Two Decades Behind: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
The twenty-to-thirty-year lag between reality and TV-land. Shows that first ran in [[The Nineties]] often reminisced [[The Seventies]], shows in [[The Eighties]] carry a lot of cultural baggage from [[The Sixties]], shows that first ran in [[The Seventies]] hearken back to [[The Fifties]], and shows in [[The Fifties]] and [[The Sixties]] had its nostalgic setups between [[The Gay Nineties]] and [[The Roaring Twenties]]. At the start of the 21st century, this can be seen in how some works seem to suggest that they took place in [[The Eighties]] when they are supposed to be set in the present-day or a little earlier. In such settings, the "cool kids" still rap and skateboard and the lingo is still [[Totally Radical]] (even in cases where it was not relevant to begin with). In many cases, it's clear that someone [[Did Not Do the Research]].
The twenty-to-thirty-year lag between reality and TV-land. Shows that first ran in [[The Nineties]] often reminisced [[The Seventies]], shows in [[The Eighties]] carry a lot of cultural baggage from [[The Sixties]], shows that first ran in [[The Seventies]] hearken back to [[The Fifties]], and shows in [[The Fifties]] and [[The Sixties]] had its nostalgic setups between [[The Gay Nineties]] and [[The Roaring Twenties]]. At the start of the 21st century, this can be seen in how some works seem to suggest that they took place in [[The Eighties]] when they are supposed to be set in the present-day or a little earlier. In such settings, the "cool kids" still rap and skateboard and the lingo is still [[Totally Radical]] (even in cases where it was not relevant to begin with). In many cases, it's clear that someone [[Did Not Do the Research]].


It happens because TV writers tend to be busiest in their late 30s and early 40s, and (like everyone else) their tastes and preferences were formed in their teens and early 20s; by the time they reach the big time, what they think is fresh and modern is actually 20 years out of date. This is closely related to the fact that such franchises as ''[[Transformers]]'', ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', and ''[[He Man]]'' are getting revamped ~20 years after the peaks of their popularity; in fact, ''[[G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra|G.I. Joe the Rise of Cobra]]'' (2009) was a revival of ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' from the 1980s, which was, in turn, a revamp of the original Joes from the 1960s.
It happens because TV writers tend to be busiest in their late 30s and early 40s, and (like everyone else) their tastes and preferences were formed in their teens and early 20s; by the time they reach the big time, what they think is fresh and modern is actually 20 years out of date. This is closely related to the fact that such franchises as ''[[Transformers]]'', ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', and ''[[He Man]]'' are getting revamped ~20 years after the peaks of their popularity; in fact, ''[[G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra|G.I. Joe the Rise of Cobra]]'' (2009) was a revival of ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' from the 1980s, which was, in turn, a revamp of the original Joes from the 1960s.
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* Shawn and Gus do this very self-consciously on ''[[Psych]]'', where it's obviously supposed to be an [[In-Universe]] character quirk (other characters often call them out on it), but in the [[High School Reunion]] episode, their reunion seemed to be playing an awful lot of 80s music, given that they graduated in 1995... (Though, in fairness, Gus organized the reunion, so it's not ''entirely'' implausible.)
* Shawn and Gus do this very self-consciously on ''[[Psych]]'', where it's obviously supposed to be an [[In-Universe]] character quirk (other characters often call them out on it), but in the [[High School Reunion]] episode, their reunion seemed to be playing an awful lot of 80s music, given that they graduated in 1995... (Though, in fairness, Gus organized the reunion, so it's not ''entirely'' implausible.)
* The first season of ''[[Friends]]'', despite being made in 1994/1995, seems stuck in a bizarre 80's/90's hybrid universe. The general looks and mannerisms of the six main characters are a little (though not entirely) on the 80's side. While some of the haircuts, particularly Matt LeBlanc's feathered/over-gelled style (which he uses throughout the entire season, despite modifying it slightly around the seventh or eighth episode), are VERY 80's. Fortunately, by the second season, the show had the 90's zeitgeist down pat and looked/felt completely appropriate for the period.
* The first season of ''[[Friends]]'', despite being made in 1994/1995, seems stuck in a bizarre 80's/90's hybrid universe. The general looks and mannerisms of the six main characters are a little (though not entirely) on the 80's side. While some of the haircuts, particularly Matt LeBlanc's feathered/over-gelled style (which he uses throughout the entire season, despite modifying it slightly around the seventh or eighth episode), are VERY 80's. Fortunately, by the second season, the show had the 90's zeitgeist down pat and looked/felt completely appropriate for the period.
* Camden in ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' seems to be stuck in the late 80's or early 90's, even though that time was at least 10-15 years before the start of the series.
* Camden in ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' seems to be stuck in the late 80's or early 90's, even though that time was at least 10-15 years before the start of the series.
* Many family sitcoms, well into the early-90's (case in point: just about any TGIF show on ABC), continued to play into cultural tropes and stereotypes that were more-or-less obsolete by then. Such as the old "rock and roll teenager versus bitter/culturally-unaware parent" conflict of the 60's and early-70's. By the early 90's, most real life children had baby boomer parents who were every bit as "rockin'!" as they were.
* Many family sitcoms, well into the early-90's (case in point: just about any TGIF show on ABC), continued to play into cultural tropes and stereotypes that were more-or-less obsolete by then. Such as the old "rock and roll teenager versus bitter/culturally-unaware parent" conflict of the 60's and early-70's. By the early 90's, most real life children had baby boomer parents who were every bit as "rockin'!" as they were.
* Inverted on ''[[M*A*S*H]]''; while the show was set in the 50's, the attitudes and fashions (that hair!) of the characters was much more reflective of the 70's, when the show was filmed.
* Inverted on ''[[M*A*S*H]]''; while the show was set in the 50's, the attitudes and fashions (that hair!) of the characters was much more reflective of the 70's, when the show was filmed.
* Done intentionally in ''[[Flight of the Conchords]]'', where all the media from New Zealand is several decades behind the times. Their technology is also several decades out of date, to the point that they are currently running TV ads for "the telephone."
* Done intentionally in ''[[Flight of the Conchords]]'', where all the media from New Zealand is several decades behind the times. Their technology is also several decades out of date, to the point that they are currently running TV ads for "the telephone."
* The premise of ''[[Portlandia]]'', as explained in the debut episode's first sketch, is that Portland, Oregon is still stuck in [[The Nineties]].
* The premise of ''[[Portlandia]]'', as explained in the debut episode's first sketch, is that Portland, Oregon is still stuck in [[The Nineties]].


