Dobie!
"Flying Millicans" episode, do you agree? How are teens portrayed by the show? How about adults? How are both conventional and counter-cultural lifestyles depicted by the series?
"Flying Millicans" episode, do you agree? How are teens portrayed by the show? How about adults? How are both conventional and counter-cultural lifestyles depicted by the series?
Airing in the late 1950s, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis was one of the first television sitcoms to feature teenagers as the leading characters. Television sitcoms tended to feature more nuclear families with the adults being the leads. The show started to establish itself as a niche series that related to teens and teen antics. Dobie's parents want him to be working in their grocery store but he is too preoccupied trying to get "unattainable" girls. In the episode we watched in class, Dobie's parents are rarely shown but we get the sense that they are continuously disappointed by their son avoiding his school work and the family business. In this way, it supports the writer's idea of creating an "anti-togetherness" series. I agree that the show creates a new niche in t.v. sitcoms. It is obvious that the "nuclear family" is not being prioritized in the show. The episodes were grounded in a seemingly more realistic take on an everyday teenage boy trying to get girls.
ReplyDeleteIn the episode shown in class, Dobie is attempting to prove his worth to his girlfriend's acrobatic family. The Millikens are eccentric and base their lifestyle on eating healthy, exercising, and wearing togas. Aphrodite's father even rants about how they don't eat processed foods. At the time, foods were becoming mass produced and made with preservatives to keep them from spoiling. These products were aimed at housewives whose lives were seemingly being made easier by processed food and technology. This seemed to be a sort of attack on the nuclear family and conventional home practices that simplified life for a family. The Millikens are very counter cultural in almost all aspects. Especially when Aphrodite kisses Dobie multiple times in front of her father. This would not have been acceptable to many parents in the 1950s conservative culture. The family model is being broken by the teen characters, even featuring one which seemed to be a foil character to Dobie. Dobie's friend Maynard seems a bit more aloof and not interested in girls. In the end, Maynard ends up being taken in by Aphrodite's family and forced to exercise because he is even weaker than Dobie was, which attracts Aphrodite. This is also a countercultural belief that women only want a man who is masculine. The show features characters and scenarios that were very different from many other sitcoms at the time, making it a more niche based series.
I do agree that the episode we watched in class portrays the "anti-togetherness" theme. Dobie is rarely seen with his family and when he is, his family is disapproving of him or what he is doing. This is very different than what was being portrayed on other shows at the time with nuclear families and the adults being the main characters and leads.
ReplyDeleteFor this to be the first show of it kind, being from the teens perspective, it was clear to see how adults viewed teenagers. In this episode the teens are very naive, especially when it comes to the topic of love. Dobie, who has just met this girl and knows nothing about her claims that he loves her and will adore her forever. he goes along with everything she says in order to please her. The adults in the show are portrayed as the voice of reason. they are showing the teens and reminding them of what the real world is like.
The conventional lifestyle is portrayed as being the norm, what everyone is like. They are conservative, eat unhealthy and are judgemental to anyone who aren't like them. On the other hand the Counter cultural lifestyle is depicted as being weird because they eat naturally and healthy, are very smart, and free spirited not held to social norms. for example, how Aphrodite and Dobie are at the hangout and she doesn't allow him to buy the foods that aren't good for him and pulls out healthy nuts and berries he looks at her as if she is crazy and goes along because he is in love with her.
What was so refreshing about “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” was the fact that it stepped away from the nuclear family and shifted the focus to Dobie, the teenager. It was more relatable and just a more fun show to watch. It also portrayed a hilarious and disappointed relationship between Dobie and his family, challenging the nuclear family and the industry’s love for that dynamic. In that sense, Max Shulman was correct in his belief that Dobie was an “anti-togetherness series”. Other than the few scenes that Dobie is in with his parents, the rest of his time is spent with his girlfriend, Aphrodite. And speaking of his girlfriend, what was so interesting about his Aphrodite’s family dynamic was that they also didn’t follow this popular nuclear family idea. Their family was strange in numerous ways, often seen citing Greek mythology, wearing togas, living in barns, and working out all day. They were probably the exact opposite of a network’s nuclear family dream, but that’s what worked so well. It was hilarious and attracted laughs by breaking down this idea of the perfect family.
