When watching television today, many viewers assume that shows create completely unique and creative situations for characters to experience. Once given the opportunity to view TV shows from the past, however, the impact of former entertainment becomes apparent. The similarities in format between a contemporary show such as "All In The Family," and a modern show such as "Everybody Loves Raymond" are numerous.
"All In The Family" portrayed a daughter, her husband and the daughter's parents. Tension between the husband, Michael, and the father, Archie is high, creating a humorous situation for viewers. This in-law humor is very similar to many shows now found on TV. In "Everybody Loves Raymond," the situation is somewhat flipped, with the wife having issues with her husband's parents, but overall the affect is is very similar. Beyond in-law humor, the show also pokes fun at the older generation. This is very much like what we now see on television, in which the older people are usually a bit wacky.
Despite the similarities, "All In The Family" also was a bit different from what we often find on television today. Although it is not uncommon for topics such as homosexuality to be discussed in shows, it is often done in a much less blatant manner. In the episode watched, the comments made by Archie Bunker seemed extremely dated and insensitive. A TV show today would approach the topic in a less harsh way in order to suit a more general audience.
Television has continued to evolve over the past 60 years, and while we still use many of the same formats for shows, such as the family sitcom or the slapstick comedy, shows have begun to portray controversies and issues in a much different light; instead of possibly offending people to make a point, directors and writers now use a more subdued method to get the idea across to audiences.
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