Too many housewives on FOX?

[The Tragic Mulatta]

It realized this only just recently, but, in all four of the primetime animated sitcoms airing on FOX (The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad), the wives/mothers in the lead families are all homemakers. Sure, Lois gives the occasional piano lesson and Peggy used to substitute teach, and they can all get jobs when the episode demands it, but by and large it seems like their sole duties are caring for their children and keeping the house in order.

I looked into it and, according to this website http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ThematicMapFramesetServlet?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-tm_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_M00661&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-_MapEvent=displayBy&-_dBy=040&-redoLog=false&-tm_config=|b=50|l=en|t=306|zf=0.0|ms=thm_def|dw=1.9557697048764706E7|dh=1.4455689123E7|dt=gov.census.aff.domain.map.LSRMapExtent|if=gif|cx=-1159354.4733499996|cy=7122022.5|zl=10|pz=10|bo=|bl=|ft=350:349:335:389:388:332:331|fl=403:381:204:380:369:379:368|g=01000US|ds=ACS_2006_EST_G00_|sb=46|tud=false|db=040|mn=33|mx=63.9|cc=1|cm=1|cn=5|cb=|um=Percent|pr=1|th=ACS_2006_EST_G00_M00661|sf=N|sg==
in over 50% of American households, both spouses are employed.

Does this strike anyone else as kind of odd, particularly since at least two of these shows are pretty outspokingly liberal?

 

[ladyblaster5]

their all trying to follow the Simpsons formula

 

[spikierro]

It's a throwback to All in the Family.

That's why the wife's voice usually sounds like a screeching parrot.

 

[That Girl....]

The problem is that FOX wants all of it's animated sitcoms to be The Simpsons. Every domestic sitcom follows the same formula: Local chauvinistic yet emasculated moron, his patient but wise cracking wife and their bratty/screwed up kids.

This is why Futurama was treated like a red headed stepchild by FOX; it's wasn't a domestic comedy about a dysfunctional family.

 

[cassitee]

One thing I really think they should try is a workplace comedy, without the futuristic setting of Futurama.

That could work.

 

[June C]

They did. (Andy Richter Controls the Universe). It's not animated, but it was a workplace comedy that didn't last.

 

[Eureka W]

Actually, Hank Hill isn't a moron. He'd be a valedectorian next to Peter Griffin.

 

[blood shedder]

American Dad was what really annoyed me. Peggy was nothing like Marge and she had her substitute job, and then Lois, I didn't notice what she was doing for work too much because Peter's job wasn't as big a part of the show as Homer's or Hank's. It was really noticeable with Francine, who is both stereotyped and not as interesting as the other three female characters. Formula or not, I wish they'd thought about giving her something outside the home to do.

 

[dgdangel1]

If the wife works, apparantly she can't have random misadventures on her own.

 

[Doctor Dub]

Well I meant animated...

Of course it probably wouldn't last. There isn't enough of a market for it... or something...

 

[Dakota2006]

For Francine, Lois, and Marge, they're are mostly used for being the "dumb" typical mother, and also, for the "Hot Sex' part.

 

[smilee]

You think Marge is dumb?

 

[Random asker]

Well, in the recent episodes, she has been a little clueless.

 

[Gustavo Reis]

From what I remember reading, they actually pitched the Dilbert Cartoon to Fox, and they rejected it (before it went to UPN). And yes. Fox wants all their animated Sitcoms to be just like the Simpsons in terms of character. It ain't anything to do with ripoffs. it's Fox's little domination of it's properties. I mean, look how badly the Critic did when it was on Fox.

Which is a real shame, because I think I liked the original version of Family Guy without Meg (the original life with Larry pilot featured a wife, a dog, and one kid, besides larry). And I wouldn't be surprised that American Dad wasn't originally going to be a Dad.

But as for wives.
Marge- She has become too Housewifey in recent seasons./ i think they're trying to bring her back to her former self. Her "Homer, just throw away the *I&&^%^ &*(^^&% Bomb" line from the film really proves it. But back years ago, when they tried to make her stupid (the line about "there has to be a plan that will please Birds and trees and yous and mes." is an excellent example). Still Smarter than Homer

Lois- She wnet through a couple transformations, actually. Lately she's a little more vindictive, and a lot sluttier than when she first appeared. Still clueless to Stewie. Much like Marge, she's basically the husband's smarter half. But the angle between Lois and Brain makes it a lot more interresting.

Francine- Sort of like, but not quite, Lois. Just a bit dumber, and usually just follows her husband's point of view.

Peggy Hill- I find this interesting because it's role reversal on all counts. Peggy isn't as smart as Hank. I can't call her dumb. Much like I can't call Inspector Gadget dumb. She's oblivious to her own short comings (her ego, her lack of fluency in Spanish). Unlike most of the other Housewives, she doesn't usually get Hank out of trouble, Hank usually gets her out of trouble. that's not to say she hasn't helped Hank on occasion.