Why America Needs a Real Greek TV Show
12 years ago

In 1978, National Lampoon’s Animal House electrified the world with its outrageously hilarious caricature of fraternity life in the 1960’s. The film has thrown generation after generation into fits of uncontrollable laughter, making Greeks and independents alike chortle with satisfaction. Fast forward 34 years to 2012. While one would think the stranger-than-fiction stories of Greek hilarity would have only become more prevalent through the decades, this is sadly not the case.

In our modern era, only two TV-shows have even attempted to touch the hysterical potential of a fraternity based television show.
The first, Greek, did nothing more than paint us as a large group of soap opera-esque pussies who have nothing better to do than fight over bitchy-but-attractive women and get in water gun fights with other fraternities. Sure, we have our fair share of attractive female interaction, but with all of the other aspects Greek life has to offer it seems like we’re being sold short. Not to mention the fact that the show’s creator is a certified GDI, who refused to rush despite attending the Greek-heavy University of Texas in Austin. Also, a show about fraternities has as much of a place on a network called ABC “Family” as full penetration does on the Disney Channel.

Another representation was the short-lived TBS series, Glory Daze. As with Greek, this show failed to truly emulate our experiences, trying to take what should be R-rated material and turn it PG-13. While the show featured some impressive guest stars and the occasional decent episode, its happy-go-lucky portrayal of fraternity life was axed after a mere 10 episodes.

It’s clear that these prior attempts didn’t demonstrate the essence of what it means to be in a Fraternity. With endless possibilities for hours of entertaining hijinks, these creators went the soft route and chose instead to focus on the teenage girl demographic.
When you think of the possibilities an accurate Greek-based television show could offer, they seem limitless. Off the top of my head I can think of ten real-life stories that would be more entertaining than most of the polished feces that airs today. Such is the case with almost any of the 400,000+ current fraternity and sorority members in the United States of America. Throw in the debauchery of tailgating and the “Zero Fucks Given” attitude on a fraternity roadtrip, and you’re looking at the potential for television gold.

Like Animal House so many years ago, the rambunctious dream that is fraternity life has the potential to be enjoyed by millions. The current and past Greeks of the world would certainly enjoy seeing themselves painted in a positive way, as opposed to the vaginally inclined attempts we’ve become too used to seeing. Or worse yet, as the easily caricatured villains that so many shitty, lazy screenwriters have used us for. Even those that didn’t go Greek would still be captivated to see what we’re all about, and would undoubtedly be able to relate with their own college experiences (even if theirs’ were significantly less fun).

For too long have we been cast in the shadow of misleading examples. In fact, I would go so far to call it taxing on Greek life as a whole. Like our forefathers before us, we are suffering from a form of “taxation without representation,” and once again our only choice is a revolution.

It’s time to spread the word; right now all we can get is a Greek Days of Our Lives, when a show about us really needs to be in the vein of The League or Workaholics. Hell I’d even settle for a mocumentary style show similar to The Office or Parks and Recreation, if done correctly. While the fraternity culture has grown and changed in the past few decades, we have nothing to cling to but a 34-year-old film. It’s time for the Frat TV Revolution, because we’re better than everyone else and it’s about time the world knew it.

Use the hashtag #FratTVRevolution to spread the word, because let’s be honest: it’s about time they stop making us look like shit.