# Most right and left wing TV shows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476 "2009-08-05T22:18:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/21 "2009-08-06T04:41:57Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > I suppose _T2_ is right-leaning, since Sarah was able to get all those guns and use them to help save the world, but I figured it was more because blood and bombs go a lot better with pizza and beer. The further one gets from Castro Street or Greenwich Village the easier it is for one to realize that blood, bombs, pizza, and beer are not political. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/22 "2009-08-06T05:39:12Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > _30 Rock_ gets off a lot of anti-conservative humor - Iā€™d feel safe calling it ā€œliberalā€. 30 Rock is an interesting case. Creator and star Tina Fey is undoubtedly liberal, but sheā€™s first and foremost a comedienne, and as such, her biggest target is always herself - which includes her politics. The result is a liberal show that very often mocks liberals and liberal attitudes, from an insiderā€™s point of view. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/23 "2009-08-06T08:31:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Itā€™s fiction that is enjoyable on its own merits regardless of your politics and it doesnā€™t pretend to be an honest debate about surveillance, torture or terrorism. Itā€™s moronic that the show is sometimes used that way, but thatā€™s the fault of _Fox and Friends_ and pundits, not _24_. I have not watched 24 since season 1 so I wonā€™t take shots at that particular series. But at least I disagree that it would be moronic to read politic views into it. Political ideas and culture can seep through the written material even if there are no political ambitions as such. An example of this can be seen in Juno. What does it say that Juno so quickly abandons the notion of having an abortion? Is is American culture? Is it playing safe by Diablo Cody, who dances around a touchy subject? Is it politics? Or maybe itā€™s just how Juno is. But is moronic to discuss, no matter what? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/24 "2009-08-06T09:04:48Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > One of the characters on _How I Met Your Mother_ is always talking about wanting to be a lawyer for environmental causes (although at present he works for a Big Bad Corporation out of desperation)ā€¦so I guess that show would lean left. Marshal and Lilly are liberals, to be sure, but Robin is a no-nonsense card-bearing NRA member, while Barneyā€¦ well, heā€™s certainly \*sexually _liberal. Heā€™s also the personification of consumerism and big business, so Iā€™d probably place him somewhat to the right, politically._ - Although he did have sex with Madeline Albright. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/25 "2009-08-06T09:21:22Z")
Iā€™m not much for 24, but I can tell you that it is Bill Clintonā€™s favorite show. Iā€™m not sure heā€™s be that into a show thatā€™s really obviously right wing. Not that heā€™s a super liberal, of course. (This fascinating bit of information comes from John Oliver of the Daily Show, who has a hilarious podcast, The Bugle, wherein a few months ago he related the story of how he spent an evening with Bill Clinton and Natalie Portman at some benefit, and Clinton spent the whole evening talking about 24 and how much he loves Jack Bauer. John seemed rather horrified by the whole thing.) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/26 "2009-08-06T10:35:12Z")
Designing Women seemed really liberal and a little preachy to me. If you want both in one show then Family Ties was your go to show for both right and left. The ex-hippy parents always pissed me off. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/27 "2009-08-06T11:14:26Z")
Where do religion-themed shows like _Touched By an Angel_ and _Highway to Heaven_ rank? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/28 "2009-08-06T11:22:44Z")
Most left wing show- Andy Griffith. Why? Andy was the government, and he solved every problem in town. Husband and wife squabble? Call Andy. Need your job back in the department store? Call Andy. Go on a bender? Check yourself into government-paid housing for the night. Mayberry was without doubt the most government-dependent community in the nation. Second place- Doctor Quinn, Politically Correct Woman. Amazing how this 19th century doctor would have such progressive views for her time. Most right wing show- Dukes of Hazzard. You know them good old boys had a shotgun in every pickup ('cept Bo and Luke were on probation, and had to content themselves with dynamite-loaded arrows). The message every week- the government is evil and out to get you. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/29 "2009-08-06T11:39:29Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > But I am not sure of a current or recent show that would clearly be left of center - ā€œBig Bang Theoryā€ maybe because it suggests that something other than creationism exists, but thatā€™s kind of a stretch. A BIG stretch! Besides what other show has a Christian fundamentalist side-character who is treated respectfully and affectionately? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/30 "2009-08-06T11:48:39Z")
