# When are we going to have a TV show about Jews? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2000, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463 "2000-12-28T02:35:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/1 "2000-12-28T02:35:11Z")
I mean, we have _Will & Grace_ and _Queer as Folk_ for gays, _The Hughleys_ and _The PJ’s_ and the BET channel for black people, the Oxygen and Lifetime channels for women, and Telemundo for Hispanics. When are Jewish people going to get their own show/channel? And what about white men in general? When are we going to redress this disparity in programming? Everyone has their own show/channel except white men and Jews! And the Playboy Channel doesn’t count! How about a “Man’s Channel” that showed nothing but Clint Eastwood movies and football games? I have no idea what a Jewish channel would show, though. Let me be clear here: I don’t _mind_ black/feminist/queer TV (except _WIll & Grace_. Gak! Nothing but recycled Seinfeld and Friends jokes.) I’m just wondering why it’s so stratified along racial/gender/lifestyle lines. But since we’ve gone so far already, why _not_ have a Man’s Channel or Jewish Channel? [sub]This post typed with tongue firmly in cheek.[/sub] ---
**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:** [December 28, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/2 "2000-12-28T02:41:45Z")
Obviously too young to remember The Goldbergs. Believe me, Jews had a dominant role in television WAY before gays did. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/3 "2000-12-28T02:43:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kunilou \* > \*\*Obviously too young to remember The Goldbergs. > > Believe me, Jews had a dominant role in television WAY before gays did. \*\* What?! Goldberg had his own show?!?! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/4 "2000-12-28T04:00:04Z")
Wasn’t “Seinfeld” a show completely about Jews? (Gotta second the motion on Will and Grace. What a pile of crap. Let’s sum up every episode: “Blah blah blah blah gay blah blah gay gay blah.” Okay, we get it; you’re gay. Enough with the gay jokes already. I cannot believe that won an award for best comedy show.) ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/5 "2000-12-28T04:06:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > **How about a “Man’s Channel” that showed nothing but Clint Eastwood movies and football games?** Isn’t that what ESPN and the other forty-zillion sports channels are? Robin ---
**Author:** ![DavisMcDavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@DavisMcDavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavisMcDavis)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/6 "2000-12-28T04:28:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nineiron \* > \*\*Wasn’t “Seinfeld” a show completely about Jews? > > (Gotta second the motion on Will and Grace. What a pile of crap. Let’s sum up every episode: “Blah blah blah blah gay blah blah gay gay blah.” Okay, we get it; you’re gay. Enough with the gay jokes already. I cannot believe that won an award for best comedy show.) \*\* I **love** Will & Grace. It’s weird that you would summarize the show that way. The funniest lines - I think - on the show come from Karen, and revolve around her drunkeness, horrible mothering skills, and insulting everyone around her, none of which are “gay jokes.” ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/7 "2000-12-28T05:18:37Z")
Davis, I do agree. The VERY few times I have been even mildly entertained by W&G was by the character of Karen. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/8 "2000-12-28T06:46:27Z")
Ummm…on Will and Grace, isn’t the character of Grace Jewish? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/9 "2000-12-28T13:31:35Z")
And what about The Nanny? ---
**Author:** ![Simon\_Met\_a\_Pieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simon\_Met\_a\_Pieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simon_Met_a_Pieman)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/10 "2000-12-28T13:50:47Z")
I had forgotten about the Nanny! Amen to that (no pun intended) And what about “Mad About” You? And then there’s the new HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, with Larry David (Seinfeld co-creator) as the main character. Richard Lewis is a regular on that show. It’s a weekly Jewish festival! As far as shows just for men, what about the Man Show, on Comedy Central? And I always thought that Letterman was a show aimed directly at the 25 year old male populace. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/11 "2000-12-28T14:04:07Z")