== [[Music]] ==
== [[Music]] ==
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* 80's style [[Synth Pop]] is still big in Europe, [[Germans Love David Hasselhoff|particularly in Germany]]. While the style faded out of popularity in the U.S., there it branched out into EBM and futurepop, still retaining a very 80's feel in most cases. Makes sense because [[Kraftwerk|that's where the style really originated.]]
* 80's style [[Synth Pop]] is still big in Europe, [[Germans Love David Hasselhoff|particularly in Germany]]. While the style faded out of popularity in the U.S., there it branched out into EBM and futurepop, still retaining a very 80's feel in most cases. Makes sense because [[Kraftwerk|that's where the style really originated.]]
* Power metal is still very popular in some areas. Scandinavia in particular is home to many bands whose style derives from 80's metal bands like [[Scorpions]].
* Power metal is still very popular in some areas. Scandinavia in particular is home to many bands whose style derives from 80's metal bands like [[Scorpions]].
* The [[Eurovision Song Contest]] is often about twenty years behind what is actually popular ''in Europe'' simply to garner as much mass appeal as possible (and perhaps for the [[Camp]] factor).
* The [[Eurovision Song Contest]] is often about twenty years behind what is actually popular ''in Europe'' simply to garner as much mass appeal as possible (and perhaps for the [[Camp]] factor).


== [[Pro Wrestling]] ==
== [[Pro Wrestling]] ==
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* [[Hulk Hogan]] had this problem in the mid-nineties, as the gimmick he had in [[The Eighties]] had become old and stale. He solved it by making one of the most notable [[Face Heel Turn|Face Heel Turns]] in pro-wrestling history and forming the nWo, which were decidedly Nineties (they wore a lot of black and had a "graffiti" graphique). Later when he re-joined WWE he reverted to his Eighties gimmick though, by which point it was nostalgic.
* [[Hulk Hogan]] had this problem in the mid-nineties, as the gimmick he had in [[The Eighties]] had become old and stale. He solved it by making one of the most notable [[Face Heel Turn|Face Heel Turns]] in pro-wrestling history and forming the nWo, which were decidedly Nineties (they wore a lot of black and had a "graffiti" graphique). Later when he re-joined WWE he reverted to his Eighties gimmick though, by which point it was nostalgic.
* There was also Jay Lethal's "Black Machismo" gimmick in TNA in 2010, which was ''literally'' this trope.
* There was also Jay Lethal's "Black Machismo" gimmick in TNA in 2010, which was ''literally'' this trope.
* Thanks to the popularity of [[Jerry Lawler]], Memphis-based USWA was the last full-time wrestling territory in the United States and continued to produce television straight out of the early eighties, complete with MTV style music videos and cartoonish gimmicks. Alas, the [[Monday Night Wars]] inadvertently led to the death of USWA, as Mondays were traditionally the promotion's biggest gates. For fans of regional promotions, it was the [[End of an Age]].
* Thanks to the popularity of [[Jerry Lawler]], Memphis-based USWA was the last full-time wrestling territory in the United States and continued to produce television straight out of the early eighties, complete with MTV style music videos and cartoonish gimmicks. Alas, the [[Monday Night Wars]] inadvertently led to the death of USWA, as Mondays were traditionally the promotion's biggest gates. For fans of regional promotions, it was the [[End of an Age]].


