I keep thinking I can figure out some way to tell people on Reddit to please keep politics out of political threads without getting ganged up on as an obvious member of The Other Political Team and mocked by forty-somethings who’ve suddenly turned into playground bullies. So far I haven’t come up with anything.
I was too young when I watched the show, I remember it being a bit “scary”. I know realize that I could tell there was some sub text but my kid mind couldn’t fully grasp the meaning but i could tell there was something of substance and weight behind that I couldn’t really understand at the time. I want to watch it again.
Rewatched it a couple of years ago and found it even better than I remembered. The good thing is that it has so many layers that children and adults can enjoy it equally. Watch it if you can, it is really good.
Always this. Whenever I hear "I don't like politics inserted in my shows" the real translation is always "I don't want politics I don't agree with in my shows."
I slightly disagree with this because even though I’m liberal I’ve cringed at some really terribly implemented “agendas” because it just seemed shoehorned in and out of place or unnecessary.
Exactly, there's TOKEN FLAMBOYANT GAY and oh, that's Jim, he and his husband fish on weekends. But other than that Jim doesn't really stand out from the rest of the cast.
I totally get that. And that definitely comes down to lazy writing. It's more the people that get mad when there's a gay couple or a diverse cast and then scream WOKE AGENDA without paying any attention to the stories. But there are totally shows where things can seem forced.
there brain wasn't wired to see everything as my team is your team so ppl just took things at face value. At least I feel like our generation did, I'm sure some older folks got upset that black people were gaining more influence in popular culture
I think politics back in the day was WE, now it is YOU. By this I mean in Star Trek (example). "We got past racism because it was causing problems in X, Y, Z." would be used in TNG. Whereas "White people were so racist" would be used in Discovery. Things seem to have become more a soapbox to castigate rather than a story to reflect.
The outlyer doesn't set the rule. I'm referring to Uhura laughing when Lincoln apologized because she thought it stupid.
Discovery had to show misogyny against Burnham by having a character very unprofessionally berate her in front of a captain (who said nothing).
They changed star trek from a 'defending the attained utopia where people better themselves as currency' to a baffling same shit, different year where the federation allowed a species to almost go extinct out of spite. A species that inexplicably was all on one planet even though 'star empire' was in their name.
In fairness, I feel like its ok to say who the perpetrators are of certain things. I think trying to pretend EVERYONE is an equal offender may make people feel better, but its not the reality
Ehhh I think it's more that back then, people didn't hear or care about politics until they were grown ass adults. So esoteric jabs at a party weren't noticed or if they were, the casual viewer didn't have an opinion either way so no offense was taken.
14 year olds having political discussions is a relatively new thing.
This is true, but I find politics then equaled certain men are right. Now it equals ninny moms, dads, and white women are right. Politics are about who is receiving benefit from bias currently. My father and boss have always received it and whined when they didn't get it for a short period of time. Then they got it again and no one really cares.
Anyway, another form of politics is the acceptance of rude talk. When I was younger it was more accepted. Now, people try to pressure everyone into the nice club regardless of what's going on. Violence or aggression of any form isn't accepted. I think this is a very feminist, female, and gay political outlook on things. It's actually suppressing people with different ideas on such things.
Another common politic today is having everything by group based. For instance, decisions at work are group based (which means whatever is popular at the moment). Usually it's a waste of time/energy and kills individual creativity. However, if that's what the powers with money want because it's their polarized viewpoint and agenda that's what they get.
The younger and older generation all think they're right. The younger one is usually a bit more blind and are strong advocates to push the new political agendas for certain parties. Often because they see it as benefiting them or are fed that it is right vs wrong correcting past mistakes. However, it's more like my opinion vs your opinion.
All the same messages were there, people just weren’t hyper vigilant, throbbing cunts about anything against their worldview. The real agenda these days are all the people who feel compelled to label things “woke”. Especially when it’s nowhere near the slander they believe it to be.
We just watched this a few days ago (showed the kids Fresh Prince, which they now love) and in the next scene Carlton says "this is retarded!" which was pretty shocking.
Great episode though and Fresh Prince is a lot funnier than I remember.
