waltt@tekecs.UUCP (Walt Tucker) (08/31/84)
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Ah, the article about the Partridge Family brought back memories:
When I was just a youngster in Jr. High, I remember Friday night as being
the night for watching TV. In particular, they used to have a pretty good
line-up in the '71 through '73 seasons:
7:30 Wait 'Till Your Father Gets Home (syndicated contemporary cartoon)
8:00 Brady Bunch
8:30 Partridge Family
9:00 Room 222
9:30 Odd Couple
10:00 Love American Style
Probably one reason I liked this line-up so well was because my parents
didn't. Just coming out of the 60's, they still had some youth-older
generation hang-ups (this was about the time the local high school was
having sit-ins and the kids were trying to abolish the dress code -- but
I digress):
To wit: "Wait 'Till Your Father Gets Home dealt with subjects Jr. High
kids shouldn't be exposed to ("They shouldn't talk about THAT
on television, especially not in a cartoon").
Partridge Family: Keith's and Danny's hair was too long.
Room 222: Everyone's hair was too long. They showed minorities
and a bunch of high school kids running the school!
Odd Couple: Felix and Oscar were gay!
Love American Style: A little racy for it's time.
In perspective, I look at how my parents reacted to these type of shows then,
and their outlooks now. They've mellowed considerably. Dad has grown his
hair longer (not much, though), and goes to a "styleist" (unheard of back
then). Long hair no longer bothers them. The school system hasn't had a
dress code for years. And the subjects that were taboo on tv in the early
'70s are now common place. Come to think of it, I can't think of any words
they haven't said on tv lately (the local station just ran "Network" uncut
the other night [including all fxxk, bullsxxt, etc words], with the proper
warning, of course).
To get an interesting perspective on this time, try watching a rerun of
"Room 222".
I've rambled enough (just a ramblin' guy),
Walt Tucker
Tektronix, Inc.