Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby SolidSnickerdoodle » Wed Jan 27, 2016 7:11 pm

I never really put much thought into this aspect of television until my brother brought up the topic. Since then I've been paying more close attention, and I gotta say there's definitely something to this.

Generally speaking, men (especially dads) on television are being portrayed as buffoons.

This is particularly evident in TV comedies. Usually, there's the stereotypical father figure of today: a bumbling, dim-witted character who cannot survive without the wife, who the is smarter, more grounded one in the relationship, and also the boss. Shows like Outnumbered, Malcolm in the Middle, Jimmy Neutron (loved that show), and Everybody Loves Raymond reinforce the "doofus dad" stereotype. The dad is often times outsmarted by the children or, even worse, is just as immature as the children, leaving the mother to serve as the only real parent of the house (looking at you Modern Family).

Commercials aren't much better. They usually involve the standard "TV ad dad" who will most likely make some poor decision or just ruin everything by trying to help at all. I get so sick of those where the mom comes home from work and and the dad is failing miserably in the kitchen, and they're like "well, at least you have Clorox!" Also, there's one where a dad resorts to dipping his sons' feet in some sort of drywall resin to substitute socks, and the mom just tosses him some no-slip Hanes or whatever.

I get it. Stupidity is hilarious, and it will never stop being hilarious. You will never have a comedy TV show without some person playing the stupid character. It just pisses me off that it's mainly reserved for men. You see almost NO commercials or TV shows with a main character woman acting foolish or being stupid. They're often depicted as the pencil pushing, responsible, overworked, intelligent individuals that make the whole thing work.

I mean, can you imagine the absolute shit storm that would ensue if the roles were reversed? If we painted women as fools as much as we do men? People would be shouting sexism left and right. But suddenly because it's men it's alright?

This just really aggravates me, and I guess I needed to vent about it. I'm interested if you guys have any thoughts you want to add.
There is only one God, and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: Not today.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby drawscore » Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:10 pm

The bottom line, is that it's a formula that sells, at least in sitcoms. In dramas, not so much. Men and women are often portrayed as equals in intelligence and ability (Law and Order, Walker, Texas Ranger, JAG, NCIS, etc.) But there was a time when the wife was cast as a ditz. It worked out quite well for Lucille Ball in "I Love Lucy."

Drawscore

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby Chris12 » Thu Jan 28, 2016 2:03 am

Sounds like Frasier is the show for you. The two main characters are very intelligent and very aware of it. Most of the humor stems from that arrogance.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby xtc » Thu Jan 28, 2016 5:28 am

The answer to the original question is simple. Women, through their secret agents, television commissioning editors and cats, are taking over the world. Men, therefore, need to be completely undermined in preparation for the final putch.
You have been warned!
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!

More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby Kyle » Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:51 pm

People aren't as likely to write angry letters or tweets or blog posts crying sexism if they make men look bad.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby Jason Toddman » Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:06 am

If you think it's only the men who look bad on TV, your really need to pay more attention; especially to shows made in the 1950s and 1960s. For every smart and competent housewife like Mrs. Ward Cleaver, you have a Lucy Ricardo or an Edith Bunker. On the flip side, for every dolt father like Herman Munster you have a Jim Anderson (Father Knows Best for you youngsters) or Ward Cleaver. You just need to avoid focusing on any one show (or even one season) and make your sampling size as large as possible.
Besides, a good many men really are buffoons. Just look at Donald Trump for one prime example.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV

Postby SvetlanacareLert » Tue Mar 01, 2016 1:05 pm

Because boys are better than girls thus the toys have to match? Simples.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby Jay Feely » Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:20 pm

Appealing to the audience
You will have to subdue me to restrain me. I been a bad boy so make sure you torture me too with anything but pain.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby werewolf » Thu May 12, 2016 1:04 am

Because the fucking feminazi progressives are in charge of the majority of TV and film which is why you can't find any decent female bondage scenes.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby misterg792000 » Thu May 12, 2016 6:51 pm

werewolf wrote:Because the fucking feminazi progressives are in charge of the majority of TV and film which is why you can't find any decent female bondage scenes.


didn't take long for this gimmick account to get boring.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby Jason Toddman » Fri May 13, 2016 6:58 pm

werewolf wrote:Because the fucking feminazi progressives are in charge of the majority of TV and film which is why you can't find any decent female bondage scenes.

Really? Never watched much 1950s or 1960s TV, did you?
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby werewolf » Fri May 13, 2016 9:05 pm

Yes I did bondagewise that era rocked as for stereotyping it was pretty well balanced for every Lucy or Joan you had your Gilligan's and Jethro Bodine's it wasn't until the 70s at the height of womens lib when the current trend of buffoonish men and know it all women but it was still balanced until the 90s when political correctness started to go full retard when stereotyping of men proceeded to get out of hand.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby misterg792000 » Fri May 13, 2016 9:15 pm

If Gilligan's Island and the Beverly Hillbillies are, in your mind, the high water mark of television...you've got worse problems than your imaginary WAR ON MEN (tm). Will the voice of men ever be heard in this dystopic gynocracy?

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby werewolf » Fri May 13, 2016 10:10 pm

I was using them as examples of the stereotypical buffon male sitcom characters if I wanted to give examples of high water mark TV of that era I would go with The Twilight Zone, The Andy Griffith Show and Gunsmoke the 70s and 80s were hit and miss 90s to the present mediocre to awful.

Re: Why are men generally portrayed as idiots on TV?

Postby Sailor Mercury Otoko » Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:13 pm

I think it largely has to do with playing up tendencies. For a lot of people in their early childhood, mom was the stern rule maker and dad was the fun rule breaker. Add this to the fact that males are more likely to kill themselves doing something stupid than women are and you have a formula ripe for overuse.