I've been rewatching ER and the number of times they use the term "retarded" as a medical term of art is a little shocking to my 2025 ears. And they weren't even using it to be derogatory. It's remarkable how quickly the culture changes regarding the use of terminology.
I'm not trying to be one of those "you can't say anything anymore" people. My point is that society continually evolves, hopefully for the better.
Upton Sinclair turned my whole 7th grade class woke. We learned that sometimes it doesn't matter how good and smart and hard-working you are; if you're a member of an undesirable group you don't have the same chances as everyone else.
That statement that entertainment in the 90s. Entertainment had an agenda the day it was born. I Love Lucy couldn’t say pregnant but could say expecting. Which was funnier because of Ricky’s accent. M.A.S.H. Took moments to say something and All in the Family as well. The 80s had those episodes of Family Ties or the special episode of Diff’rent Strokes. Yes this scene is still relevant today. Worth repeating.
Anyone who say’s this and is old enough to have been alive in the 80’s-90’s is full of shit. An “agenda” was the fucking entire format of Sitcoms on TV. Like literally every one was a story with a valuable lesson wrapped up at the fucking end. Fuck GI Joe and other kids cartoons fucking had a god damned PSA after every episode. Anyone who says this with a straight face is just lying to push their racist “anti-woke” agenda.
I see their 90's Fresh Prince and raise them 80's Family Ties. The parents were total hippies and the son, Alex, was a stone cold conservative. Back then political discourse could be talked and even joked about. Those were the days :(
I remember the one where Jazzy was in court, at the stand with his hands up. "Jazzy, you can put your hands down." (Looking at the armed court guard) "No way. I put my arms down and I'm getting five warning shots to the head.'
heykidzimacomputer@reddit
Bush and Quayle ran on bashing Murphy Brown and the Simpsons.
gxslim@reddit
And a third party candidate had a historic run
ialsohaveadobro@reddit
I hope W the 1st enjoyed seeing how much he did to stop single motherhood lol
icey_sawg0034@reddit (OP)
He’s dead though
_Face@reddit
I watched a documentary on those events recently.
Dan Quayle vs Murphy Brown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7-BO64sHF0
ajrpcv@reddit
And Murphy Brown put it in the show! It was so great
Illustrious-Lead-960@reddit
I keep thinking I can figure out some way to tell people on Reddit to please keep politics out of political threads without getting ganged up on as an obvious member of The Other Political Team and mocked by forty-somethings who’ve suddenly turned into playground bullies. So far I haven’t come up with anything.
My fault for trying, I guess.
Or maybe for even being here.
gsadamb@reddit
Illustrious-Lead-960@reddit
Doesn’t work.
gsadamb@reddit
Yes, exactly. I was pointing out it’s a bit of an oxymoron.
Illustrious-Lead-960@reddit
Oh man, I’m gonna have to edit my post! I never used to write this many typos…
lowwalker@reddit
I mean... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GY1Xg6X20
nemomnemonic@reddit
Watch Jim Henson's Dinosaurs. That show had deeper messages than most of the shows that are being made today.
jorgeakageorge@reddit
I was too young when I watched the show, I remember it being a bit “scary”. I know realize that I could tell there was some sub text but my kid mind couldn’t fully grasp the meaning but i could tell there was something of substance and weight behind that I couldn’t really understand at the time. I want to watch it again.
nemomnemonic@reddit
Rewatched it a couple of years ago and found it even better than I remembered. The good thing is that it has so many layers that children and adults can enjoy it equally. Watch it if you can, it is really good.
Katniprose45@reddit
Ooh, the one where Charlene found and trained the little human girls and refused to use a cattle prod on them to make them do tricks...
CMarlowe@reddit
Let's be real. When people say this, their complaining that their own politics aren't being mirrored back to them.
KittySwipedFirst@reddit
Always this. Whenever I hear "I don't like politics inserted in my shows" the real translation is always "I don't want politics I don't agree with in my shows."
Financial_Radish@reddit
I slightly disagree with this because even though I’m liberal I’ve cringed at some really terribly implemented “agendas” because it just seemed shoehorned in and out of place or unnecessary.
davestar2048@reddit
Exactly, there's TOKEN FLAMBOYANT GAY and oh, that's Jim, he and his husband fish on weekends. But other than that Jim doesn't really stand out from the rest of the cast.
itadapeezas@reddit
I was about to reply this. I'm liberal but I really hate it in the shows I watch. It's just not necessary and feels totally out of place.
