Can a show about a car inhabited by the reincarnated soul of a man's mother tell us something about changing conservative reactions to media? Can a show about a Martian trying to ensure his roommate's boss' dog finds love tell us something about the military industrial complex? How subversive was The Addams Family really and does intent matter to how we understand it today? Jessica and Zach explore all of this and more as they wade into the groovy waters of 1960's fantasy sitcoms.
Shortly after sitcoms became the dominant fictional comedic format on television, creators began to experiment with the premise. As American society itself experienced significant cultural upheaval in the 1960s, creators had to use inventive metaphors to tell stories reflective of the social change at their doorstep while also skirting censors and conservative studio executives. Looking through the lens of fantasy sitcoms on the 1960's, Jessica and Zach will see how fantasy sitcoms have been used as a tool to tell stories of marginalized groups and where they have significant blind spots born of the cultural context in which they were created.
Shows Discussed:
- The Addams Family, Charles Addams & David Levy, ABC, 1964-1966
- The Munsters, Allan Burns & Chris Hayward, CBS, 1964-1966
- My Favorite Martian, John L. Greene, CBS, 1963-1966
- My Mother the Car, Allan Burns & Chris Hayward, NBC, 1965
- Mister Ed, Walter R. Brooks, CBS, 1961-1965
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