Among the greatest TV show that ever graced the screens in the mid-20th century, The Andy Griffith show and I love Lucy can be considered as among the biggest shows of their times. The two television shows offered great memorable times to the viewers of those early days and gave the society a platform on which to reflect upon their daily challenges. In fact, the two shows still remain to be popular and bring nostalgia to the older generations that were wowed by the sheer adventures the characters. Indeed, the importance of these two TV shows cannot be underrated when looking back at their place in the development of TV shows in the United States today. As much as both shows contributed a lot to the progress and development of TV shows programs, they are intertwined with several differences(Edgerton 128). The purpose of this essay therefore is to explore the differences that exist between these iconic and great shows that revolutionized the TV industry in the country.
For a start, I will begin by looking at the inception and the setting of these great TV shows in gracing the screens in the mid twentieth century. I love Lucy show was introduced to TV viewers across the country in the early 1951, highlighting the misadventures of a housewife with big dreams of one day becoming famous. On the other hand, The Andy Griffith show was aired almost a decade later in 1960 as a family sitcom. The setting of these two shows presents significant differences given that The Andy Griffith show was entirely shot on location while I love Lucy show was shot in a glamorous setting that depicted cross cultural values. Andy, in its simple form, tried to imitate what I love lucy show was doing but in a rather moderate fashion(Anderson). The storylines of Andy were more centered to the rural setting of the emerging post war America. On the other hand, the setting and story line for I love Lucy was based on the urban lives of the post war America and the challenges that married couple were faced with during the period.
The subject matter or themes that were being advanced by these two sitcoms also differed in many ways. Andy Griffith was based on a rural life setting and being that at the time of its inception, Television had gained traction among the rural folks of America ensured its rapid success. The rural setting and the humorous nature of the rural folks often provide the audience with a source of laughter. The show used a fictional town of Mayberry which espoused the quitter virtues of life in a small American town. I Love Lucy on the other hand had its subject matter based on the life of Lucy Ricardo, a housewife of the 1950s urban life of New York City. The intrigues surrounding her life and that of her husband in their daily lives are brought to the audience. I love Lucy offers a cultural setting that espouses the roles of women during that period and the patriarchal norms of post war America of the 1950’s(Doty 9). In essence, the two TV shows provide two different set of subject matters that appealed to the various categories of viewers depending on the lifestyle choice one had taken - the urban life or the rural life.
Looking at the filming style of these two sitcoms, it is evidently clear to point that their difference in the approaches to filming is clearly as day and night. I love Lucy preferred to use a more glamorous filming style that is set in a more uptown and amazing extras. The approach that was taken by Andy however is quite the opposite and involved using onstage filming albeit without the audience. The filming of Andy is one that was based on a fictional rural town in North Carolina, depicting the hustle and bustle of a sheriff tasked with the duty of bring order to the town. The Sheriff, Andy is widowed and has a young son whose care he leaves to Aunt Bee. On the other hand, I love Lucy involves filming of the modern American uptown couple who face various challenges that include their cultural differences(Doty 12). The story lines adopted by these two films also contribute a lot to the way in which the filming of the shows are set.
In conclusion, the two shows might have some differences as discussed above but the general historical values that they bring to the American TV history cannot be underrated. Even though the two TV shows bring to their audiences that feel good moment and suspense at the same time, one thing that often stands out is the fact that at the end of each episode, there has to be a solution that is presented. The Andy Griffith Show offers a perfect depiction of a modern expectation of the society while I love Lucy show provides much greater insight into how different cultures can be used progressively within the society.
Works Cited
Anderson, Kyle. "The Shelf: I love Lucy, the honey mooners and the Andy Griffith Show."Nerdist.N.p., 2014. Web. 16 July 2016.
Doty, Alexander. "The Cabinet of Lucy Ricardo: Lucille Ball's Star Image." Cinema Journal29.4 (1990): 3. Print.
Edgerton, Gary R. The Columbia History of American Television. New York: Columbia UP, 2007. Print.
