'The Goode Family': Can a TV show bash tree huggers -- and survive?

It's become something of an article of faith in the conservative world that the media are liberal and only interested in promoting liberal ideas and causes. So what do you do if you're a loyal conservative when a big titan of liberalism like ABC (owned by the gay-friendly Disney media conglomerate and home to the obviously left-leaning George Stephanopoulos) is about to premiere (this Wednesday at 9 p.m.) a wickedly funny new Mike Judge-created show, "The Goode Family," that mocks a family of do-gooders, including a wife who wears a "Meat Is Murder" T-shirt, a daughter who's named Bliss and a dog who is a vegan?

It's pretty clear that Judge is taking clear aim on the excesses of save-the-planet types, having said recently, of the characters he created: "Oh yeah, I know these people. They're everywhere, hanging out at Whole Foods .. .forever feeling guilty about being a human being" (see video below).

Do you embrace the show, since Lord knows, after David Zucker's hapless "An American Carol," you should be wrapping your arms around anything from a conservative bent that is actually, well, funny? Or do you prepare yourself for failure, hinting darkly that any show being produced by a bastion of liberal media wouldn't receive a fair airing? In other words, assume the worst -- surely ABC must be doing whatever it can behind the scenes to ensure that its own new show is doomed to failure. I'd say that the conservative reaction to "The Goode Family's" prospects offers an intriguing insight into the conspiratorial, vaguely pessimistic mind-set that has overwhelmed the right as it attempts to cope with the popularity of Obama-style optimism currently captivating most of the country.  

First we have the New York Post's Kyle Smith pronouncing on his blog: "I doubt ABC has the guts to keep this show on the air very long. I'm guessing they won't promote it, no one will watch it and then they'll say, 'Whoops! No one is in the mood to mock liberals these days. Our bad.' I give it a month."

At the Bruin Standard, Kelly Bowers isn't holding his breath either, saying with concern: "Will the show pull punches to appease the status quo of studio executives? An obvious worry. 'The Man' often puts a stop to themes he doesn't like in TV shows.... If Fox can tell the nearly revered Joss Whedon to turn his dark captain Malcolm Reynolds into more of a clown for 'Firefly,' NBC can probably tell Judge to stop making hippies cry (assuming that is even possible)."

For years, it was liberals who were expert in the art of self loathing, but the disease seems to have taken firm root in the conservative movement. Faced with the prospect of a well-made TV show that skewers the delicate sensibilities of ditzy do-gooders, the right-leaning cultural critics should be full of exultation. Instead, they're already sulking in their tents. You'd think conservatives would be eager for a good laugh, but the whole movement seems to have permanently misplaced their sense of humor.

Here are some excerpts, along with commentary from Mike Judge:

Comments

[chascates]

It's also possible it turns out to be a crappy show and therefore doesn't last. But then I'd love an animated show about a horny, chubby Meghan McCain who goes around trying to change the GOP into a socially-liberal party. Now THAT'S golden!

[Justin]

One, most of us don't feel ABC is really the most liberal of the networks -- NBC has always seemed a bit more liberal to me. Two, it's far easier to make fun of oneself than this article makes it out to be -- don't you think even liberals enjoy a good roast here and there? Of course they do -- if anything it helps note their impact. It's not like The Goode Family is some biting dramatic satire that would make anyone feel uneasy -- it's a cartoon for chrissakes. Next time get your inspiration from somewhere other than a NY Post writer's blog -- ugh.

[christian h.]

Wow, right-wingers are really incredible whiners. Disney isn't in any way liberal; like all big corporations, it's conservative. TV is full of shows promoting cops (conservative), torture (conservative), the military, god/faith, and/or bashing leftists and "political correctness" (ie, not being a racist or sexist). The most "liberal" news channel MSNBC has twice as much hard-core right-wing programming as center-left programming, and certainly not a single leftist in its line-up.

[Kevin Davis]

Patrick, buddy,
What is your worry? It sounds as though you are worried about this show. Your weak attempts to go after anyone on the "right"(not to your thinking, right?)show that you must have your panties in a bunch. It is a show no different than what is offered on Sunday nights. Perhaps you are concerned that the originator of this series also wrote SouthPark which regularly took shots at everyone, including those on the left. Weak review. Let the people watch it. In fact, after reading it you have inspired me to watch it. Patrick, you are weak, dude! Time to get a real job, not writing for some liberal-pansy washed up paper. Suck it up, buddy, and get a life.

[Kevin Davis]

Patrick, I find it hard to swallow(get it, swallow, you know) the fact that you have final authority to decline comments. Man, what a douche... You hang out far too much in West Hollywood. Just because you are sleeping with an editor(BJ's and all) doesn't mean that you can control what is watched on TV. If that were the case then more alternative lifestyle programs would still be on the air. Perhaps you are still hurt about today's State appealate court which allowed Prop 8 to stand. If they had their way they would have outlawed all of those illegal marriages. Get a life...

[Leslie]

Why is conservation not considered a conservative value? Traditionally, it is more conservative to reuse and live responsibly than it is to go out and buy new items on a credit card. Is it because T.V.s main purpose is to sell "stuff" to the masses? Just wondering.

[Brett]

Yeah....

Taking a shot at liberals is fun...like all humor..but Mike Judge's humor in this, not funny. I get it, on paper, vegan dog, hardee har har...talk about a single note.....

Mike Judge's humor just appears bitter.

[Ari]

I'm not so concerned with poking fun at certain people but what bothers me is that this blog characterizes being eco-conscious or vegan as a liberal value. Sorry, but that's rubbish. There are plenty of conservatives who are doing their part to help curb global warming. There is nothing liberal about recycling or choosing to abstain from animal products. Note to all readers: animal agriculture is the number one cause of climate change as documented by the UN's report "Livestock's Long Shadow". I'm all for having a good laugh but I think there's something dangerous about making this a liberal vs. conservative thing. EVERYONE needs to be concerned with what they can do to help stop our planet from heating up. Even President Bush acknowledged that global warming is real and man-made, how's that for liberal values?

[Christian Toto]

The show has gotten very little love from ABC, and any mid-season replacement series faces tall odds against it.

Why not rail against the NY Times TV critic who tore it apart because it didn't jibe with the writer's sensibilities?

You write:

It's become something of an article of faith in the conservative world that the media are liberal and only interested in promoting liberal ideas and causes

How does the addition of one show change anything? It doesn't, especially if it drops off the radar as quickly as it might. It's a better fit for Comedy Central, frankly.

And let's remember the show isn't cruel ... it actually paints its characters as positive, just more than a tad misguided from their do-gooderism.

Let's celebrate a show that dares to mock a very mockable part of the public, and heckle comedy cowards like Letterman who can't do the same ... or even dare to poke real fun at the new president.

[Sam]

Mike Judge, imho, is probably one of the most underestimated talents in animation. He has a sense of his characters as real people, and is probably why King of the Hill lasted so long, but could not outlast the Simpsons or Family Guy, both of which are absurdist in their humor and in which events rarely carry over from episode to episode, obviating the need to develop characters (less so for the Simpsons, perhaps).

The Goode Family, at first glance, has what any good satire has - some amount of sympathy for its targets. If you just hate the object of your satire, you just wind up with a couple of hours of insults (see "American Carol"). If you have a sense of sympathy for your subject, the sense that sometimes the object of your satire might have a point, then excellent satire emerges (see "The Colbert Report"). Judge seems to get that these folks want to be good people, but just try to accomplish it to an absurd extreme. I look forward to watching it.