KittySwipedFirst@reddit
I totally get that. And that definitely comes down to lazy writing. It's more the people that get mad when there's a gay couple or a diverse cast and then scream WOKE AGENDA without paying any attention to the stories. But there are totally shows where things can seem forced.
Financial_Radish@reddit
Oh yeah 100% hate that crap. People just look for anything to be outraged at or look at everything from a political view and it’s annoying and sad.
_buffy_summers@reddit
See: Good Trouble, aka the show I cannot watch.
histprofdave@reddit
Remember, there are two races: white and "political," just like there are two orientations: straight and "political."
aspbergerinparadise@reddit
they're
Extreme-Rub-1379@reddit
TrueMajor3651@reddit
there brain wasn't wired to see everything as my team is your team so ppl just took things at face value. At least I feel like our generation did, I'm sure some older folks got upset that black people were gaining more influence in popular culture
lordtyp0@reddit
I think politics back in the day was WE, now it is YOU. By this I mean in Star Trek (example). "We got past racism because it was causing problems in X, Y, Z." would be used in TNG. Whereas "White people were so racist" would be used in Discovery. Things seem to have become more a soapbox to castigate rather than a story to reflect.
russandollie@reddit
One of the most acclaimed episodes of DS9 is about Sisko personally experiencing the racism of 1960s America.
lordtyp0@reddit
The outlyer doesn't set the rule. I'm referring to Uhura laughing when Lincoln apologized because she thought it stupid.
Discovery had to show misogyny against Burnham by having a character very unprofessionally berate her in front of a captain (who said nothing).
They changed star trek from a 'defending the attained utopia where people better themselves as currency' to a baffling same shit, different year where the federation allowed a species to almost go extinct out of spite. A species that inexplicably was all on one planet even though 'star empire' was in their name.
illini02@reddit
In fairness, I feel like its ok to say who the perpetrators are of certain things. I think trying to pretend EVERYONE is an equal offender may make people feel better, but its not the reality
JeremyJaLa@reddit
Everything is an agenda or a conspiracy if you don’t agree with it!
philouza_stein@reddit
Ehhh I think it's more that back then, people didn't hear or care about politics until they were grown ass adults. So esoteric jabs at a party weren't noticed or if they were, the casual viewer didn't have an opinion either way so no offense was taken.
14 year olds having political discussions is a relatively new thing.
Mobile_Pangolin4939@reddit
This is true, but I find politics then equaled certain men are right. Now it equals ninny moms, dads, and white women are right. Politics are about who is receiving benefit from bias currently. My father and boss have always received it and whined when they didn't get it for a short period of time. Then they got it again and no one really cares.
Anyway, another form of politics is the acceptance of rude talk. When I was younger it was more accepted. Now, people try to pressure everyone into the nice club regardless of what's going on. Violence or aggression of any form isn't accepted. I think this is a very feminist, female, and gay political outlook on things. It's actually suppressing people with different ideas on such things.
Another common politic today is having everything by group based. For instance, decisions at work are group based (which means whatever is popular at the moment). Usually it's a waste of time/energy and kills individual creativity. However, if that's what the powers with money want because it's their polarized viewpoint and agenda that's what they get.
The younger and older generation all think they're right. The younger one is usually a bit more blind and are strong advocates to push the new political agendas for certain parties. Often because they see it as benefiting them or are fed that it is right vs wrong correcting past mistakes. However, it's more like my opinion vs your opinion.
DJWGibson@reddit
This.
It was fine when they unquestioningly agreed with it. Because that wasn't "political."
Extreme-Rub-1379@reddit
Posting before I scroll to find obligatory Eminem line
Ambaryerno@reddit
My go-to response when people complain about how "woke" TV is now:
StevieV61080@reddit
Captain Planet has entered the chat.
Secret_Elevator17@reddit
ass-to-trout12@reddit
Every single sitcom and cartoon had anti drug episodes no agenda my ass.
