# First socially conscious sitcom episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315 "2014-05-13T01:21:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/41 "2014-05-15T15:06:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In broad terms, _ **Gilligan’s Island** _ was socially conscious, as it was meant to portray a microcosm of American society. Of course, if it were to be remade today, there would be at least one gay … Well, I’ve always had my suspicions about Ginger and Mary Ann. Or were those fantasies? I keep getting those two words mixed up. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/42 "2014-05-15T15:07:34Z")
Little Rock was 1957, so any public school would have (at least on paper, legally) have been integrated by 1961, especially in New York. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/43 "2014-05-15T15:19:11Z")
Segregated schools were generally in the south; in other states, the idea of having two separate school systems seemed a waste of money. However, northern schools did have de facto segregation due to population patterns. Though my school was integrated (I attended in the early 60s, but it was never segregated) and had a handful of Black students attending without issues, the school in the town east of us – also integrated – was something like 40% Black. The difference was that there were many more Black families there. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/44 "2014-05-15T15:52:16Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > At the end, Rob mentions that the two kids are in the same school and the other kid gets better grades. > > Ergo, the school is integrated. Doesn’t sound like much now, but an integrated school back then was unusual. Schools in New Rochelle (where the Petries lived) weren’t desegregated until 1961, when the show began. [Taylor v. Board of Education of City School District of City of New Rochelle](http://educationquicktakes.blogspot.com/2011/02/little-rock-in-new-rochelle.html) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/45 "2014-05-15T16:13:05Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Schools in New Rochelle (where the Petries lived) weren’t desegregated until 1961, when the show began. > > [Taylor v. Board of Education of City School District of City of New Rochelle](http://educationquicktakes.blogspot.com/2011/02/little-rock-in-new-rochelle.html) Holy crap. I withdraw my previous post. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/46 "2014-05-15T19:03:47Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Well, I’ve always had my suspicions about Ginger and Mary Ann. Or were those fantasies? I keep getting those two words mixed up. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSjTj2tnp9M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSjTj2tnp9M)🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/47 "2014-05-16T02:05:01Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSjTj2tnp9M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSjTj2tnp9M)🆒 Ah Ha! ---
**Author:** ![lew\_cody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e274bd/32.png) [@lew\_cody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lew_cody)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/48 "2014-05-16T20:48:32Z")
There was also an episode of “Family Affair” in which Buffy and Jody befriended an African-American girl named Albertine (also the name of the episode) who spins tales about what a remarkable father she has. I forgot how they ended up at her apartment, but it turns out there is no father in her life at all, and Albertine is embarrassed at how impoverished she is compared to Uncle Bill and company. It was a surprisingly touching episode, better than the series’ reputation would have one believe. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/49 "2014-05-16T23:27:27Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Was that the one with the kid screaming ‘I want some bread and buttah!’ Mother yells back ‘We don’t have any buttah!’ Kid screams back 'Then I want some bread and shugah!" That’s one of the few fragments I remember from that series. I remember that! ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2014, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/50 "2014-05-17T09:28:39Z")
I got to thinking about former Oregon Senator Bob Packwood and how he sexually harassed women for decades but they were either pressured to stay quiet or their complaints were belittled by their husbands, claimed they were overreacting and so on. This reminded me of an early episode of Bewitched where Darren was throwing a party to impress a potential important client (played by Jack Warden) who basically gave Samantha the Packwood treatment, but when she complained to Darren he told her she was overreacting, being hysterical, etc., plus he was an important potential client so smile and be a good wife. But when Warden cornered Samantha in the gazebo, it looked like shit was going to get too real, til she turned him into a dog. But the overt, aggressive sexuality of Warden’s character and Darren’s apathy to Samantha’s obvious distress seemed edgy for a show made in 1964. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2014, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/51 "2014-05-17T11:25:27Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Right, no racial stereotyping in _ **Hogan’s Heroes** _, no siree bob! :smack: What I love about Hogan’s Heroes is the way it gives us access to the stereotypes my Dad grew up with. The superiority of the Americans. The superiority of the short-timers over the regulars. The dodgy cockney Englishman. The dueling scars on the Junkers. The tiny Frenchman. It ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/52 "2014-05-19T20:37:08Z")
