Class on Television: Stuck in The Middle

I N TIME MAGAZINE’S 2012 COVER STORY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE American dream, Jon Meacham writes that “the perennial conviction that those who work hard and play by the rules will be rewarded with a more comfortable present and a strong future for their children faces assault from just about every direction. That great enemy of democratic capitalism, economic inequality, is real and growing” (28). That is the reality, but what does current entertainment television, long a popular means of escape, relaxation, and, not coincidently, purveyor of ideology, indicate about social class these days as many Americans struggle to just hold on to the status quo? Several series throughout television history have addressed social class in a variety of ways. While the Kramdens on The Honeymooners (CBS 1955–1956) and the Conners on Roseanne (ABC 1988–1997) struggled to pay their bills, the Ewings on Dallas (CBS 1978–1991) and the families of Gossip Girl (CW 2007–2012) illustrated more opulent lifestyles. The Clampett clan showed us what it was like to move from a shack in the Ozarks to a mansion in The Beverly Hillbillies (CBS 1962–1971) and Beverly Hills 90210 (FOX 1990–2000) showed two Midwestern middle class teenagers adjusting to their new rich neighborhood. A multitude of police procedurals and entertainment news often show the seamy side of the lives of the rich and famous, while several reality shows give others a chance to become like them. Both the world of television and daily life offer us the sense that we can reach the American dream if we try hard enough. In 2009, however, ABC introduced The Middle, a family comedy that reflected just how hard that dream is to achieve and maintain.