TVSquad

Joel, I share your befuddlement on this one. I gave According to Jim a chance, because I'll try anything a couple times. That said, I just can't imagine why anyone would return to it again and again, and for five years. I know taste is subjective and all, but I've never ran into anyone that was an According to Jim fan. And I know some Shasta McNasty fans, so clearly my friends have questionable taste. :D

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Another vote in the no category. I tried it once or twice too and I cant believe its still on. But then again I feel the same way about American Idol... A much better 'family' show that I dont know if anyone watches is War at Home. I guess maybe I relate a bit...uh a LOT with it. And it helps it comes on before Family Guy.

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boobs for the win:
Courtney Thorne-Smith
Kimberly Williams-Paisley

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Here's my theory: This show fills a particular niche: The unchallenging family sitcom. Parents can watch it with their kids and not worry about the kids seeing or hearing something inappropriate and kids think the bumbling father is funny. The slob husband/hot wife sitcoms on CBS are a bit racier, aren't they?

Seriously, the "unchallenging" part is the key factor here. People who can use the Internet, find this site and take part in what are normally intelligent and civil discussions about television are usually looking for telelvsion programming that challenges their expectations and broadens their horizons. Other people who like safe, routine entertainment are not likely to stumble upon a website and defend shows like "According to Jim."

Or at least those are my assumptions. I've never watched the show and my nine year old daughter loves Scrubs. (Don't worry. I watch it first then fast-forward or mute out parts that are inappropriate for her. It's called being a responsible parent, something the would-be censors at Focus on the Family don't seem to comprehend. They'd love if all shows were as toothless as "According To Jim.")

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My sister watches it. I don't know. She's weird.

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I think it got the sixth season renewal for the family friendly thing (why do you think Home Improvement ran for so long. That show was god awful.), but also because they can make a crap load of cash in syndication.

Syndication is where the cash is at!

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AtJ is a cookie cutter show, and it insults my intellegegants (Spelled incorrectly on purpose because I became stupid from watching it)

Wife wants something
Jim avoids do it it
Lies to cover it up
Wife finds out
Wife tries to trick husband into telling the truth
everyone laughs at the Brother and Sister for being pathetic.

Why this dribble and not Sons and Daughters? TV Execs, have NO idea what good TV is. Maybe beacuse of #2 comments.

Read Fred Gross blog on his myspace page, he ask the same question you posted.

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ABC runs it as filler all the time. A running joke in my family is: "Your 'favorite' show is on!"

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Okay, I admit I watch and like According to Jim. But, what's wrong with that?

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My wife loves this show. I watch it sometimes. I do find Andy funny.

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For some reason my wife loves the show. She laughs out loud at almost every episode. I can stand it for pretty much the reason #2 brought to light.

Though because I've had to watch most of the episodes I have noticed one thing that makes AtJ a little different. The husband isn't always the one who is wrong. This is unusual for a sitcom of this type. Though the writers probably have a rotation for who's on top.

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I used to watch this show all the time. I thought it was great. I can't explain why, though. At some point in time, I got away from the TV and lost track of the show. I had no idea it was still on.

Naturally, the thing that grabbed my attention with this show is the super-hot Sister-In-Law. I'd run over my own mother for a chance to hit that. Yum.

Now, I refuse to watch sitcoms. I'd rather watch something that makes me think.

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elf,

This is a bit off topic, but there is no need to justify under what circumstances you allow your daughter to watch SCRUBS. Even if you let her watch THE SOPRANOS in all it's expletive laden glory, that's your business.

Let's not forget that organizations such as Focus on the Family and The Parent's Television Council only use children as shield to hide their personal disgust for many of the programs on television. Truth be told, they don't really care about what the children are seeing. Because if that weren't the case, they would do more to promote and celebrate parental responsibility. Remember, they have also tried to wage wars against hotel chains that show adult programming, and it's not likely the kiddies are watching much of the Spice Channel at the Marriot.

Oh and as far as ACCORDING TO JIM is concerned, I am flabbergasted that this will be the show's sixth season, but networks have always had shows like this that sneak up on you in terms of longevity (think COACH, WINGS, or STEP BY STEP). The show gets OK ratings, is inoffensive and very importantly, it is established. Now more than ever, networks rely on established shows (especially if they are produced in-house - think syndication $$$), lest we have even more mid-season reality replacements.

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Come on... the show's great. Everyone these days is loving the new-style comedy like Scrubs, Earl, and The Office (which I do enjoy), but sometimes the best comedies are the old-school, family-friendly sitcoms with canned laughter.

Almost every episode involves Jim or Cheryl covering up something they did wrong and then getting caught by the other ("Well, Well, Well"). But the boorishness is not too cookie-cuter, and it is much less low-brow than other "lazy drunk dad" shows. The acting is somewhat over the top (as expected, but still good), and the scripts are well written.

Being a Jim Belushi fan, I always find some good laugh-out-loud moments in each episode (not as much as Robot Chicken, but it's up there). So just sit back, watch a few episodes, and eventually you might see ways you relate to it. ...especially if you ever tried to sneak something past your spouse.

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elf,

I believe if you would take the time to read up on Focus on the Family, they advocate doing just what you are doing: being aware of what in shown and deciding its appropriateness, or not, for your family. They simply aid you in making decisions by giving information. And certainly, not all parents are as responsible as you clearly are.

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