Most right and left wing TV shows?

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. :wink:

30 Rock is an interesting case. Creator and star Tina Fey is undoubtedly liberal, but she’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 insider’s point of view.

I have not watched 24 since season 1 so I won’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 it’s just how Juno is. But is moronic to discuss, no matter what?

Marshal and Lilly are liberals, to be sure, but Robin is a no-nonsense card-bearing NRA member, while Barney… well, he’s certainly *sexually liberal. He’s also the personification of consumerism and big business, so I’d probably place him somewhat to the right, politically.

  • Although he did have sex with Madeline Albright.

I’m not much for 24, but I can tell you that it is Bill Clinton’s favorite show. I’m not sure he’s be that into a show that’s really obviously right wing. Not that he’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.)

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.

Where do religion-themed shows like Touched By an Angel and Highway to Heaven rank?

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.

A BIG stretch! Besides what other show has a Christian fundamentalist side-character who is treated respectfully and affectionately?

I’d second Walker, Texas Ranger. I’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, I’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

Darn you, Bryan. and you, Bob! :slight_smile:

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 didn’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.

And who was the only married man in town? Otis, the town drunk. Yesirree bob, those is Hollywood values, not American values.

Life is idyllic in a wholly communist society headed by a benign dictator? Sounds like The Smurfs to me.

Who’s the character? I don’t watch the show any more than when the remote gets sat on.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Simpsons.
It’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.

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.

How about Battlestar Galactica? It was an extremely political drama, but whether it promoted right or left wing views varied greatly week to week.

Seth MacFarlane’s politics (he’s a liberal) are increasingly voiced in Family Guy, and American Dad is a satire of Republican government.

Communist indeed. The male-female ratio was about what we’ll be seeing in China in a few years.

Moronic, no. Pointless, yes.

The “Juno goes to the abortion clinic” 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 “quirky girl has quirky pregnancy.” I don’t think “quirky girl has quriky abortion” would have been half as amusing.

Almighty Plot has no political leanings.