ReplyDeleteAs for portrayals, all the teens on this episode are portrayed as either stupid or love struck. I can’t really determine which, but either way both Dobie and his girlfriend are very ditsy in this episode. I think, in this sense, the portrayals of the teens completely coincide with the nuclear family ideals. This is evidently true, especially at the climax of the episode where Dobie’s and Aphrodite’s parents meet and argue about their kids. Even though it’s not as pleasant as nuclear families tend to be, the people in charge in this episode are still the parents. What’s interesting about the adults, is that though they’re in charge, they also act like children. Basically, everyone in this episode acts very naively, adding to the humor. Likewise, this naivety the teenagers possess help them believe that they’re in love after just getting to know each other. This drives the physical humor and also adds to this idea against the nuclear family and the sitcoms popular at the time, because the families weren’t the central topic of the story, Dobie’s love life was. Which is also interesting all on its own, because series at this time didn’t really portray love and the active search for it.
The lifestyles portrayed on this episode basically agrees with the nuclear family, though. Dobie isn’t really seen with his family that often, yet the setup of his family is seen as more normal than Aphrodite’s family is. Aphrodite’s family is made to be seen as weird, while Dobie’s is meant to be portrayed as the normal family fighting against the weird people who have basically abducted Dobie.
So though the nuclear family is argued against and a more anti-togetherness theme is present in this show, there are still some ideals present that were popular at this time.
After watching “Flying Millicans” the concept of “anti-togetherness” can arguably be a term used to indicate the importance of having your life together or the lack thereof. This specially implies to teens during this era, similar to Dobie and his bestfriend Maynard in this episode. These Dobie and Maynard appear as airheaded young teens who attempts to figure out the best way to go about their young lives. In this episode Dobie attempts to build a romantic relationship with a female that he is instantly falls in love with. He makes his own decisions and in the end he is essentially held captive against his will but this show attempts to find humor around the situation. I think when this episode was aired it was to show that teens make dumb decisions and that it’s ok. Dobie like many teens may not make the wisest decisions but they learn from their mistakes in the end and this is what happens when Dobie finds a way out, which only left his friend Maynard in the exact unfortunate situation that he was in.
ReplyDeleteAdults in this episode were the supporting actors for once. Compared to shows like “The Honeymooners” they have little influence on the teen for an example Dobie’s father gives him advice to work instead of enforcing it on him as a father. He allows Dobie to visit stranger’s home and has a failed attempt in rescuing his own son when he cries for help. End the end family isn’t the centralized theme and genre of this show. The conventions of teenage naivety, and counter-cultural lifestyles of a strong intellect woman, public affection amongst family, and the push for a healthier lifestyle is depicted as a form of togetherness that Dobie and teens like him aren’t mentally prepared to accept.
After watching the "Flying Millicans" episode of "The Many loves of Dobie Gillis", it is obvious that Shulman was attempting to capitilize on the newly structured culture of youth in America. The idea of a "teen" was still in its adolescence in the late 1950s, and with its arrival into the American way of life came a new demographic for television studios to capitilize on. Previously produced sitcoms had a strong focus on the nuclear family, their connectedness, and how their lives existed within their own home. "Flying Millicans" is a perfect example of how "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" went against this rule of thumb.
ReplyDeleteDobie is our protagonist, and the show revolves around his actions and their consequences. He, as a teen, is spunky, individualistic, and social. He goes to a "hang-out" ice cream place, he talks to his newly found girlfriend, and he never asks for any assistance from his family. In a more conventional sitcom, Dobie's life would be more contained and set within the lives of his parents. Adults in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" are less appealing to the audience as they are more serious or weird. Dobie's father is harsh, accosting, and loud, just as Aphrodite's father is harsh, extradoinary, and condescending. In the past, the adults would be the characters that the audience relates the most too, but here we see Dobie and teens altogether be represented as exciting and social beings who live interesting lives and create interesting relationships.
