Television Families Communication

Typical Television Families Many television shows portray the lives of typical American families; both African American and European American. I have chosen to compare and contrast two television shows: Family Matters and Home Improvement. The two shows are surprisingly similar in many aspects, but there are a few differences in the communication styles and other aspects of the two families. Communication theories can be used to help show and analyze the communication between each family. These theories include interactional, dialectics, speech community, and cultivation. Do prime time television shows really represent and portray the differences and stereotypes between African American and European American families? Family Matters first aired on ABC in 1989 and lasted until 1998. There are 215 episodes that tell the story of the middle-class Winslow family from Chicago. The show focuses on Carl, a police officer and his family: Harriet, Eddie, Laura, and Judy. Harriet is Carl’s wife. Eddie is their eldest child, Laura is the oldest daughter, and Judy is the youngest of the three. Also living in the Winslow household is Harriet’s newly widowed sister, Rachel, and her child, Richie. In the “Pilot” episode Carl’s mother, Estelle, also moves into the house. The Winslow’s have a stereotypical nerd next door neighbor, Steve Urkel, who is constantly causing mischief. He is introduced midway through the first season and quickly becomes a favorite main character for many. The shows’ episodes usually involve a minor problem or conflict, but by the end of the 30 minute episode it has been resolved and everything is alright again. In the very first episode we meet Carl and his family. They are African American, but they appear very normal and much like a European American family. The first main problem in the episode is that Carl does not want his mother to move in even though Harriet has already told Estelle she can. Carl is torn between wanting to keep his mother

Bibliography: “The Momma Who Came to Dinner.” Family Matters. American Broadcasting Company. 445320. 22 Sept. 1989. “Mow Better Blues.” Home Improvement. American Broadcasting Company. A304. 24 Sept. 1991. “Off Sides.” Home Improvement. American Broadcasting Company. A302. 1 Oct. 1991. “Pilot.” Home Improvement. American Broadcasting Company. 63294. 17 Sept. 1991. “Rachel’s First Date.” Family Matters. American Broadcasting Company. 446004. 13 Oct. 1989. “Satellite on a Hot Tim’s Roof.” Home Improvement. American Broadcasting Company. A305. 8 Oct. 1991. “Short Story.” Family Matters. American Broadcasting Company. 446001. 6 Oct. 1989. “Two Income Family.” Family Matters. American Broadcasting Company. 446002. 29 Sept. 1989. Wood, Julia T. Communication Theories in Action: an Introduction. Belmont (CA): Thomson Wadsworth, 2004. Print.