One of the most recognizable staples of American television is the family-based sitcom; throughout the decades, this format of television has maintained immense popularity and yet experienced dramatic evolution. In regarding the vast collection of series over time, the viewer is presented with one essential question: how have these television programs remained the same throughout the years, and how have they changed? While there are thousands of possible answers, I will observe two family-based sitcoms for this analysis. Let us compare All in the Family, the iconic and controversial television series of the 1970s, with Arrested Development, a tongue-in-cheek perspective toward contemporary family life.
First, let us observe the similarities between these two television programs. Both series present a situation in which there is a great amount of disagreements within a family. All in the Family is incredibly famous for doing this; the character of Archie Bunker, although lovable, is notoriously intolerant of his son-in-law and his ideological views, resulting in very significant and very humorous exchanges between the two characters. Arrested Development creates a similar environment of family quarrels on an even greater scale; Michael Bluth, the protagonist of the series, seems to be the only logical and focused member of his family, so that much of the show's conflict revolves around his troubled relationship with his relatives. His mother, brother, sister, and brother-in-law are all focused on their own selfish goals, usually leaving Michael to clean up their mistakes and lecture them about what they have done wrong. Like All in the Family, the tension between family members is used for humorous effect. Another similarity that these television programs have is their caricatures of certain types of people. Archie Bunker is, once again, the most famous example in All in the Family, although he may not be the only character who is being criticized; assumedly, not all of his beliefs are meant to be taken at face value, but rather, in many instances are meant to be a caricature of actual established society. Arrested Development makes the same effort at creating caricatures: Michael's brother can be viewed as a caricature of a clueless businessman who rides off of someone else's work, his mother can be seen as a mockery of an obsessive compulsive matriarch, and his twin sister is likely a parody of the selfish, air-headed sex maniac. In both shows, exaggerated personalities are used for humor and potential commentary.
However, separated by over three decades of culture, the two television shows exhibit differences as well. One important element to note is the number of generations that each program features within its main character ensemble. All in the Family focused mainly on two generations - that of Archie and his wife, and that of their daughter and her husband. Given that this sitcom was a reflection of old, established ideas versus new and unfamiliar ideas, this makes sense within the context of the show; it was mainly a conversation between Archie's older generation, and the upcoming generation of Michael Stivic. Arrested Development, on the other hand, features conversation between three separate generations: the middle-aged Michael Bluth, who is the series' centerpiece, his elders, including his mother, father, and uncle, and the generation below him, consisting of his niece, his son, and his son's girlfriend. Clearly, Arrested Development is not as much a distinct conversation between two ideologies as it is a complex quarrel between various unique characters, and this marks an important difference between the two television shows. Another difference between the two series is the importance of occupations within the show. In All in the Family, Archie Bunker is presented as a retired World War II veteran; most of the significant ideas he presents are not related to his work, but rather, within the environment of his colorful family life. In Arrested Development, Michael Bluth's business is a key source of his motivation. Unlike Archie Bunker, who presents commentary within the confines of his home, many of Michael's efforts are an attempt to untangle himself from business-related conflicts. Since Michael's struggling business spurs many of his decisions, this is a clear difference between the television shows.
Each of these programs observes an issue that the other observes less. Something that All in the Family observes that is rarely depicted in Arrested Development is the clash between generations. Archie Bunker and Michael Stivic are the perfect illustration of a generational clash; the older character represents tradition, self-reliance, and morality, while the younger character represents change, social responsibility, and acceptance. Through Archie and Michael's arguments, we see the large-scale dissonance between generational cultures. Arrested Development is not as heavily focused on how the generations are different; it is more focused on how the various generations must collectively unite to succeed. This, in fact, leads to an important concept of Arrested Development that is observed less often in All in the Family - the concept of desiring to carry out the success and reputation of past generations in the family. The reason that Michael Bluth is so desperate to succeed with his business is because the business belonged to his father; knowing the quarrelsome state that his family is in, Michael wishes to unite his relatives under a common mode of responsibility and respect, as if to honor the reputation of the family. Obviously, this is different than All in the Family; Michael's conflicts with his relatives are not a statement about upcoming generational differences. Rather, they are a way of showing that Michael wants his family to think less about themselves, and more about their collective success; the differences are not generational, but personal.
Given both their similarities and their differences, both television programs are entertaining and stimulating. The familiar archetype of the family-based sitcom allows us to identify with family conflict, and yet, even as time passes, novel elements are continuously brought to the table. This gives contemporary programs a fresh atmosphere, and a unique way of viewing society all over again.
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