Fark the conservatives. My family fits the dysfunctional mantra much closer than the "perfect" one.

I think that shows like Malcolm in the Middle make not only for good watching, but are close in many degrees to what many families deal with on a daily basis.

BTW, the Simpsons are currently TV's best example of a perfect family, as dysfunctional as they might look. It's obvious, that even through their misadventures and the fact that Homer is a dumb oaf, they love each other and go out of their way to care about each other. This is why many conservatives who bashed the show when it first came out now appreciate it.

Criticism sucks.

ok, what's the perfect mix?

new show called 'Jeb'

it's a politician's family with a druggie daughter? Extreme hijinks for sure.

I dont know any perfect families, i can only relate to the DYSFUNCTIONAL ones BRING "MARRIED WITH CHILDREN" BACK!!!

Bring back "That's My Bush"! Now!

I would like to see a sitcom about a deranged family that systematically seeks out and executes members of tv watchdog groups. In my show, the heads of the household would be the incestuous teenage son and daughter (every week she gets an abortion Ha Ha!) Mom and Dad are junkies who carry out the dirty deeds for their rewards (food & fix), always using blunt objects. And then there's Billie and Pud.

The Bludgeons, coming this fall.

In a related story, 99.9% of TV programs suck anyway and should not be taken too seriously.

The "MArried With Children" effect.

That show rocked.... but doesn't in it's many OTHER incarnations.

Only Malcom In The Middle still captures some freshness, but I think that might eventually go away as well.

disfunctional is such a better premise than the Cosby show

Can a butch lesbian be a father figure substitute. I mean, they both wear flannel.

And they both dig chicks.

*fails to find the word "dysfunctional" so much as implied anywhere in that article*

The word "strange" wasn't in the article either.

Never thought I'd see the Texarkana Gazette linked on Fark.

T-Town! Haha. Twice as nice.

Charlie, don't be too surprised. The article wasn't written by anyone at the Gazette.

Misleading headline. The article is not about dysfunctional families so much as single parent families. And I think this article also isn't accurate. In shows like "The Simpsons" and "Malcolm in the Middle" the families, though not perfect, are not really disfunctional either. Not by my standards anyway. And no real-life family is perfect either.

Okay, but if "The Cosby Show" was good TV, how come all their kids were different shades of black? How'd that happen?

Okay, that was tasteless and I'm sorry, but was Mrs. Cos gettin' it on with the milk man, or what?

i think the milk man theory is applicable.

when did "TV series should portray the variety of American life, including functional single-parent families" become an actual fact...?
maybe i'm wrong, but i thought the purpose of tv was to entertain, and that's about it...i was under the impression that the shows were created to be entertaining, and if somebody learned something from it, then that was a bonus.

if this guy requires a "realistic portrayal of american society" from tv, maybe he needs to GET OUT MORE and see a realistic portrayal out in reality

Bring back Hunter!
Bring back Hunter!
Bring back Hunter!
Bring back Hunter!

Television is supposed to entertain us, right?
Hmm, this comment really isn't worth the 5 calories required to type it

Why does it have to be perfect or dysfunctional? Can't there be balanced families?

who the hell is from texarkana? if you're cool and worth visiting, i'll drop by and you can watch me delete comments :P

I spent 15 long years there.... and it must be on the edge of the bible belt, cause I had to run and cross state line ave. to get alcohol anytime I needed a drink

heh sgamer

Sgamer: Sorry, I'm in Houston. I think this is the second Texarkana Gazette article I've had accepted, though.

I am from T-town originally. Went to L-E High. Now I live in a much more beautiful location. WPS!