I Love Lucy is among the best American television sitcoms of all times that premiered in the 1950s, in Columbia broadcasting system (CBS). On the other hand, See Dad Run is one of the latest sitcoms in American television that premiered in 2012 in Nick at Nite. I Love Lucy and See Dad Run were produced by Desilu Productions and Nickelodeon Productions consecutively. With both of these series being among the top watched shows by Americans, they have similarities and disparities that make them worth watching.
As much as they were casted in different decades and have disparities in their setting, topics, and basically their scripting; they still have some similarities that make them the top television shows of all times. Given that I Love Lucy premiered only a few years after World War II, the media did not have the freedom they have today; therefore, they declined covering some subjects. They had to be careful as there was a lot of tension, and would not have wanted to raise any apprehensions among their audience.
To begin with, the settings of the casts are incomparable; this is because of the advancements made in technology which tremendously improved the quality of pictures. This is evident when comparing these two sitcoms as I Love Lucy was produced in black-and-white, while See Dad Run is not only produced in colored pictures, but also uses multi cameras in their casting. Times have changed and so have the lifestyles of many families; for these, the approach to the coverage of topics is different.
For instance, unlike in I Love Lucy, See Dad Run, tend to openly converse issues related to sex, showing how differently this generation views this sensitive subject. In addition, the jokes used in the scripts are different in terms of their funniness, level of intellect and their delivery. Actors and actresses especially kids have greatly improved in their acting skills as there are more acting schools than in the 1950s where kids are taught to harness their talents at a tender age.
In See Dad Run, the show starts by David Hobbs who is the dad returning home and becoming a stay-at-home dad after taking a break in his acting career. By this, he gives way to his wife Amy Hobbs, to return to her career as a soap opera actress. This clearly shows how gender roles have been advanced in terms of gender equality. In other words, women are seen to have the same right as men to be bread winners, unlike in the past when they were only depicted as housewives.
While Lucy is seen as a naive woman, Amy on the other hand, is depicted as smart as she repeatedly discovers tricks that his husband plays on her. In addition, she is more sophisticated compared to Lucy; this shows the strides that have been made in fashion, lifestyles, and social conducts. However, both series have received positive responses from their audiences, proving their exceptionality.
In both shows, families are depicted as vital viabilities in the American society, which in return sends the right message to their audience by setting good examples. For instance, in See Dad Run, David is seen trying to match the qualities that he depicted in his previous television series that made him win several awards for being the best dad in America.
With the above comparison, it is evident that there are various disparities in the making of the current sitcoms, and that of sitcoms of the 1950s. These are such as roles assigned to husbands and wives, topics covered, and the family setting.