#diff'rent strokes

[contac]

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

[chaptertwo-thepacnw]

the facts of life |1981|

[thelazybutler]

Kinda wild how almost every sitcom ever made has at least one scene that's basically just,

"Character 1: Your actions really negatively affected me, and I'm hurt and confused why you'd do something like that.

Character 2: I literally never even thought about how you might feel and I'm so sorry about that, I've been going through [trauma] and I don't know how to deal with (feelings character 1 can relate to, but never opened up to character 1 about when they went through [similar trauma]), I'm sorry you were so negatively affected, I've been under severe emotional stress and have behaved in a way I regret.

Character 1: Oh my god I had no idea! I know a thing or two about [trauma] myself. Let me share my incredibly similar experience. Lots of people have to deal with this, some would say it's almost universal. Now that I understand your state of mind when I was affected negatively by your actions, and I understand no malice was intended, I feel closer to you.

Character 2: Same. I promise to be more emotionally vulnerable in the future because our bond has strengthened and we will both help each other grow as people. I treasure our friendship.

Spencer: What's crappenin sluts?

Characters 1&2: SPENCERRR!"

Am I the only one that let multiple friendships wither on the vine rather than have one or two frank emotional conversations? I'm terrified this is universal because that would explain way too much

[retropopcult]

March 1979

[tvthemesongs]

Diff'rent Strokes intro

[todaysdocument]

Nancy Reagan on the set of “Diff’rent Strokes,” on March 9, 1983. 

Collection RR-WHPO: White House Photographic Collection

Series: Reagan White House Photographs

Image description: A television studio set as a classroom. Children, including Gary Coleman, sit at desks; adults, including Todd Bridges, Mary Jo Cattlett, Dana Plato, and Conrad Bain stand. Some of them are applauding. Next to the adults is Nancy Reagan, who is holding up a red t-shirt with the “DIFF’RENT STROKES” logo. Mrs. Reagan is in red, and the walls and chalkboard of the classroom are green, making her stand out. 

[loveboatinsanity]

[faline-cat444]

Whatever TV era this is if it's a decade definer or "classics" as a whole

[haveyouheardofthisshow]

[uprockinrainbow]

The Witch from Mercury Fan Edits: "Useful to the Team"/"You Rich Guys Are All Alike"

"Useful to the Team"

Starring:

Miorine Rembran as Fena Houtman

Guel Jeturk as Yukimaru Sanada

"You Rich Guys Are All Alike"

Starring:

Chuatury Panlunch as Phillip Drummond

Guel Jeturk as Mr. Garth

[like-sands-of-time]

Ok but the reason shows or movies like the facts of life, boy meets world, dead poets society, etc. All resonated with tweens so much is because they talked about real, serious issues, and didn't talk down to us, the audience, the kids.

Likewise, the reason shows "aren't the same these days" and feel.. empty or without the same cultural impact, is because they aren't actually addressing the same problem kids face no matter what decade we're in. They think all kids have a closet packed with brand clothing, shiny toys and completely personalized rooms with three different wall paints and stairs in their room. They think a lower class kid still has the latest phone and trendy clothes, but just has a single mom who works. Kids complain which they always do, but they are told their complaints are valid instead of proving to them how they're wrong. They've lost touch.

I can't express enough how much the children of today and tomorrow need a show that is modern and inclusive, tween and teen friendly, and serious. A sit com should be serious issues with humor to fall back on. Not empty jokes with five minutes of a "lesson" to be learned. Give the characters happy endings, fine, but show them real repercussions for their actions. Telling ten years olds they can behave like spoiled kids and be validated by their parents is only causing ten year old kids to feel they can behave that way. Hmmm I wonder what the connection could be

We need a show(s) with kids growing up and figuring themselves out in the modern age, but realistically I beg of you. Disney shows are doing nobody any favors. Show kids of darker skin tones as important characters, not just stereotypes. Show kids exploring romantic identities in more than the traditional way and make !! It !! Clear !!! No more subtext. If you can't say that a boy is blushing over going on a date to the mall with another boy then don't fucking bother. "Queerbaiting" is out. Queerness being a NORMAL thing in tv, nobody making it a big deal, is the only way it will become a normal thing in our own society. So that girl likes girls. Is she a decent person? What's her character like? Etc.

Show real issues. Show the kids working through them and understanding them, even applying them to conveniently related situations. Show them getting into trouble and having adults they can rely on to be serious and loving, not indulgent and borderline negligent.

If there must be relationships, listen to the audience! Chandler and Monica worked for a reason. But also, sometimes the Cory and Topanga, Ross and Rachel, storyline isn't the most important. Yes they're the main characters in their story, but in a show about a group, they're only two people. The Shawn and Angela, Chandler and Monica stories worked even though the writers didn't care as much about them, cough shangela cough. And sometimes you don't need a comic relief character you dump scene fillers on. A character everyone just bullies or calls/thinks them dumb. It's not necessary. They can have meaningful plots too if you actually put in the work and keep all your charts organized

The point of all of this is, if it ever reaches someone who writes for tv, those shows impacted us so much as 10, 11, 12 year olds and we didn't even realize. There's an opening for meaningful, daring, unique and "ahead of it's time" tv. because that's what it'll be the whole time. People will drag their feet and maybe the ratings or social media reviews will be on both ends of the spectrum but it's worth it when we think about how much the characters affect us and our own dreams for the future. I don't need high school or middle school stories anymore, but that doesn't mean kids don't.

[chaptertwo-thepacnw]

[nonthreatening-boys]

[therogerclarkfanclub]

Awww... such innocent times 😅

[sbrown82]

She’s always been beautiful!

Janet Jackson as Charlene DuPrey on “Diff'rent Strokes” (1980)