For the last couple of years now I’ve seen an interesting trend on television. Competent, intelligent and attractive women in sitcoms married to or dating overweight, whiny, or incompetent husbands or boyfriends. I know this sounds kind of harsh, but I also know that you will NEVER see it the other way around portrayed on television and it’s slightly annoying to me. Women have a reputation, as a whole, for seeking qualities in a man that are more concerned with personality and character over looks, while as a whole, men seem to value looks as being “up there” along with the rest of what they seek. However, I’ve noticed on television a theme for a couple of years now that I find rather perplexing. Not only have there been multiple sitcoms portraying a slender, gorgeous, career driven, supportive woman married to or dating…a doofus frankly, but often times that doofus is also not all exactly overflowing in other characteristics. Do these portrayals have an effect on modern men’s expectations in dating and love? Let’s take a look at a couple of popular sitcoms that reflect this unrealistic portrayal:
image: extratv.warnerbrothers.com
Scrubs
Listen. I agree that the character JD is hilarious and he can be really thoughtful, and he’s a doctor in training. But he’s also really clueless and immature and not exactly attractive. Yet episode after episode sees him dating the likes of Elizabeth Banks, Tara Reid, and the pretty gift shop girl to name just a few. The characters portrayed by these women might possess legitimate careers themselves (except in the case of gift shop girl perhaps), but they’re still more than willing to fawn over JD and feel broken hearted when he tells them the relationship is over. I don’t see a woman like Elizabeth Banks sitting home pregnant waiting on a JD in real life much.
image: tv.com
Seinfeld
Again…Jerry Seinfeld plays a hilarious guy and the show is consistently popular because of him. However, season after season after season shows Jerry and his short, bald, career-hopping pal George dating scores of above average lookers and finding flaws in them. Perhaps that’s part of the entertainment. However, a guy who tucks turtlenecks into waist-high jeans doesn’t likely date Terri Thatchers, Courtney Cox and the like on a regular basis unless he’s rollin’ in dough. Just tellin’ it like it is.
According to Jim
Courtney Thorne-Smith and Jim Balucci. Yeah…
image: tvguide.com
Everybody Loves Raymond
Raymond means well, but every episode stresses me out for his wife having to constantly remind him to romance her or help her around the house or with the kids. His nasally voice doesn’t help his case much. Debra portrays a wife that tolerates a lot, from bombarding nosy in-laws, to a forgetful man-child husband.
www.poptv.com
King of Queens
Fat UPS driver married to a svelte, beautiful wife Carrie (played by Leah Remini).
It’s sweet really.
image: cbs.com
Big Bang Theory
Dorky Leonard enjoys dating a beautiful, blonde Penny.
Let’s not even touch movies. To count the number of times Adam Sandler has paired himself with women of supermodel stature represents the stuff dreams are made of. What about you? Do you see this trend dying out with the arrival of new sitcoms on the horizon?
