My favorite show, Black Mirror, is definitely a modern-day Twilight Zone. Both shows lay out a dystopian nightmare scenarios about what the world could look like in the very near future. They both take a hard look at the extremes of human nature and technology will eventually consume every aspect of life. Though both were made almost 50 years apart, it’s interesting to see how similar they are in content (definitely not comparable in production).
In contrast to the creepy and existential theme of the Twilight Zone is the funny and popular Dick Van Dyke Show. This was my first time watching an episode and I have to admit I really enjoyed it. I think the basic premise of the show, featuring a typical 1960s family consisting of a husband who goes to work and his wife, the stay at home mom, provided all the characters with a forum to constantly make jokes. The jokes were mild (in my opinion) but were effective nontheless. It was obvious that they were experimenting with a new style of comedy, using elements of self-deprecation, irreverence and irony.
To some degree, I think the show was a reality for the 1960s, however, I seem to doubt that Rob and Laura would actually sleep in separate beds.
I do appreciate that they made Rob a liberal. Then again, that’s usually how Hollywood operates.
Jerome Krase
May 20, 2017 — 11:34 am
Wasn’t really new but Laura’s character was for the time “edgy” as it was obvious that she could emerge as not simply an equal in the household but actually the head. Many TV family sitcoms showed women leading from behind. If we remove all the gender cues and clues, contemporary versions are very similar; even on the disney channel that I watch, reluctantly, with my granddaughters. someone always seems to be “in charge.”