The Honeymooners?

Question

What was the impact of the Honeymooners on sitcoms of today? (I know it inspired shows such as the Flinstones, but I'm not sure how)

Answer 1

I think in part it was because it was about two obviously blue collar, lower middle class families who were struggling to better themselves. The relationship between Ralph and Alice was also an interesting one: Ralph threatened, raged, and ranted but Alice gave back as good as she got. Compare that to Lucy and Ricky-- upper middle class, well-off, Lucy always conniving to get around Ricky but you never had the feeling she was really the dominant partner. And sure, the Ricardos talked about bills, and things being too expensive, but you never really thought they'd be evicted. Ralph and Alice might be. The Cramdens were more real. Also the chemistry between Ralph and Norton was outstanding, basis for a lot of buddy relationships later. They're very distinctive, too-- I remember a cartoon (not the Flintstones, something like Merry Melodies) that used a non-human Ralph and Norton pair and they were instantly recognizable.

Look at the Flintstones, too, since you mentioned them: big heavy Fred, with his ideas to get rich or impress people to get out of the quarry job, and his slightly dim sidekick Barney who occasionally has reservations but ends up playing along. Same as Ralph and Norton-- you can almost hear Gleason and Carney deliver the lines.


Compare this to "Father Knows Best" or "Make Room for Daddy" or Ozzie and Harriet: all well-off, suit-wearing men who go off to unspecified but obviously well paying jobs.

Don't know if this helps or not, but FWIT....

Answer 2

Before The Honey Mooners, there was
"I Love Lucy."
Before I Love Lucy, there was "Mary Kay
& Johnny."

The Flintstones was a cartoon take-off
of The Honeymooners which starred
Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey
Meadows and Joyce Randolph

Answer 3

Its the original sitcom. It was also one of the first live broadcast shows.