Sitcom Classics and the Happy Family Ideal

 I wasn't much of the outdoorsy type as a kid. I sure did get a good 1-2 hours of stomping, jumping and hopping with my friends on weeknights (and unlimited hours of that on weekends), but the moment they switched to serious sports (such as cricket and football), I'd put on my best whiny face and take the rest of the entertainment scheme indoors.  And my dad loved watching comedy family sitcoms. So by these two benevolent forces of nature, I hopped on to the classic family comedy sitcom bandwagon. Hooked on to shows that would go on to be a part of my psyche, even though some of them seem really dated and shadowy now.

So I thought why not reminisce those lovable, feel-good shows that helped me combat those long and boring afternoons of cricket marathons, an attack of mumps, and that proved to be the perfect antidote to rainy day blues (with french fries and ginger tea).

Anyone who grew up in the 90s will probably recollect some of these shows, have the schedule of these shows still memorized, recite some of their theme songs and maybe still carry a phantom of absurd role-models from these shows.

Here is my list of epic fam-com sitcoms that have managed to leave their traces in my oh-so-fleeting memory (in no particular order):

1. Different Strokes: 
A bold comedy that dared to look at racial issues with a sense of humor. A widower steps up to take guardianship of his housekeeper's children after his demise and they are raised in a pretty much white community of  upper-class New Yorkers.  Add quirks from an eccentric housekeeper to the oddity of it all and you have some hilarious moments. But the heart of the show was of course the little grubling with the chubby cheeks, Arnold Jackson, and his famous tagline, "What you talkin' about?"

I haven't tried watching the show recently but I'm not sure if it'd be as funny today as it did have a bunch of serious episodes and I guess we skipped the later seasons where it went on to tackle some grave issues such as drugs, molestation, and bullying. But still worth remembering.

2. Small Wonder:
Ok, as a kid, I ate and drank in front of the TV, held my pee and shushed everyone (including visitors) while this sci-fi comedy went on. It's about a robot modeled after a real human girl (Vikki) and all the situational comedy that comes out of acclimatizing her with becoming as human as possible. Their trouble is aggravated by snoopy and annoying neighbors (who could use a collective punch in the face). I loved the way that little girl balanced her stolid self with her charming wit and an earnest commitment to mimic. And of course, the loving brother-sister moments with Jamie were cute. Again, I'm not sure if it'd be still as funny or just a bit too familiar.

3. Too Close for Comfort:
Not sure if I was too young to watch this as a 10-year old and I don't even remember if I understood all the jokes but the parts I remember were hilarious! So you have a conservative dad married to a former singer. They occupy the upper part of their duplex house. The other half is occupied by their two grown daughters (the stereotypical, inappropriate smokin' hot blonde with the boy issues and a decent-looking, smart-alecky one). Oh, and there's also a transvestite character (Seriously, how were we allowed to watch this?) Anyway, so naturally the dad wants the proximity so he can keep an eye on his daughters and the daughters are always scheming to get away for the sake of their independence.

In a nutshell, the overprotective dad's always meddling in the girls' affairs and also letting his imagination get ahead of him while the mother fruitlessly tries to keep the balance.
FYI, there's a recent show which is sorta inspired from this called 8 Simple Rules.

4. Fresh Prince of Bel Air:
Now, hands down, this is one of the funniest shows on television ever! I have watched the reruns recently and Will's comic timing, Carton's quirky dancing and all his yuppiness, and ofcourse Hilary's delusional spoilt-brat attitude cracks me up all the time! And Geoffrey does complete justice to the sarcastic, disgruntled butler. Add to that an epic cameo star cast- everyone from Queen Latifah to Tyra Banks.

For anyone who's possibly not seen this show, it's about a poor Philadelphia boy going to live with his wealthy uncle and his family and how all their lives get completely flipped-turned upside down  in street slang as Will shatters their old-fashioned ways. It is a laughter riot, y'all!

5. Punky Brewster:
Ah, this girl had spunk! I sure idolized her (way too much to be honest). But you've gotta admire an 8-year old abandoned girl who gets away with everything from crashing in flower carts to trespassing the Chicago Club's dugout. The story revolves around an abandoned girl with her golden retriever who find refuge with a grouchy old man. The irrepressible spirit of Punky Brewster is what wins this show for me as this is a girl who's not afraid to be herself even with her share of misadventures.

I think there are some great value lessons in this show along with all the fun and whimsy. Extremely important lessons about acceptance, respect and individuality! Would definitely have Saanvi see this show. Atleast the good bits.

6. Full House:
Full House gave us the most endearing dad and dad-figures, the Olsen twins (when they were still cute) as the adorable baby Mitchell and all kinds of cutesy-poo situations.

Now I wouldn't call this show hilarious and it kind of did go downhill in the later seasons but then the most important things the Tanner family taught us are how a wholesome family can deal with the horribleness of family conflicts, the confusing gulf between being a child and an adult and how to keep an endless faith that everything will be alright if you just stick together.

7. Bewitched:
The comic premise of this show was simple. Instead of having a grotesque, long-nosed witch, cauldron-stirring, shady-looking character gliding around on a broom, we have a curvy bombshell with a designer wardrobe as an eager-to-please housewife (Samantha) to a charming but goofy ad man (Darin). The episodes would usually have Samantha cast a spell with a twitch of her nose to solve a problem somewhere early in the episode and somehow, the spell would backfire and she'd have to solve a graver problem on account of it.

 I love the episode where Darin sprains his ankle and is confined to bed. Samantha tires of  being at Darin's every beck and call and decides to use witchcraft to get the house to do all the chores for her. Darin goes outlandish with the easy life offered by magic but in time, realizes that things lose their meaning when you don't have to work to get them.

7. 227:
Another popular African-American comedy, 227 explored the routine goings-on and the hot gossips of an apartment building in a primarily Black neighborhood, featuring Marla Gibbs as Mary Jenkins, a no-nonsense, tart-tongued sort of woman, who spends her day sitting around on the stoop keeping tabs on another neighbours.

 I don't remember much about this show but I recall laughter whizzing by every half a minute from my dad, which I thought was hilarious :). Intend to catch this on youtube to do it more justice.

Perhaps this list doesn't comprise totally awesome, "quote from at dinner parties" kind of television. Perhaps, these are shows that have been discarded and long buried underneath for their hackneyed humor and predictable format.

I secretly treasure these shows for all their nostalgic appeal and more importantly, for the reason that they teach us that each family concocts their own formula for happiness, however twisted it may seem to an onlooker. And that if you can manage to laugh off the big and small tragedies together and stand by each other as completely different people, life wouldn't be such a bitch after all.

So there's my list. Anything you'd like to add?