Oh, yeah . . . “The Nanny.” The show that had a Christmas episode, where the heroine goes to confessional. REAL Jewish, Fran. There was “The Goldbergs” back in the 1950s, and Buddy Sorrel on “Dick Van Dyke.” But supposed “Jews” like on “Seinfeld” and “Mad About You” always danced around the fact and never actually came out and SAID it. How about atheists? The only admitted atheist I ever recall seeing on TV was Maddie Hayes on “Moonlighting.” ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/12 "2000-12-28T16:16:52Z")
Any word on the upcoming Ferengi centered Star Trek spinoff? ---
**Author:** ![Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrison_s_Lament)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/13 "2000-12-28T16:31:57Z")
A Ferengi show?? ---
**Author:** ![Palandine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/958977/32.png) [@Palandine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palandine)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/14 "2000-12-28T16:37:22Z")
[hijack]I think Dinsdale was joking, and I think I see the point he was trying to make. Surely the Powers That Be at Paramount would not be that foolish (although considering that for a while a Sulu-centered show was considered a good idea, who knows?). Now, a Cardassian-centered show. There you’d have something. 😉 (for the benefit of any people who recognize where Palandine’s user name is from) [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/15 "2000-12-28T16:38:21Z")
I think Jackie Mason had a show for about a month. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2000, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/16 "2000-12-28T16:39:00Z")
> [@](#): > > How about atheists? The only admitted atheist I ever recall seeing on TV was Maddie Hayes on “Moonlighting.” Fox Mulder? There are, actually, quite a few Jewish characters on “non-Jewish” TV shows, like Willow on Buffy (“not all of us worship the almighty Santa”) - although I wouldn’t call her witchcraft Halachic. You also have Jewish characters on Law & Order and ER. As for leading character - there was Seinfeld, Mad About You, and Northern exposure. Still, you had more “Jewish-oriented” programing back in the '80s, it’s true. Remember L.A. Law? Hill Street Blues? Thirtysomething? Myself, I attribute it to the late, great Brandon Tartikoff. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/17 "2000-12-28T16:45:51Z")
All-Ferengi Star Trek??! Oy vey und gevalt ist mir. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Oh, yeah . . . “The Nanny.” The show that had a Christmas episode, where the heroine goes to confessional. REAL Jewish, Fran. \*\* All I remember of that show is the episode where her friend is helping her take down a huge billboard and falls onto an apartment building’s balcony. FRIEND: Oh my god! It’s full of cute guys! FRAN: Get numbers!! FRIEND: Wait! No women! Just cute guys! FRAN: Get recipes!! ---
**Author:** ![egkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/db5fbb/32.png) [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/18 "2000-12-28T16:55:40Z")
This was a jewish show all the way-even Kramer came across as NY jewish. Of course, there was nothing really new about the show-most of the jokes and situations were straight out of the “Burns and Allen” show of the 1950’s. A question for you comedy mavens out there… was Ralph Kramden (in the “Honeymooners”), played by Jacky Gleason , supposed to be jewish? The reason I ask, I’ve seen most of the episodes, and I don’t ever recall seeing Christmas tree in their dingy little flat. Of course, a city bus driver was probably noy a stereotypical “jewish” occupation! ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/19 "2000-12-28T16:55:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **Oh, yeah . . . “The Nanny.” The show that had a Christmas episode, where the heroine goes to confessional. REAL Jewish, Fran.** Earlier this week, Leigh-Anne stopped on a Christmas episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” on TVLand. I kind of cringed when I saw noted non-Christians Carl Reiner and Morey Amsterdam dressing like Santa Claus and singing carols. No reference at all to the fact that, even within the fictional constraints of the show, “Buddy Sorrell” probably wasn’t a big Christmas person. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463/20 "2000-12-28T17:12:45Z")
[HOMER MOMENT]Jewsish comedians? No, really. Carl Reiner? The next thing you’ll be trying to tell me is that Mel Brooks is too.[/HOMER MOMENT] I’m surprised nobody mentioned _Brooklyn Bridge_. It was an outstanding show and very focused on Jewish family life. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-we-going-to-have-a-tv-show-about-jews/47463.md?page=2)