Television has changed considerably over the years, with society’s varying norms and the need for diversity always setting new standards. This constant change means that many classic TV shows, while famous once upon a time, most likely would never even make it past the pilot stage today. Here are 18 TV shows that couldn’t be made now.
All in the Family
Famous for taking on hot-button issues, this landmark sitcom made a serious misstep by having its main character, Archie Bunker, take on an out-of-touch and biased perspective that would not endear him to audiences today. His language and attitudes toward race, gender, and politics are now far too incendiary for today’s television world.
The Jeffersons
This show was revolutionary for the time, featuring a successful African American family. Still, the character of George Jefferson and his abrasive, racially charged humor are problematic by today’s standards. One such hard sell is the use of the “N” word, with other controversial elements also likely to shock modern viewers.
I Dream of Jeannie
A classic fantasy sitcom featuring a half-naked, 2,000-year-old genie who calls the astronaut who finds her “Master” would raise many eyebrows these days, for good reason. The show also has a white woman playing a supposedly Persian genie. The power dynamics and portrayal of women are problematic from a modern feminist perspective, making this TV show one to leave in the past.
The Dukes of Hazzard
This action comedy series focuses on two young male cousins from the American South who drive around in a car named General Lee, with the top down and the Confederate flag painted on top. With major social changes and heightened sensitivities toward this symbolism, these major elements of the show would be considered controversial for modern viewers.
The Brady Bunch
For all its wholesome family values, The Brady Bunch’s all-white cast set in a Los Angeles suburb would be seen as lacking representation in a place that should be racially and ethnically diverse. Modern viewers rightfully expect casts to reflect the actual demographics of society.
Mr. T and Tina
This short-lived sitcom featured Pat Morita as an Asian-American inventor in a fish-out-of-water scenario. This show quite literally thrived on nothing but ethnic stereotypes, all of which are very politically incorrect for current audiences. Low ratings saw it canceled after just five episodes.
Three’s Company
The entire premise of Three’s Company relies on the idea of a man pretending to be gay so that the landlord will allow him to live with two women. Of course, this leads to various misunderstandings that would almost certainly be criticized for insensitivity toward the LGBTQ+ community today.
Married… with Children
Married… with Children used crude humor and often misogynistic scenarios to get cheap punchlines in a way that would pose real challenges if it were to air today. This negative depiction of women and politically incorrect humor wouldn’t find tolerance among viewers and network censors.
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is a rom-com drama with the same crew but different passengers every episode, allowing for many guest stars and romantic escapades. But, most of its plots are problematic due to sexist and objectifying elements that use outdated ideas of consent and the woman’s role in a relationship.
M*A*S*H
Even though it was celebrated for its portrayal of the Korean War, M*A*S*H at times used characters and jokes that seem quite embarrassing today, coming off as being insensitive to different races, genders, and orientations. This humor frequently relied on offensive stereotypes and would likely face heavy scrutiny now.
Gilligan’s Island
Despite achieving classic status, Gilligan’s Island has also become infamous for its stereotyped and culturally insensitive characters and storylines. The show’s overall message was a serious issue, with the wealthy Mr. Howell being forgiven time and again for his greed purely because he’s rich. In addition, all of the female characters are portrayed as one-dimensional, with only the men having any depth of characterization.
Bewitched
The basic premise in Bewitched could be considered problematic from a feminist perspective, with a powerful witch having to constantly mask her talents to not cause societal problems. The message’s implication, with women taking a back seat to fit in, would not sit well with modern viewers.
Fawlty Towers
A British classic, Fawlty Towers remains funny, but many of the jokes are distinctly outdated to modern ears. Much of its humor relies on targeting different cultures, with the jokes about Spanish waiter Manuel coming across as insensitive to new viewers. The relationship between Basil Fawlty and his wife Sybil could also be seen as stereotypical and problematic.
Little House on the Prairie
Pitched as a family-friendly show, Little House on the Prairie often depicted Native Americans and other minorities in derogatory ways that would be considered offensive now. Telling critical history events from a solely white perspective would need some examination and rewriting before it could air today.
Diff’rent Strokes
The creators of Diff’rent Strokes seemed to be trying to do the right thing and add racial diversity by having a wealthy white man adopt two African-American boys from Harlem. As positive as that is, the show would often address race matters in a manner that might appear condescending or overly simplistic by today’s standards. The portrayal of these would need serious review to meet a modern diversity standard.
Blossom
Although Blossom did its best to address many teen-relevant issues, it still suffers from what would be considered relatively insensitive storylines today. Despite stories that touched on serious subjects, such as drug use and mental health, the nature of this show being a sitcom didn’t allow for much introspection. A little more forethought would be necessary to make this now.
Friends
Despite only finishing its run in 2004, much of Friends already feels more dated than this suggests. It has been criticized for its lack of diversity and humor that relies on stereotypes about gender and sexuality. A modern remake would need significant changes to resonate with today’s audience like it did in its original run.
Sanford and Son
Based on the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, Sanford and Son was one of the breakthrough sitcoms of the 1970s. Redd Foxx stars as irascible junk dealer Fred Sanford in a rare example of a show with an African-American character at its core. Unfortunately, much of the humor in the show revolved around Fred’s sharp tongue and politically incorrect jokes on race and ethnicity.
