Summary
Warning: This article mentions topics of racism, eating disorders, and sexual harassment.
WhileTV show tropeshave always been a common occurrence, some have aged rather badly. In past decades, TV shows have implemented several tropes and stereotypes about their characters, settings, and even episode formats. However, while many were timeless, some TV tropes became so painfully out-of-date. Eventhe best TV shows of all timewere guilty at one point or another of using poorly aged tropes.
Unfortunately, sometropes completely ruined a TV show, and audiences quickly grew tired of them. As society changed, so did the world of TV, for the most part. However, one TV aspect that stuck around was the often boring, irritating, or simply nonsensical tropes that were outdated years after their initial release.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Cast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
The use ofthe “bury your gays” tropein the past received significant attention, especially in recent years.LGBTQ+ representation in the mediawasn’t always a priority, and plenty of TV shows were guilty of killing off their queer characters. Sadly, this trope was named as such becauseLGBTQ+ characters were more likely to die.For example,Tara’s death inBuffy the Vampire Slayerwas a heartbreaking moment for Willow, especially as her girlfriend’s end came just after they’d reconciled.
However, Tara’s demise was also poorly timed. Willow hadn’t been out of the closet for very long, and her relationship with Tara was her first prominent same-sex relationship, yetBuffy the Vampire Slayermowed her down without any further thought as to how it would impact popular culture. Willow and Tara were one of the first long-term lesbian couples on US TV,but the reassurance they offered viewers with their presence was disappointingly cut short. Tara was treated like a plot device, unfortunately, and she was useless once Willow’s magic abuse arc wrapped up.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he navigates the challenges of managing his family and criminal enterprise. He seeks guidance from psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi while dealing with complex dynamics involving his wife Carmela, cousin Christopher Moltisanti, and other Mafia associates. Released in 1999, this series delves into organized crime and personal struggles.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
Mad Men
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
House
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
Throughout the 2000s, there were severalunlikeable TV show characters, but despite their most irritating qualities, it was hard not to invest in them. Characters like Tony Soprano fromThe Sopranosand Walter White inBreaking Badwere two prominent examples ofthe antihero in a TV show, but their existence spawned a series of copycats. For instance, Gregory House inHousewas a brilliant doctor and a total genius, but his social skills left a lot to be desired.
Although his character changed and developed throughout the show, the titular character was an overall nightmare who regularly sabotaged himself and everyone else. Don Draper inMad Menhad a lot of charm and said the right things, but it was difficult to ignore the fact that he was an adulterer and generally sketchy. Even though a protagonist wasn’t required to be the best or most moral person,the booming popularity of the antihero characterresulted in overly flawed personalities,which wasn’t an ideal factor for a lead.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
Clip show episodes were very popular in the ‘90s and 2000s, especially in sitcoms.These episodes generally consisted of segments from previous seasonsand were often used for characters to reflect on their past antics. For example,The Office’s clip show episode happened when Dunder Mifflin was sold to Sabre, and an assessor visited to confirm the value of the branch. Unfortunately, it was considered one ofthe worst episodes ofThe Officebecause it was unnecessary. While they were an unexpected treat for viewers, they aren’t as relevant nowadays, especially in the world of streaming.
Unfortunately, clip show episodes were simply lazy. Instead of a normal installment, TV shows remixed their stories, threw in a narrative that explained its characters were looking back at the past, and called it a new episode.Eventhe best clip show episodes of TV showsdidn’t offer anything significantly different, and sadly, re-editing old moments together wasn’t particularly satisfying for audiences.
That ’70s Show
That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s.
In the ‘80s and ‘90s, most especially,there was a common pattern of young female characters in TV showswho were always in relationships.Every time one came to an end, another quickly appeared, meaning these characters were never single. A great example of a show that did this wasThat ‘70s Show. Both Donna and Jackie were consistently dating someone, even when it was absolutely better for them if they weren’t.Donna and Eric’s relationship inThat ‘70s Showwas prominent throughout, but even after they split up, she immediately started dating Randy.