Iā€™d second _Walker, Texas Ranger_. Iā€™d like to add _Touched By An Angel_ to the list, as well as that Michael Landon angel show, Highway to Heaven. (ETA: Darn you, Bryan!) Of action shows, Iā€™d say _Magyver_ has to be one of the more liberal ones - a hero who refuses to use guns. Oh, yes, and _Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman_ā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/31 "2009-08-06T11:58:05Z")
Darn you, Bryan. and you, Bob! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/32 "2009-08-06T12:00:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Most left wing show- Andy Griffith. Why? Andy was the government, and he solved every problem in town. Husband and wife squabble? Call Andy. Need your job back in the department store? Call Andy. Go on a bender? Check yourself into government-paid housing for the night. Mayberry was without doubt the most government-dependent community in the nation. I never thought of it that way but it is true. He also only gave Barney one bullet and made him keep his gun unloaded. That was an early version of strict gun control and that was done to his deputy. Otis could come and go out of jail as he pleased with no consequences so he was really soft on some types of crime. He also didnā€™t seem to be in any hurry to marry Helen Crump, preferring instead to live in a non-traditional household. Earnest T. Bass was an anarchist and protester. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/33 "2009-08-06T12:18:28Z")
And who was the only married man in town? Otis, the town drunk. Yesirree bob, those is Hollywood values, not American values. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/34 "2009-08-06T12:35:23Z")
Life is idyllic in a wholly communist society headed by a benign dictator? Sounds like _The Smurfs_ to me. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/35 "2009-08-06T12:48:34Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > A BIG stretch! Besides what other show has a Christian fundamentalist side-character who is treated respectfully and affectionately? Whoā€™s the character? I donā€™t watch the show any more than when the remote gets sat on. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/36 "2009-08-06T13:26:46Z")
Iā€™m surprised no one has mentioned the Simpsons. Itā€™s always had a liberal bent, but the later seasons have gotten awfully preachy - think about any episode having to do with gay rights and/or gay marriage. Still what other show can get away with skewering its parent company - think all its jokes about Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/37 "2009-08-06T14:15:38Z")
36 posts in and I am the first to mention \*Murphy Brown \*as the most liberal? or Boston Legal could be for its preachiness, but loses points for Denny and Brad Chase being conservatives. Pretty much any show with Candice Bergen, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/38 "2009-08-06T14:17:05Z")
How about _Battlestar Galactica_? It was an extremely political drama, but whether it promoted right or left wing views varied greatly week to week. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/39 "2009-08-06T14:23:19Z")
Seth MacFarlaneā€™s politics (heā€™s a liberal) are increasingly voiced in _Family Guy_, and _American Dad_ is a satire of Republican government. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Life is idyllic in a wholly communist society headed by a benign dictator? Sounds like _The Smurfs_ to me. Communist indeed. The male-female ratio was about what weā€™ll be seeing in China in a few years. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476/40 "2009-08-06T14:27:43Z")
> [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > An example of this can be seen in Juno. What does it say that Juno so quickly abandons the notion of having an abortion? Is is American culture? Is it playing safe by Diablo Cody, who dances around a touchy subject? Is it politics? Or maybe itā€™s just how Juno is. But is moronic to discuss, no matter what? Moronic, no. Pointless, yes. The ā€œJuno goes to the abortion clinicā€ scene was included by Cody so that she can show just how independant and smart Juno is. But then the idea of actually getting an abortion is quickly brushed aside because otherwise the movie would be only 20 minutes long. On top of that, the whole point of the movie was ā€œquirky girl has quirky pregnancy.ā€ I donā€™t think ā€œquirky girl has quriky abortionā€ would have been half as amusing. Almighty Plot has no political leanings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-right-and-left-wing-tv-shows/505476.md?page=3)