Notes before we begin
1. I tried to make this not hetronormative, but it ended up that way (I felt bad paring people we weren't cannon LGBTQ). So I decided to go with that TV stereotype of one mom, one day, two kids (girl and boy). I apologies if that offends anyone, as that was not my prerogative.
2. I chose characters based on not only how they acted in a gender and sexually positive way, but also because of flaws they have (making them well rounded characters)
3. If you have any suggestions, or maybe an idea for a perfect pop culture family please comment! (there isn't enough commenting going on here)
Okay here we go;
Mom: Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
Tami was my first choice as soon as I started thinking about this perfect family. Her growth in many aspect of her life make her such a remarkable character. From her career (she starts off the show as a guidance counselor, then works her way up to principal and at the shows end she's made it to Dean of Admissions at one of the top colleges) to her personal (when her husband takes a big job several cities away, she chooses to stay behind and work on her family and career, while still supporting him in his endeavorers). She was also one of the best TV moms in terms of how her and her daughters relationship grew and became on of the most beautiful. Take a look at this small clip of them talking about sex and tell me that's not a remarkable mom
Tami Taylor isn't without some problems though. Throughout the show she isn't referred to by her name, but instead by the moniker, Mrs. Coach. As sweet as it is, making her seem like just an extension of her husband, and not a person of her own gives off some troubling vibes. But I think the way she acts as a character that supersedes the bad feelings I get from that name and elevate her to one of the best characters in television history.
Dad: Dan Connor (Roseanne)
This one's more a sentimental choice for me, growing up there was no other family I could relate to like I did with the Conner's. Seeing another poor family from Chicago, it made me feel less alone, and seeing that family make it though each day with a smile gave me hope that maybe we could too. Of course my favorite character was Dan, the loveably goofy dad who always had something fun or insightful to say. He is such a good dad character because they don't stick him in that, so dumb he can't do anything category, but instead give his character depth by making him just a little bit smarter then his kids (like most parents his intelligence comes from knowing just a little more then their children). Dan's relationship with Roseanne was also unique, in the later seasons he became a sort of housekeeper after he got fired, leaving Roseanne as the main breadwinner in the household. It was in these episodes that we got to se Dan trying to understand his children and wife better, take this episode "Darlene Fades To Black" which deals with Dan attempting to break his teenage daughter out of a funk, and instead learns a little more about what she's going through personally
As much as I love Dan, he suffers from one big problem, the need to protect women in some kind of white knight way. In one powerful episode Roseanne's sister is beaten up by her boyfriend, Dan decides not to call the cops but instead takes a "real man" action and goes to beat the crap out of the boyfriend. He does this stuff all the time and it lessens his character, who usually isn't concerned with being a "real man" (you'd think living in a house of women would give him some insight to the fact that he doesn't need to be this protector). But overall I think Dan is a good father in this pop culture family, he talks with his kids in a way that intelligent and thoughtful, just like a good day should.
Daughter: Britta Perry (Community)
Britta Perry is the worst…
But that's what makes her the best. Community is my favorite show and each year when I think back on the characters on TV that made me laugh or just feel the most for, I come back to her. I love her willingness to be the worst, she know she ruins things but that doesn't stop her from trying anything. She will sing, dance, and get involved in political things even though she has no idea on how to do them (or at least how to do them right). Most of all it's her love for the people she cares about that makes her such a great character, she's willing to go above and beyond for them and even if she knows more then likely she will mess it up (or Britta it as it were) but it's the fact that she so willing to try. If there is one problem with Britta it's that she is a little to defined by her friends and no enough by her own personality. I think we need an episode where we take a step back from the group and see her in her own environment and how she behaves, so we can get a better idea of the person she is.
Son: Brendon Small (Home Movies)
Another sentimental favorite, Home Movies is one of the reasons I'm at BSU studying Film and Television. The show tapped into so many elements of my childhood (the filmmaking, only having two friends) that I have this intense connection with it. And at the center of it all is Brendon, the dorky child who is more concerned with making his movie then pretty much anything else. Brendon was concerned with typical masculine ideas, I mean take a look at this scene.
Any kid concerned with acting like a real man probably wouldn't be participating in Jazz fights or making romantic comedies in their spare time. Brendon did what he liked, not what the false ideas of masculinity wanted him to do. One thing he would have to work on though is the use of females in his films, since they always seem to be his wife or lover (even when Melissa was a lawyer she would almost always have to fall in love with one of the boys).
So that's my idea of the perfect pop culture family, one who's positives and flaws make them well rounded.
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