The Orion Online

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Entertainment

Leslie Williams [Click to enlarge]

The fat, dumpy husband sits on his couch, probably in flannel pajama bottoms. Coors Light bottle squished between his lumpy and bumpy thighs, he yells for his wife to bring him another cold one. In walks a perfectly toned, perfectly coiffed woman who may serve up the beverage with a side of sass. Regardless, she's hot, he's not.

Television sitcoms, with only a few exceptions, aren't original, creative or funny. In fact, most follow this tried-and-true formula of the husband too moronic and sluggish to function anywhere other than his La-Z-Boy, and his obedient wife who has beauty, a well-paying job and devotion to her husband.

People often focus on the portrayal of women in the media, and there is clearly a problem there. But what about the portrayal of men? In these sitcoms, women are given a high standard to meet. Men, on the other hand, are used as fodder for laughter similar to a dumb puppy who runs around chasing his tail. I lack the necessary, um, appendage to be considered a male, but I can't imagine I'd be too pleased if the most popular male figure on TV was the doofy, gluttonous Homer Simpson.

Take the show "The King of Queens," for example. Leah Remini plays the attractive paralegal, Carrie, who has an obsession with designer clothing. Her counterpart, played by Kevin James, is Doug. Doug is a delivery man who has an obsession with fatty foods.

On "According to Jim," the knockout, cheerleader wife is played by Courtney Thorne-Smith, who is married to the tubby, lazy Jim Belushi.

Luckily, both of these shows ended their runs last year. But not reinforcing stereotypes for nine and seven seasons, respectively.

It's often a running joke on these shows that the wife is too good for the husband, but that doesn't stop the cliche from appearing on countless TV shows. I'm just waiting for the day in which a homely, boring, overweight woman is likely to marry a gorgeous, respectable, model-like husband. Rosie O'Donnell and George Clooney, perhaps?

It's not just about the size of the body - it's the, well, weight, these messages carry. The media has always reinforced gender roles, and this batch of TV sitcoms continues that reinforcement. And you know what? American audiences keep eating it up. As long as this hackneyed humor does well in the ratings, these sitcoms will knock out respectable, witty, original programming. And as long as witty programming stays off the air, every Archie Bunker will think he can score a Jennifer Aniston.

Leslie can be reached at
entertainmenteditor@theorion.com

King of Queens - Doug pole dances

Video from YouTube

According to Jim - About a girl

Video from YouTube

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