I came across this article about the TV sitcom "Cheers."
10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Cheers, 41 Years Later
I liked "Cheers," although I didn't consider it one of the best sitcoms.
- Cheers, while considered one of the best sitcoms, has aspects that don't hold up after decades, including toxic relationships and lack of diversity.
- Sam, the primary character, exemplified toxic masculinity and often crossed boundaries with women, masked by charming flirtation.
- The show lacked diversity in its cast and characters, with a predominantly Caucasian cast and no LGBTQ representation, despite being set in a bustling city.
I suppose one could even cite Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H as similar to Sam Malone in crossing boundaries with women. Although in later seasons, Hawkeye got put in his place a few times and toned down his lecherous behavior.
I would partially agree with the point about the lack of diversity, although I also know that there were many voices speaking out against that phenomenon in Hollywood productions. I recall when Star Wars came out in 1977, there were many who complained about the lack of black actors in the production.
I suppose the question I'm asking here is, how should society reconcile itself with some of these older films and TV shows which may not be considered acceptable in today's political climate? Should they be banned or restricted from distribution? Should they be edited, like some of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons and Little Rascals shorts? Movies like Song of the South have fallen by the wayside already.
What do you think about this?
Also, I was wondering if anyone can think of other examples of movies or TV shows which wouldn't pass muster nowadays?