Vintage tv shows—some things have really changed…

I was watching the Carol Burnett Show recently, one of the more popular skits is a soap spoof called "As The Stomach Turns". The running gag is a guest celeb appearing at the door while other madness is going on.

This time the doorbell rang, and a young, [b]handsome[/b] and well-dressed Bernie Casey was at the door. Carol did a double-take and said to someone off-camera, "Why, it’s a [b][i]Negro[/i][/b] ! Hello, young man, are you selling something ? Are you working your way through school ?”

"No," Bernie said, pulling out a gun, "I’m here to [b]rob[/b] you !"

Carol calmly gets her purse, saying, "How nice it is to meet someone who’s [b]not[/b] a credit to their race ! Here you go, young man !" She hands him money, Bernie thanks her politely and leaves. The audience was roaring with laughter.

My middle sister was watching with me and said, "Do you know how many folks would be out picketing the tv studio if something like that aired now ? It [b]was[/b] funny, though !”

"A really different time,” I said.

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ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

And, many would argue, a better time. I'm not so sure if our current PC over-reactions and hypersensitivity don't make things actually worse on some level. But I've always been a proponent of the old Lenny Bruce POV: use the words and phrases that are offensive until they lose their meaning. But you are so right, times change. I remember back in the 1970s when "the N word" could be heard on TV shows like THE JEFFERSONS and it was used for people of any color who were getting shafted, as in Patti Smith's "Rock and Roll N....."

bijouxbroussard · F

@ChipmunkErnie I know that’s been the premise behind black people using the "n" word, supposedly trying to take the power away. But, as long the KKK and others are [b]still[/b] using it, it’s as powerful as ever. There’s a reason even Richard Pryor eventually stopped using it in his comedy. I’ve always thought it’s a word that needs to go away, in every form.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@bijouxbroussard The thing is, words like that don't seem to go away because as long as they retain their power someone will dig them up in order to hurt other people. Humanity sucks sometimes.

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