The “Everybody Loves Raymond” effect: Why TV gets marriage all wrong — salon.com

If you’re married, or about to get married—even if you’re single and think you want to get married someday—the last thing you should be doing is watching a TV sitcom. That seems like an odd thing to say, right? Now, during this golden age of TV, when we have everything and everyone we can ever want on TV—from a dramedy about women in prison to an anthology series featuring Sarah Paulson as conjoined twins—what we can’t seem to have, especially on a laugher, is an accurate portrait of a successful and happy marriage. In fact, if you ever want to make the case against marriage, tuck into a network TV sitcom—it will make a cynic out of you yet.

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