SlackerDS5@reddit
The episode from Family Matters where Carl confronts two officers for racially profiling Eddie still pops up in my mind on a regular basis.
JaxxisR@reddit
Hell, in Season 1 they spray painted the n-word on Laura's locker.
rgb25500rose@reddit
Ron on Different World had the same thing happen to his car.
x_Jimi_x@reddit
All the same messages were there, people just weren’t hyper vigilant, throbbing cunts about anything against their worldview. The real agenda these days are all the people who feel compelled to label things “woke”. Especially when it’s nowhere near the slander they believe it to be.
histprofdave@reddit
I recently watched some old episodes of Home Improvement, and I remember thinking that Tim Allen circa 2020 would complain the writing was too woke.
andrewclarkson@reddit
It was always there, but I think it felt more light-hearted. I don't think people were generally as angry and bitter about all of it back then.
histprofdave@reddit
Uh you remember Rodney King and the OJ Trial right?
ZeusBruce@reddit
We just watched this a few days ago (showed the kids Fresh Prince, which they now love) and in the next scene Carlton says "this is retarded!" which was pretty shocking.
Great episode though and Fresh Prince is a lot funnier than I remember.
histprofdave@reddit
I've been rewatching ER and the number of times they use the term "retarded" as a medical term of art is a little shocking to my 2025 ears. And they weren't even using it to be derogatory. It's remarkable how quickly the culture changes regarding the use of terminology.
I'm not trying to be one of those "you can't say anything anymore" people. My point is that society continually evolves, hopefully for the better.
xander6981@reddit
Oh please, that was the golden age of the "very special episode"...
Munchkins_nDragons@reddit
Moves in the 90s maybe, but prime time tv was. Especially sitcoms - they were full of morals and messages.
jessek@reddit
Anyone who says that politics didn’t exist in media back then just didn’t know anything about what was going on.
ialsohaveadobro@reddit
Or how about the long tradition of political novels? Or realism concerned with class and poverty, like Émile Zola or John Steinbeck?
twirlerina024@reddit
Upton Sinclair turned my whole 7th grade class woke. We learned that sometimes it doesn't matter how good and smart and hard-working you are; if you're a member of an undesirable group you don't have the same chances as everyone else.
windycityc@reddit
Norman Lear did this in all of his shows.
three-sense@reddit
Yeah, some r/imaginarygatekeeping
Crans10@reddit
That statement that entertainment in the 90s. Entertainment had an agenda the day it was born. I Love Lucy couldn’t say pregnant but could say expecting. Which was funnier because of Ricky’s accent. M.A.S.H. Took moments to say something and All in the Family as well. The 80s had those episodes of Family Ties or the special episode of Diff’rent Strokes. Yes this scene is still relevant today. Worth repeating.
EARMUFFS-GAMING@reddit
icey_sawg0034@reddit (OP)
Dr Seuss was the goat!
Borracho_Bandit@reddit
Watching this episode as a naive white child showed me that racism existed.
ThanksALotBud@reddit
When Uncle Phil arrives and tells those racist cops how it's going to go down, it was definitely an awesome scene.
McCool303@reddit
Anyone who say’s this and is old enough to have been alive in the 80’s-90’s is full of shit. An “agenda” was the fucking entire format of Sitcoms on TV. Like literally every one was a story with a valuable lesson wrapped up at the fucking end. Fuck GI Joe and other kids cartoons fucking had a god damned PSA after every episode. Anyone who says this with a straight face is just lying to push their racist “anti-woke” agenda.
jamie535535@reddit
90’s TV shows were always trying to teach us lessons & having “very special” episodes.
bgva@reddit
“Open the door Jerry!”
Great episode that’s sadly more relevant than ever.
Mediocre-Victory-565@reddit
I see their 90's Fresh Prince and raise them 80's Family Ties. The parents were total hippies and the son, Alex, was a stone cold conservative. Back then political discourse could be talked and even joked about. Those were the days :(
Slartibartfast39@reddit
I remember the one where Jazzy was in court, at the stand with his hands up. "Jazzy, you can put your hands down." (Looking at the armed court guard) "No way. I put my arms down and I'm getting five warning shots to the head.'