Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

The Filthy Rich Take Over the Small Screen

America's middle class ousted from sitcoms, relegated to reality TV

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Sep 10, 2007 11:40 AM CDT

(Newser) – Sitcoms, once a window into middle-class America, have been invaded by the uberrich. But the bourgeoisie hasn't disappeared from the small screen entirely: They're fighting each other on reality shows for big bucks or their 15 minutes of fame. And, Salon's Heather Havrilesky notes, it's not a healthy trend.

Shows like ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" may condemn the well-heeled miscreants they depict, but they make average Americans feel inadequate in comparison. And as the recent subprime crisis shows, buying on credit isn't always a sound way of keeping up with the Joneses.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (2)]

Actress Samaire Armstrong, left, and Seth Gabe, stars of the Hilton family inspired "Dirty Sexy Money" are shown during the ABC Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., Wednesday, July 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Nick... (Associated Press)

From "The Honeymooners" to "All in the Family" to "Roseanne," working-class families have always had a place in the American sitcom...until now. ( CBS Broadcasting, Inc. & Paramount Pictures)

Recent TV trends have Middle-America viewing more and more shows about the wealthy elite. (Shutterstock.com)

Actress, left to right, Bonnie Somerville, Miranda Otto. Frances O'Connor and Lucy Liu speak during the ABC Press Tour Wednesday July 25, 2007 in Beverly Hills, Calif. The stars were promoting the new... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Current TV trends fictionalize and glamorize the upper-class while relegating the middle-class to embarrassing "Reality" roles, as seen in the popular "Wife Swap" program. (chick2geek (YouTube))

A promo for ABC's upcoming "Cashmere Mafia" series. (seat42f (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Vanilla Ice Project Back for Second Season

Ex-rapper's renovation show will run on DIY Network

(NEWSER) - Stop, collaborate, and set your DVRs. Ice is back with a second season of "The Vanilla Ice Project," a show on the DIY Network that stars the 44-year-old rapper as he renovates a run-down mansion in Palm Beach County, Florida. Returning on the heels of a hit first season, the peculiar home improvement show will run 13 episodes beginning tomorrow, reports AP . More»

Favorite TV Show of the Rich Is ...

Modern Family, by a lot

(NEWSER) - The Vulture blog of New York magazine finds that ABC's Modern Family is the favorite of well-to-do TV fans. It not only has the highest median income ($83,000) of viewers in the 18-49 range, it boasts by far the highest number of viewers who pull in at least $100,000 a year. It gets a 13.6 rating among that camp, with Two and a Half Men a distant second at 9.0. More»

Middle-Class Neighborhoods Dying Off

Stanford study says numbers have dropped sharply since 1970

(NEWSER) - A major new study from Stanford finds that America's middle class is shrinking in a big way, reports the New York Times . The researchers looked at 117 of the nation's biggest metropolitan areas and discovered that 44% of families live in areas defined as middle class, down from 65% in 1970. Meanwhile, the number of families living in affluent neighborhoods doubled to 14%, while those in poor neighborhoods rose from 8% to 17%, notes Reuters . In short, the income gap appears to be widening. More»

Simpsons, Fox Strike Partial Deal

Some producers agree to pay cuts; no word yet from actors

(NEWSER) - Don't say sayonara to the Simpsons just yet: Sources say several top-level producers will take pay cuts in order to keep the show on the air. Not all of the producers are on board, and cast members have not yet agreed to any terms. Variety notes that any money saved from a producer pay cut likely does not come close to the amount that would be saved if the actors agreed to the 45% reduction demand. But, as Entertainment Weekly points out, all sides believe something will be worked out, because no one wants to see the 23-season-long series end without a real finale. A final decision is expected tomorrow. More»

Contract Brawl With Fox May Kill Simpsons

Network wants voice actors to take 45% pay cut

(NEWSER) - Has Moe polished his last glass? Has Homer slammed his last Duff’s? Has Krusty made his last small child cry? It’s all possible. Fox is threatening to pull the plug on history’s longest-running sitcom after the current season—its 23rd—if its core voice actors won’t accept a whopping 45% paycut, sources tell the Daily Beast . The cast had offered to take a 30% cut in exchange for some of the show’s massive backend profits, but Fox demurred. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

The Filthy Rich Take Over the Small Screen