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Are the Kardashians the new Brady Bunch?
A new essay argues that Kim is basically the modern Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.
In some quarters, Keeping Up with the Kardashians is considered a sign of the apocalypse. The juggernaut reality series is seen as a vapid echo of celebrity culture. But some are sticking up for the E! show and quite intelligently.
The Brady Bunch
- 4/28 12:00PMKatchoo"Jan discovers she's allergic to something and fears her new dad is the source."
- 4/28 12:30PMA Clubhouse Is Not a Home"When the boys start a "No Girls Allowed" club, the girls start one of their own, and the battle of the sexes begins."
- 5/5 12:00PMKitty-Karry-All Is Missing"When Cindy accuses Bobby of losing her doll, Kitty Karry-All, the gang conducts a mock trial with Alice as the judge."
In fact, most Kardashians episodes follows a similar basic structure: The Kardashians—specifically sisters Kourtney, Khloé, Kim, and their half-siblings Kendall and Kylie Jenner—show off their privileged lifestyle and maybe get into one or two minor family squabbles before ultimately wrapping things up with a monologue that reinforces the importance of family.
Though we confess that we do not follow the Kardashians, she has a point, as in this example:
Take this Sunday’s episode, in which Kylie and Kendall get into a fight after Kendall doesn’t follow through on a promise to help her little sister field red-carpet interview questions…
Replace "red-carpet" with "student body president debate" and you have the beginnings of a Jan-versus-Marcia tiff. Quartz notes that the Kardashians focus on friendship and sisterhood, and balance silliness with honesty.
This analogy got us thinking: Which Kardashians are which Brady characters? Kim is Marcia, clearly, and Khloé would be Jan. Kendall and Kylie are Cousin Oliver. What does that make Kanye West? Sam the Butcher? Davy Jones?
Read the piece here with an open mind. But we're still sticking with the Brady Bunch, obviously.
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