That is patently false. TV programs from the 1950s and 1960s are available. There were “Standards and Practices” Departments. Sexual situations like today? No. Profanity? No. You couldn’t even say the word pregnant.
I watch a fair amount of network and cable tv (not referring to movie channels though), its obvious to me they still censor quite a few ‘tame’ words out of tv, even VERY late night tv, Ive even seen them censor out the 3 letter word for a donkey at 10pm!!??
The response I generally get is they are ‘boring’ because ‘the stories move too slow’. They are used to the MTV-style split-second cuts that give the appearance of a faster-moving story. The camera and visuals have become other characters in the story. Instead of the actors moving the story along, now it is the camera.We all have a tendency to romanticize the past; everything was so much better. The reality is that there were just as many challenges and struggles to confront. I think it is fair to make objective comparisons. Have you ever asked a young person’s perspective on a program from yester-years? Especially one you like? They will most likely not see it from the same perspective that you carry, but it doesn’t mean that they are wrong…
There were many shows in those days that were pretty much aimed at children. Shows like Leave it to Beaver, My Three Sons, and The Brady Bunch.
Laugh tracks appear to be an American phenomenon. Perhaps Jharek can clarify, but the British comedies were shown in front of an actual audience, not an electronic laugh machine with people who have been dead for decades.
Still rose coloured glasses. It was overly sanitized but a lot of the media was still very dark. Go listen to some of the songs from the 50’s. Listen close to the lyrics and you will be surprised at how depressing they can be.
Even when a live audience is used, often the laugh track is “sweetened.” I was in the studio audience for a sitcom, and I can tell you that the finished product had a lot more laughter than what was actually recorded at the taping.
But I still prefer Britcoms over Americoms.My wife loves the Big Bang Theory (I don’t), but one thing I notice is how abruptly the laughter begins and ends with each one-liner. Real human reaction doesn’t work that way.
The rose-colored glasses were better-made back in the day, too.
This is not true. What the characters say and do are immoral in too many cases. Camera cuts and angles have nothing to do with that.