Did a little digging (both online and in my memory bank) and came up with a couple –In an episode of “The Ann Sothern Show” from 1959, she speaks up for the rights of American Indians on a radio interview. She worked at a hotel, and a prominent client demands she get fired. I’ve never seen the episode, so I don’t know how serious the treatment was. –Talking about the Thomas family, in season three of “That Girl” (1968) Marlo Thomas’ character finds a missing black child. He insists his parents live in a very nice neighborhood, but she won’t believe him. So he starts claiming his family lives in the ghetto and tells her of their awful living conditions. Well it turns out he was right after all, and Marlo tells her boyfriend she wishes there will be a day when you don’t assume people are poor just because of their race. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/53 "2017-02-20T19:49:13Z")
I just found two candidates from the most unlikely of sources “Father Knows Best”: –From 1956 the Anderson family can’t seem to get a houseguest to leave. Towards the end [(21:34) on this clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecmypi-ZhBI), they find out that it’s because he’s been deserted by his parents and is homeless. –[In this episode from 1959](http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/father-knows-best/the-gardener-s-big-day/5552374c69702d07040e0a00), the family’s Mexican gardener is chosen to respresent their town during a visit of the governor. Unfortunately, some city council members don’t want any nonwhite person standing in for their city. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/54 "2017-02-20T21:05:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I remember another episode of Leave It to Beaver involved Beaver making friends with a kid who was from a poor family. There was also an episode where Beaver befriended a Hispanic kid who didn’t speak English. Eddie taught Beaver a Spanish phrase to tell him that was actually offensive, though I can’t remember what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/55 "2017-02-20T21:07:50Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/56 "2017-02-20T22:56:31Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > There was also an episode where Beaver befriended a Hispanic kid who didn’t speak English. Eddie taught Beaver a Spanish phrase to tell him that was actually offensive, though I can’t remember what it was. Funny, this just popped into my head for no reason yesterday. It was _Usted tiene una cara como puerco_ (You have a face like a pig). ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/57 "2017-02-20T23:06:13Z")
If I’m not getting the show mixed up with something else, I think in a _Family Affair_ episode, Buffy and Jodie made friends with a dying kid, for whom they rigged up a Christmas in August type of thing because…well… you know… The kid didn’t die on that show, but there wasn’t any mistakes, mix-ups, or miracle cures either. The friend supposedly went on to die at some later date that was never mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/58 "2017-02-21T01:34:09Z")
Dobie Gillis introduced a female professor of anthropology, and defended her against Dobie’s neanderthal dad. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/59 "2017-02-21T04:30:31Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Funny, this just popped into my head for no reason yesterday. It was _Usted tiene una cara como puerco_ (You have a face like a pig). When Eddie told Wally about his plan to teach Beaver the phrase, Wally said, “Eddie that’s a dirty trick!”, and Eddie responded with a phrase for the ages: “Hey, my dad says NOTHING’s a dirty trick it it’s FUNNY!” And when Beaver repeated the phrase for the parents, the boy’s mother stormed out indignantly. Beaver’s mother asked him what it meant. “I don’t know, but whenever I say it, everyone leaves the room”. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315/60 "2017-02-21T04:34:54Z")
> [@lew\_cody](#): > > There was also an episode of “Family Affair” in which Buffy and Jody befriended an African-American girl named Albertine (also the name of the episode) who spins tales about what a remarkable father she has. I forgot how they ended up at her apartment, but it turns out there is no father in her life at all, and Albertine is embarrassed at how impoverished she is compared to Uncle Bill and company. It was a surprisingly touching episode, better than the series’ reputation would have one believe. With a great moment of comic relief when the girl kicked French’s ass at Chess: Albertine: Checkmate. French: It can’t be! Uncle Bill: Yes, French, I agree it can’t be, but it _is_ checkmate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-socially-conscious-sitcom-episode/688315.md?page=4)