Joss Whedon Didn’t Think ‘The Golden Girls’ Was as Funny as His Own Father
Many know Joss Whedon as the writer and director of The Avengers. He peppered the film with plenty of his trademark humor. But long before he began working in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Whedon developed a passion for the entertainment industry, following in the footsteps of his father, Tom Whedon.
In recent years, Whedon made headlines due to serious allegations about his on-set behavior. And the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator has irked some fans with his comments in the past. How do they feel about his opinions on the landmark sitcom his dad worked on?
Joss Whedon’s father worked on the iconic series ‘The Golden Girls’
Writer-director Joss Whedon was born in New York City in 1964. His father, Tom Whedon, was a writer who worked on popular TV shows like Alice and The Golden Girls. The ’80s classic is probably Tom Whedon’s best-known work, a show that inspires fans to this very day. Tom Whedon supported his son’s ambitions to get into the entertainment business.
Years later, Joss Whedon jumpstarted his career as a staff writer for the sitcom Roseanne. In 1997, Whedon created his first TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The rest is history, as Whedon became a famous creator, widely considered a feminist icon, At least before the troubling allegations against Whedon emerged.
What did Whedon say about how funny his father was?
In a 2003 interview with IGN, Joss Whedon opened up about his legacy in the entertainment business. He paid homage to his father in the process. “I loved when my father was working on The Electric Company when I was younger,” said Whedon. “I liked the shows he did, but I never thought they were as funny as he was.”
“In my mind, I thought that he was running them, because he’d run The Electric Company,” Whedon continued of the educational series. Though he deemed The Golden Girls “hilarious” and “a classic,” it didn’t measure up to his dad’s personal humor. “This is the wittiest man I’d ever met, and all of his friends were extraordinary, and the sitcoms were never quite the same as my father,” Whedon finished.
In the same interview, Whedon also praised his mother, who also worked in entertainment as a TV writer.
Whedon became a controversial figure
Joss Whedon’s own influence on specific genres is powerful. His work with Marvel stands out as a turning point in the franchise. Still, recent years saw Whedon’s reputation take a hit. And many fans aren’t quite sure what to make of the talented filmmaker.
It all started when performers who worked with Whedon on high-profile projects came forward to claim that the director was verbally abusive and abusive. Gal Gadot, who worked with Whedon on Justice League, slammed him for threatening her on set. She stated she felt he talked down to her.
Whedon went on the record to deny the claims. However, the sheer number of stars who have spoken out against Whedon, including Ray Fisher, enhances the accusations and gives many fans pause. Many believe that Whedon’s work with Marvel is unparalleled despite the controversy. And there’s no doubt that his family helped inspire his creative filmmaking.