What may be the most interesting piece of discourse to this, however, is the portrayal of lifestyle. Dobie and teens alike may be a new center-point for the sitcom, but families are still portrayed in a way that advocated for a humble lifestyle. Dobie's father works a tough job, his mother supports him, etc. The antithesis to this, Aphrodite's family, is portrayed as absurd and dangerous. They are extrememly smart, in-shape, they wear different types of clothing, and they live in a barn. While the show is trying to appeal to the sensibilities of the new "teen" category, there are still core ideals represented that show what a "normal" family still consisted of.
While I can certainly see where the sentiment is coming from, it seems hyperbolic to me to call Dobie "anti-togetherness." Many aspects of the show certainly distance it from other sitcoms of the same period. The focus of the show is on a singular protagonist, Dobie, rather than a family unit, Dobie doesn't share a particularly loving relationship with his parents, and the "togetherness" of the Millicans in this episode is portrayed as strange and even unnatural. However, Dobie's family does express concern for him, and his father even tries to free him from the grip of the Millicans (but they prove much too strong for him), putting forth the idea of a kind of family loyalty, even if the family isn't idyllic. I wouldn't say Dobie (the show) is "anti-togetherness" but maybe more "negotiated-togetherness," where togetherness is still seen as a good thing, but only insofar as it is "realistic," rather than the scary, unnatural togetherness of the Millicans.
ReplyDeleteTeenagers in this show are largely their own people. Dobie isn't often seen with his family, and so has the freedom to chase his own desires (by which I mean girls). It's made clear throughout the episode that Dobie isn't the smartest kid around, nor is he the captain of the football team--he's just an average guy. Dobie's friend seems the same way, if maybe a bit dimmer. Aphrodite is portrayed as the perfect girl. She is smart, strong, beautiful, etc., but has a fatal "flaw" in her attachment to her family. Burgeoning independence is probably the main "good" trait the show pushes, while railing on Aphrodite's childlike dependence on her family.
There are two types of adults in this episode. The first is Dobie's parents, who show concern for Dobie, but allow him to do what he wants. The second is Aphrodite's father, who is more like a "helicopter parent." Despite the fact that Aphrodite's father encourages her and Dobie to kiss (something it would seem odd for a controlling parent to do), his overbearing and controlling nature comes out in his prescribed lifestyle. When Dobie "joins the family," he MUST wear their clothes, eat their food, strengthen his body and mind, etc. to "become a Millican." This episode shows how overbearing parenting is "bad," and more loose parenting of teenagers is "good" (or at least "better").
It may seem easy to say that Dobie's family is conventional, while Aphrodite's is counter-cultural, but from a "meta" standpoint, the opposite could be considered true. When compared to reality, the lifestyle of Dobie's family easily fits into American culture, while Aphrodite's family eschew's American culture for Ancient Greek culture. In this way, Aphrodite's family is obviously counter-culture (and somewhat dangerous). However, the "togetherness" of Aphrodite's family would make them a (hyperbolic) version of the "conventional" family portrayed on television at the time. The message here is that what is being portrayed on television as "conventional" is actually not representative of contemporary culture at all, and could be somewhat dangerous.
The idea of having a show based around a teenager’s perspective was present in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. The main character Dobie was depicted as a teen boy who goes to local hangout with his best friend, eat junk food, and most importantly impressing the girls at school. Once he meets his love interest Aphrodite, he falls heads over heels for her (pun intended). She has more strength than him and he feels intimidated by that. The only adults that appear in the episode are Dobie’s and Aphrodite’s fathers and the owner of the local teen hangout. Dobie’s father Herbert Gills is an owner of a grocery store and had a short temper. Aphrodite’s father is more calm, serene and a man of strength and long hair.
ReplyDeleteBoth teens come from two different lifestyles. Aphrodite and her family are circus performers that are named after Greek gods and goddesses, live in a barn during the months they are not performing, eat healthy and wear tunics. Dobie on the other hand lives the typical lifestyle of a teenager that includes a not so great eating lifestyle and has no upper body strength.