, I seem to always laugh along with them.

JT Shroyer is a sophomore in new media communications. The opinions expressed in his columns do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily Barometer staff. Shroyer can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.