Jackie dated Kelso, Hyde, and Fez, and even when she was single, Jackie’s storylines were geared towards her either reuniting with one or moving on to another. What was so wild about the use of this trope, however, was that Donna and Jackie were so different. They had different ideals and aspirations in life, and Donna notably always sought her independence, yetThat ‘70s Showdidn’t give them a chance to breathe. Thankfully, this concept became less common over time.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
Cheers
One of the most well-known American sitcoms of the 1980s and 90s, Cheers is primarily set in Boston at the Cheers bar, and features and ensemble cast that includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Pearlman, Kelsey Grammer, and George Wendt. Danson’s Sam Malone acts as the bar’s proprietor, and episodes depict the lives of Cheers' staff and patrons during the bar’s operating hours. The series ran for 11 seasons and gave rise to popular spin-off shows such as Frasier.
The Womazier character in TVwas, more often than not, a man with a player attitude, an obsession with sex, and who had little respect for his partners. The ego that aWomanizer possessed made them feel untouchable,so they never hesitated in shamelessly flirting with a woman. Sometimes, these characters took things too far and bordered on sexual harassment, especially if they tried to pick up a woman who was married or explicitly expressed they weren’t interested.
Some of TV’s most famous womanizers were characters like Barney Stinson inHow I Met Your Motherand Sam Malone inCheers, for example.Barney’s Playbook inHow I Met Your Motherwas creepy and portrayed women as objects, andit was totally baffling that Barney found it appropriate to go to such extremes just to have sex. Sam Malone confessed to sleeping with over 400 women to Diane, which was an astonishing thing to say to his primary love interest. Although there was nothing wrong with either being so sexually active, the constant bragging about it was distasteful.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory: This sitcom follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with each other and the people around them. Centered on physicists Sheldon and Leonard, the series humorously explores friendship, romance, and the quirks of life among an eclectic group of academics.
In past decades, characters that come from countries other than the one the TV show was set in were used as comedic devices. The notion thatsomeone from a different culture was played for laughs,and these characters were often portrayed as unintelligent, foolish, or even incapable of basic speech and thought. Fez inThat ‘70s Showwas a victim of this, and the running gags about his overly complicated real name and the strange customs of his home country quickly got boring and plainly xenophobic.
Raj Koothrappali inThe Big Bang Theorywas another character who fell prey to this trope. Although he frequently joined in on jokes about India, the way the other characters felt it appropriate to mock Raj’s accent and culture was simply lazy comedy.As the show progressed, Raj’s character became a caricature of a stereotype in a few ways, such as his financial reliance on his physician father and his cousin working in a call center. In a world filled with all kinds of people and places, it was disappointing that the show relied on such outdated humor.
ugly betty
ABC’s Ugly Betty is the American adaptation of Fernando Gaitan’s world-famous Colombian soap opera Yo Soy Betty, La Fea. Starring America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, the comedy series follows a young woman who lands a job as an editor assistant at Mode, a fashion magazine. Despite her poor sense of fashion, Betty’s can-do attitude and work ethic allows her to thrive in the industry.
Glee
In order to escape the stressful reality of high school, a group of misfits decides to join William McKinley’s glee club. Fox’sGleewas created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk,and Ryan Murphy, with Leah Michele, Jane Lynch, and Matthew Morrison leading the cast. The series ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2015 and won six Primetime Emmys.
Friends
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
The concept of traditional appearance was heavily featured in TV shows throughout the 2000s. Overweight characters, or those deemed as“fat,” were often the butt of the joke.It was established that characters with larger figures were unhealthy, unattractive, and incredibly unworthy of love.Monica was fat-shamed inFriendsduring her teenage years, and her character was reduced to an overeater who fed her feelings and didn’t have any friends, yet yearned for romantic attention. It was only in her adulthood, once she lost the weight, that she was considered appealing.