== [[Video Games]] ==
== [[Video Games]] ==
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** Also, in more recent adaptations, Michelangelo is the only one who's still Totally Radical, and the others usually mock him for it.
** Also, in more recent adaptations, Michelangelo is the only one who's still Totally Radical, and the others usually mock him for it.
* In an episode of ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]'' where the three main characters go to a old folks' home for monsters. "[[Dracula]]" [Blacula], [[The Wolf Man]] and the [[Bride of Frankenstein]] are all treated as "Classic" monsters (fair enough) but the "New, Modern" monsters are [[A Nightmare on Elm Street|Freddy]] and [[Friday the 13th (film)|Jason]]. The episode aired in 2005, after several generations of horror fads had come and gone since the old supernatural slashers of the 1980s.
* In an episode of ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]'' where the three main characters go to a old folks' home for monsters. "[[Dracula]]" [Blacula], [[The Wolf Man]] and the [[Bride of Frankenstein]] are all treated as "Classic" monsters (fair enough) but the "New, Modern" monsters are [[A Nightmare on Elm Street|Freddy]] and [[Friday the 13th (film)|Jason]]. The episode aired in 2005, after several generations of horror fads had come and gone since the old supernatural slashers of the 1980s.
* ''[[Family Guy]]'' does this intentionally, as many of its gags are reliant on nostalgic pop culture references, particularly from the 1980s. For example, a gag in the episode "Big Man on Hippocampus" (which aired in 2010) has Richard Dawson as the current host of ''[[Family Feud]]'' (despite the fact that it's been 15 years since he left the show), [[John Hughes]] referenced at a rapid-fire pace, Macho Man Randy Savage cutting promos at live wrestling events, and O.J. Simpson's case treated like a current event. The fact that all of the high school scenes look like they're straight out of a '80s teen film might be intentional.
* ''[[Family Guy]]'' does this intentionally, as many of its gags are reliant on nostalgic pop culture references, particularly from the 1980s. For example, a gag in the episode "Big Man on Hippocampus" (which aired in 2010) has Richard Dawson as the current host of ''[[Family Feud]]'' (despite the fact that it's been 15 years since he left the show), [[John Hughes]] referenced at a rapid-fire pace, Macho Man Randy Savage cutting promos at live wrestling events, and O.J. Simpson's case treated like a current event. The fact that all of the high school scenes look like they're straight out of a '80s teen film might be intentional.
* ''[[Betty Boop]]'' was an [[Older Than Television]] example of this, being a flapper throughout [[The Thirties]] when flappers were more popular during [[The Roaring Twenties|the 20's]].
* ''[[Betty Boop]]'' was an [[Older Than Television]] example of this, being a flapper throughout [[The Thirties]] when flappers were more popular during [[The Roaring Twenties|the 20's]].
* The [[Disney Channel]]'s ''Disney BLAM'', which consists of scenes from [[Classic Disney Shorts]] dubbed over with a [[Totally Radical]] narration [[Don't Explain the Joke|explaining why each scene is funny]], seem to be made with the idea that it's still the early Nineties.
* The [[Disney Channel]]'s ''Disney BLAM'', which consists of scenes from [[Classic Disney Shorts]] dubbed over with a [[Totally Radical]] narration [[Don't Explain the Joke|explaining why each scene is funny]], seem to be made with the idea that it's still the early Nineties.
* ''[[Whatever Happened to Robot Jones]]'' does this seemingly intentionally, with an art style and musical sequences seemingly inspired from ''[[Schoolhouse Rock]]''. Episodes also feature flopppy disks, Rubik's cubes, and characters with [[Devo]] hats and Venetian blinds glasses, despite the show being made in the early 2000s. It even has curiously low-quality and grainy audio.
* ''[[Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones?]]'' does this seemingly intentionally, with an art style and musical sequences seemingly inspired from ''[[Schoolhouse Rock]]''. Episodes also feature flopppy disks, Rubik's cubes, and characters with [[Devo]] hats and Venetian blinds glasses, despite the show being made in the early 2000s. It even has curiously low-quality and grainy audio.


== [[Real Life]] ==
== [[Real Life]] ==
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== Other ==
== Other ==
* Pick any feel good Christmas special out there, set anywhere near to the present day, in any supposed geographic area. In terms of scenery, dress, manners of speaking, and toys, you will immediately be transported to A: Mid 1800's London a la Charles Dickens with carolers, long scarves, and lovable chimney sweeps, or B: 1950's New York City with picturesque store front windows to look in through and sidewalks to stroll down merrily, or C: 1950's New England with rolling hills, stone walls, and early snowfall for sledding or D: A combination of all 3.
* Pick any feel good Christmas special out there, set anywhere near to the present day, in any supposed geographic area. In terms of scenery, dress, manners of speaking, and toys, you will immediately be transported to A: Mid 1800's London a la Charles Dickens with carolers, long scarves, and lovable chimney sweeps, or B: 1950's New York City with picturesque store front windows to look in through and sidewalks to stroll down merrily, or C: 1950's New England with rolling hills, stone walls, and early snowfall for sledding or D: A combination of all 3.
* Paintings by fantasy artist Larry Elmore almost always feature characters with [[Eighties Hair|1980s hairstyles]], even if said painting was created in the 1990s or 2000s.
* Paintings by fantasy artist Larry Elmore almost always feature characters with [[Eighties Hair|1980s hairstyles]], even if said painting was created in the 1990s or 2000s.


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