TV programs and the society
In Stark’s “A Tale of Two Sitcoms” the two very popular sitcoms Seinfeld and Home Improvement are being compared because they both, in the author’s eyes, “appealed to viewers similarly situated” (237). The two sitcoms are focusing on the social culture, present memorable supporting characters, and both are starring male comedians. Having such similarities, it is interesting and helpful to know what makes Home Improvement outscored Seinfeld in 1992-93’s top shows ranking if we want to learn the insights of our society better.
First, they are both shown on the network television around the same period. The network television, by this time, has a smaller pool of audiences already because “the cable television had atomized the viewing audience” (Stark 237). All they need to win among public voting is to catch the heart of a certain group of watchers and they are not facing the whole society anymore. Seinfeld and Home Improvement actually target different groups of people. Although they both report a man’s thoughts, deeds and life, this important male character has a totally opposite character. Jerry Seinfeld always tries to be funny and smart while Tim Allen in Home Improvement is sweet and dumb. Their expected responsibilities are different, as consequences. One is an unmarried single young lad while the other is a responsible husband and father. In fact, it is the role that they are playing in the society that allows them to have the personality that they possess. Seinfeld represented the life philosophy of single men; Tim Allen is an example of family men. Thus, we can see, the two shows are focusing on different groups of audiences – the married or the unmarried, with independent or dependent personalities. Independents, like Jerry Seinfeld, lead a life however they want to and are not obligated to a schematic life. Meanwhile, the married pool of audience is a steadier group in front of the television than the unmarried group. Singles always have surprise appointments and dates, and this won’t happen that much to couples with kids. Normally, a married life is steadier and thus the habit of watching TV programs are more predictable and stable. For example, if there are kids who need too go to school, usually the dinnertime and “TV time” is set everyday to have a better study schedule for the children. That’s the reason why demonstrating a character with a stereotyped family role is a more successful strategy to get audiences than using a single person as the main character.
Perhaps it is true that the lives of free singles are appealing, but a stable and long lasting relationship is the dream of everyone subconsciously. Who wants to be alone for the whole life? Humans all need one another, and more precisely, humans have emotional needs and so need one another to fulfill them. “Seinfeld often echoed the world of 11 – 15-year-old boys” (Stark 238) versus “Home Improvement was about grown-ups”(239). The former is supporting the ”Madison Avenue types”(Stark 237) and thus is reflecting the young dreamers’ mind. However, such a lifestyle is also more likely to create a world where most people are unmarried when reaching upon middle age, and not having a real relationship with anyone except their own parents. Just imagine a life where “friends group together and chat for hours about sex, sports and politics, and laughing at their own loutish, subversive jokes” (Stark 238) – it is attracting audiences by a powerful but temporary life. On the other hand, although Tim Allen ”tries to comfort his wife after she doesn’t get a job, he inadvertently ends up making her feel worse” (Stark 239), nevertheless, it reveals the supportive spirit between couples and partners, and this grabs audiences’ hearts deeper. In short, Home Improvement is making use of people’s emotions, and it wins Seinfeld’s idealistic unrestricted life of a brilliant young man, which is free of family tie and often been regarded as colorful.
My opinion why Home Improvement outscored during 1992 to 1993 is that during that period, as I recall, the economy was at its peak. When people are satisfied with material things, they tend to seek more for their internal life. Seinfeld “was a New York show which roughly approximated the lifestyles of influential New York critics” and it’s relaxing, comedy feeling bring audiences in. Meanwhile, Home Improvement’s demonstration of a stereotyped suburban male who never succeed in anything makes it “the quietest Number 1 in TV history” (Stark 237) but nevertheless shows to us that audiences know what they are watching – what it’s time to settle down, people always want an intimate person around. “Viewers want happy, traditional families, even when they realize that a TV family and setting is idealized – or perhaps especially when they realize it” (Stark 240). This is important during the year 19921993 when families are tired of socializing due to economic reasons and family members start to realize the importance of spending time with each other. Thus, it is not unnatural for Seinfeld, which emphasizes on the devotion of time to the “gang” (Stark 238), to lose in this aspect.
Both sitcoms, frankly saying, are successful. Both of them have top rankings and are memorable to audiences. Both have different strengths and weaknesses, but can reflect, at least to certain extend, what our society is like. Home Improvement’s better estimation of the society’s substantial identity makes it more successful than Seinfeld during the 1992-1993 season as more audiences can relate themselves to the show. Last of all, it is essential for us to keep in mind that the diverse values and tastes of our society are constantly changing, and no one program can reflect all of them. Above all, the media and the public are both influencing each other, and the tale of these two sitcoms can best show us this fact.
Work Cited
Stark, Steven D. “A Tale of Two Sitcoms.” Signs of Life in the USA. 3rd ed. Ed. Sonia Maasik. Boston: Bedford, 2000.
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