The big picture

• The sitcom boom of the 1990s included cult shows such as
  Friends
  ,
  Seinfeld
  And
  Frasier
  .
• Life and I
  has matured with its audience and deals with sensitive topics such as affairs and alcoholism.
• The controversial episode “Prom-ises, Prom-ises” received heavy criticism for its insensitive handling of teenage sexuality.

Although the genre has always been popular, the sitcom boom of the 1990s was arguably its greatest period. Friends, SeinfeldAnd Frasier dominated the time slots and was must-see television. While NBC offered the aforementioned shows that appealed to coveted main characters, ABC sought family appeal with its iconic TGIF block. The program on Friday evening was packed with shows for the whole familyMost of which became mega-classics, such as Family matters, Full houseand of course Life and I.

Life and I was an incredibly unique addition to the programming block. Like many other TGIF series, the show started out incredibly healthy. It was followed by Cory Matthews (Ben Savage), while he and his best friend Shawn Hunter (Rider strong) and long-time favorite Topanga (Danielle Fishel). Under the guidance of his parents Amy and Alan (Betsy Randall And William Russ), as well as his teacher/neighbor, the wise and lovable Mr. Feeny (William Daniels), Cory always had a touching lesson learned from each week. But uniquely, the show became more mature as its audience and actors grew up, eventually tackling topics like affairs, alcoholism, and death. While the adult themes might have seemed jarring, the show’s growth played a large role in its longevity and legacy. Additionally, more sensitive topics were usually handled with the sensitivity they deserved. Occasionally, however, the show would go awry with its approach, as was the case with the season five episode “Prom-ises, Prom-ises.” The show was tackling perhaps its most mature subject at the time. The episode was heavily criticized behind the scenes and was the center of controversyeven after the show was over.

“Promises, Promises” dealt with one of the most adult themes of “Life and Me”

When “Prom-ises, Promis-ises” aired in its fifth season, Life and I had already dealt with stories about underage drinking and alcoholism, cults and the loss of a loved one. A few seasons earlier, the show even gave a modern version of The scarlet letterin which Cory and Topanga are involved in a misunderstanding and a lie. But ““Prom-ises, Prom-ises” took the couple’s growing love story to the next level.

It is the night of their prom and Cory and Shawn are full of anticipation for what might happen afterwards. While Shawn’s girlfriend Angela (Trina McGee), deems Shawn too immature for sex, Topanga agrees that she and Cory should spend the night together. Cory is excited and gets them a hotel room where the prom is being held, but the couple is constantly interrupted before they can continue their evening. Also, Amy reveals to Alan that she is pregnant, and the couple also checks into the hotel to celebrate. After an embarrassing mix-up with the room key that leaves Cory surprising Amy and Alan, the Matthews parents remind Cory and Topanga to make responsible choices to avoid unexpected life changes. Much to the relief of parents across the country, America’s favorite TV couple decides to wait. On the surface, the show should offer one of its usual teaching moments. And while you can’t necessarily blame it for imparting some kind of wisdom, many opportunities were missed to say something less clichéd and importanta flaw that didn’t go unnoticed by one of the show’s most popular stars.

Rider Strong didn’t like “Promise, Promise” vocally

Cory may have been the character that audiences most identified with, but Shawn was undeniably a hit with fans. Shawn was often at the center of the show’s most difficult storylines. By this point in the series, he was already battling absent parents, alcoholism, and a cult. Suffice it to say, Strong was an expert when it came to controversial scripts. While sensitivity was often shown on such topics, Strong was dissatisfied with “Promises, promises.”

Strong is quoted as saying, “I remember being very agitated the whole week.” Strong continued, “I was very upset with the adults on our set – the way they handled it, especially because we did not discuss safer sex.” He further explained that he was baffled that the show did not even address the subject of Cory and Topanga using condoms or contraceptives of any kind. He was so discouraged by the script that he even contacted the series creator, Michael Jacobsin the hope that Jacobs would consider taking his concerns into account.

“We grew up in the AIDS era,” Strong told Jacobs, “so this is something we need to talk about. When you talk about losing your virginity, you talk about how to do it and how to be safe. And he completely brushed me off.” Strong claims Jacobs told him it was “a ridiculous thing to worry about.” However, Fishel also expressed discomfort about the incident at the time: “I have no specific memories, except that I felt somewhat uncomfortable that week.”

While Life and I is a sitcom, of course, the show has rarely shied away from handling heavy subject matter appropriately. Seasons 5, 6, and 7 are all filled with more dramatic storylines, and these outings often forgo laughs in order to handle the subject matter appropriately. But “Prom-ises, Promises” almost feels more like slapstick than an episode of Life and I. Although there are many great gags and funny character moments, the film seems out of date even by today’s standards. The drama behind the scenes was not the last time the episode sparked controversyeither.

“Prom-ises, Promis-ises” was banned during syndication of “Life and Me”

Life and I found a whole new life after its first broadcast on ABC. The show was repeated on the Disney Channel and gained a new audience there. The broadcast on the Disney Channel eventually led to the sequel series, Life and IBut although the series was a success, it sparked quite a bit of controversy during its first reruns. Three episodes were banned from the family-friendly channel after their first broadcastincluding “Prom-ises, Promises”.

Even if Cory and Topanga never go through with their intimate evening, The series was removed from the Disney Channel library, along with “If You Can’t Be with the One You Love,” which dealt with teenage drinking, and “The Truth About Honesty.” Ironically, the final episode served as a further development of Cory and Topanga’s sexuality, as it was the first time Cory saw Topanga naked. While Life and I Although the episodes were rerun in full on other networks, they did not reappear under the Disney brand until the launch of Disney+ in 2019.

“Promises, Promises” was a rather strange case for Life and I. In a series that carefully tackles the subject of coming of age, the way Cory and Topanga’s attempt to lose their virginity was portrayed was quite irresponsible. The episode stuck in actor Rider Strong’s mind for years after it aired and was later banned from the Disney Channel. Now the episode is available againbut serves as an interesting contrast to the rest of the series.

Life and I can be streamed on Disney+ in the US

Watch on Disney+