# The portrayal of Dysfunctional Broken families on TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042 "2017-08-19T05:17:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Madness2017](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Madness2017](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madness2017)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/1 "2017-08-19T05:17:18Z")
Has there ever been a TV drama about dysfunctional families? When I say dysfunctional I mean selfish family members, that lie, manipulate and belittle each other on a regular basis. I already know about Shameless but I count that as a dramedy. No comedy shows. This is about drama. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/2 "2017-08-19T05:21:16Z")
About any telenovela. They usually include a lot of self-centered people, at least one bitch who wasn’t allowed into hell because Satan was afraid of her, a bunch of men (who may or may not be deceased) who had more sex with the maids than with the wife, and enough illegitimate children to give the people at the civil registry months’ worth of nightmares. Or were you thinking US-made only? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/3 "2017-08-19T05:33:08Z")
**Moderator Action** Welcome to the SDMB, **Madness2017**. Questions about Movies and TV shows belong in our Cafe Society forum. I will move this thread there for you (from GQ). ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/4 "2017-08-19T05:35:18Z")
Wikipedia happens to have a list of TV shows about dysfunctional families. They aren’t sorted by type, so there are comedies and other types all in here. But it’s a place to start. > **[Category:Television series about dysfunctional families](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Television_series_about_dysfunctional_families)** > > This category has the following 10 subcategories, out of 10 total. > The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 238 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. ---
**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 19, 2017, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/5 "2017-08-19T08:20:18Z")
Game of Thrones? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/6 "2017-08-19T11:25:36Z")
I just finished binge watching three seasons of [Bloodline](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodline_(TV_series)). Do I win the thread? ---
**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:** [August 19, 2017, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/7 "2017-08-19T12:17:14Z")
I’ll mention _[Titus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus_(TV_series))_, a show about a dysfunctional family based on a real dysfunctional family. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/8 "2017-08-19T12:23:27Z")
Titus was a comedy. Comedies are pretty good at depicting dysfunction in families. Arrested Development, Shameless-- heck, even Rick and Morty. Dramas are a bit less thick on the ground, I think. ETA: GoT reminded me of that real dysfunctional family, The Borgias. Now _that’s_ dysfunctional! ---
**Author:** ![Madness2017](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Madness2017](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madness2017)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/9 "2017-08-19T13:13:04Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > About any telenovela. They usually include a lot of self-centered people, at least one bitch who wasn’t allowed into hell because Satan was afraid of her, a bunch of men (who may or may not be deceased) who had more sex with the maids than with the wife, and enough illegitimate children to give the people at the civil registry months’ worth of nightmares. > > Or were you thinking US-made only? Foreign shows are fined as well. ---
**Author:** ![Madness2017](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Madness2017](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madness2017)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/10 "2017-08-19T13:15:47Z")
Titus was a comedy. Comedies are pretty good at depicting dysfunction in families. Arrested Development, Shameless-- heck, even Rick and Morty. Dramas are a bit less thick on the ground, I think. ETA: GoT reminded me of that real dysfunctional family, The Borgias. Now _that’s_ dysfunctional![/QUOT I like some comedies about families too, but I notice there is absence of dramas about it. One comedy I can think of was That 70s show although it gave you more than just family. Married with Children is classic as well. I make sure to check out the Borgias. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/11 "2017-08-19T13:50:29Z")
\*Dallas \*and \*Dynasty \*from the '80s? ---
**Author:** ![HyacinthBucket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hyacinthbucket/32/3063_2.png) [@HyacinthBucket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HyacinthBucket)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/12 "2017-08-19T15:29:40Z")
Let’s go a bit deeper into history - **I, Claudius** In the 1976 TV series: Livia’s body count included most of her family and in-laws including her husband. Caligula was one of history’s original nutjobs - slept with and then murdered his sister, and declared his favorite horse a Roman consul along with a long list of other depravities. And then there’s Nero - executed his mother, may have caused Rome’s great fire to clear a space for his lavish new palace, and was condemned to death, which he avoided by commiting suicide. That’s just for starters, don’t forget Messalina, Tiberius, Agrippina, Livilla, Julia and even Augustus\* (“Is there anyone in Rome who has NOT slept with my daughter?”) \*… The Claudians almost make the Borgias look like the Von Trapps by comparison. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/13 "2017-08-19T16:01:05Z")
The name “Livia” reminded me of a drama of some seriously effed up families in The Sopranos. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/14 "2017-08-19T17:05:59Z")
Pretty much all the golden age TV shows were about dysfunctional families at least in part: The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Mad Men. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/15 "2017-08-19T20:06:05Z")
Soap operas run on dysfunctional families. I used to watch them a lot. General Hospital has had some major family issues: a young woman killed someone and blamed her mother, and got away with it; a man raped that young woman, then married her; years later that same man, while drunk, struck and killed his own grandson in a hit and run… ---
**Author:** ![HyacinthBucket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hyacinthbucket/32/3063_2.png) [@HyacinthBucket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HyacinthBucket)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/16 "2017-08-19T20:12:54Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > The name “Livia” reminded me of a drama of some seriously effed up families in The Sopranos. That’s why the actress - sorry, don’t remember her name - chose that first name for her Sopranos character. It wasn’t an accident. Too bad we didn’t see more of her. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/17 "2017-08-19T21:55:13Z")
Back in 1971 a documentary producer decided to follow the daily life of an ordinary, normal, well-to-do family from California. In the six months or so of filming, the parents’ marriage broke up and the oldest son came out as gay (a much bigger thing in 1971 than you could believe.) The documentary became the PBS series _An American Family_. PBS followed up in 2003, and the HBO film\* Cinema Verite\*, based on the original documentary came out in 2011. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-portrayal-of-dysfunctional-broken-families-on-tv/794042/18 "2017-08-19T23:19:33Z")
The great primetime soaps of the 1980s, especially the granddaddy of them all, _Dallas_. Lie? Check. Manipulate? Check. Belittle each other? Check out any scene between J.R. and Sue Ellen. They were absolutely scathing, and the #1 show in the country. _Dynasty_, _The Colbys_, and my personal favorite, \*Falcon Crest \*(we used to call it “The Crest”), along with several others that were less successful all followed the same pattern. And I see that I missed that **bordelond** got there before me.