One of Quinn Fabray’s storylines inGleeseason 2 revealed that she transferred to McKinley after getting surgery and losing weight. What was so disappointing, however, was that Quinn felt the need to hide it, and she even stopped using her first name, Lucy, and started going by her middle name. There were even some that were characterized as being overweight despite their bodies being far from it, such as Rhonda inThat ‘70s Showand Betty Suarez inUgly Betty. The common misconception that fat didn’t equal beautiful was ridiculous then, and it continued to be long after.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
Family Guy
Family Guy is an animated series following the eccentric Griffin family. Led by bumbling patriarch Peter and long-suffering Lois, the family includes the sadistic baby Stewie, unpopular teenager Meg, dim-witted Chris, and Brian, their talking dog. The show explores their outlandish adventures in the fictional town of Quahog.
The concept of a father character who had no clue how to look after his children or even himself was very popular in the ‘90s and ’00s. Homer Simpson fromThe Simpsonswas a prominent figure in this category, alongside several other fathers from some ofthe best animated TV shows.Sitcoms loved to pit an incapable fatherand an overly anal mother against each other, and while the contrast in character personalities was funny, the acknowledgment of poor parenting wasn’t.
Characters like Homer or Peter Griffin fromFamily Guyrelied on their wives and kids to solve their own problems and were perceived as being lazy and self-centered.Although fathers used to be significantly less involved in their children’s lives decades ago, the trope outlived the societal standard,and there was no excuse for it to keep being pushed. The wives and partners of these characters didn’t deserve to parent another kid, and this trope aged rather poorly over time.
Example: Chrissy Snow In Three’s Company, Midge Pinciotti In That ‘70s Show, And Cerie 30 Rock
Three’s Company
Three’s Company is a sitcom that aired from 1977 to 1984, featuring John Ritter as Jack Tripper, who pretends to be gay to share an apartment with two women, Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) and Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers), due to the landlord’s conservative views. The show focuses on their comedic misunderstandings, relationships, and the antics of their other quirky friends and neighbors.
30 Rock
Tina Fey’s absurdist comedy series follows Liz Lemon, the head writer of a fictional live sketch comedy show operating out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, which is where the show derives its name. Loosely based on Fey’s experiences as a writer on Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock ran for seven seasons with a supporting cast that included Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer.
The dumb blonde trope was used throughout several decades of TV history. Generally, the trope established a blonde, usually female, character as being so stupid to the point that they were barely functioning.Their lack of common sense was often portrayed as funny and cute,but the character didn’t go much further than this. Several TV characters have fallen into this category: Chrissy Snow inThree’s Company, Midge Pinciotti inThat ‘70s Show, and Cerie30 Rock, to name a few.
The main issue with this trope, which was also frequently named“no thoughts, head empty” in TV shows, was that it was rather illogical. The color of a character’s hair and their intelligence weren’t connected in any way,yet this trope wasn’t really applied to brunettes or gingers. Sadly, it played into an age-old stereotype that was popularized by other forms of media, like Mattel’s range of Barbie dolls, Anta Loos’ 1925 novelGentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Marilyn Monroe’s movies.
Skins
Created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, Skins is a British drama series released in 2007. This teen drama offers an introspective look at a group of teens in England as they navigate sex, drugs, mental health, death, and more over seven seasons, with the final seasons seeing a shift in the cast. An American remake was released in 2011 on MTV but only lasted one season.
The idea of manic pixie dream girls referred to a character who appeared to be disconnected from reality, spontaneous, a bit childish, and someone who was clearly different from her peers. These characters were often romanticized for these traits, and they were highlighted for their unique and quirky outlook on life. However, this trope also included expectations that the manic pixie dream girl never enjoyed anything mainstream or followed the status quo.Sometimes, these characters also had a mental illness, although not exclusively.
Cassie fromSkinswas the ultimate manic pixie dream girl, but the aspects of her character that played into this trope were also grossly glorified. Cassie was perceived asbeautiful and brave for having an eating disorder,and while there was nothing wrong with her being so open about her struggles, it was shocking thatSkinsidealized her narrative. However, not every manic pixie dream girl was the same. Jess inNew Girlwas wacky and whimsical, but she was present and grounded, for example. While the trope never truly ended, it did develop and change into something more relatable.
