Mary's Fifth RTF Blog 10-3-10

Through the years, many topics, which were considered inappropriate or scandalous to talk about in TV shows, have gradually become more understood and accepted. One example is the topics in the "All in the Family" episode "Judging Books By Covers". In the early 70's, this show probably caused quite a stir when it brought up homosexuality, but this has generally become acceptable to be plots of sitcoms. In "Family Guy", several episodes have been devoted to speaking of just sexuality. These two shows are able to show unique sides of how being of different sexuality is okay. In "All in the Family" a very sensitive man ends up being straight, and a very tough man confides in Archie that he is gay. Similarly, several episodes of Family Guy have had plots centered on homosexuality. Most notably, "Quagmire's Dad" where a war hero who is visiting his son, finally tells him that he is gay. Each of these episodes has a situation where a famously tough man reveals that he is actually not what was thought of him. The two shows differ in how the other characters accept the topic. In "All in the Family", few of the main characters are uncomfortable dealing with being near someone of different sexuality. On the contrary in "Family Guy" the characters move past the initial shock and accept the other as who they are. In each of these shows the "alpha male" of the family has his own way of handling the situation. Archie confronts Steve about his sexuality but still seems a little awkward about the topic. Peter shrugs it off, and in one episode (due to some lab tests) even expresses his own homosexuality. "All in the Family" also showcases the issue of male sensitivity. Roger in this episode is called gay just because he acts more sensitive than the average man, and he visited Europe. This issue has almost never been discussed in "Family Guy" where characters are either gay, or not. In "Family Guy", Quagmire's dad undergoes a sex change to feel more natural. Again this is one issue that "All in the Family" never touched base on. These two shows have their similarities, but each of these episodes showcases how different time periods accepted the topic of homosexuality in a Family-Based comedic sitcom.