Why do all American cartoons seem to have episodes dealing with adoption?

Question

I have noticed adoption-related stories in the following: The Simpsons, Futurama, American Dad, King of the Hill, etc. Am I missing any?

Answer 1

no idea..but i know when i was growing up it was few and far between to meet someone that had been adopted as i was..i always felt like an odd ball..its odd now i know of at least two other adult adoptees that have met their birth parents and these are people i didnt go looking for i met them at work and thru my kids school..

Answer 2

Adoption fascinates people.

People want to know all the gory details...

Answer 3

Also re:  South Park, Kyle's brother Ike is adopted.

I think they just like to use it as a plot ploint.

Answer 4

It isn't just cartoons. And not only recent TV either.

Some old school tv shows with adoption "themes" are Webster, Punky Brewster, Diff'rent Strokes, My Two Dads, Small Wonder (if adopting a robot designed to be the "perfect" daughter can count), Little House On The Prairie.

Old school cartoons I can think of, Pound Puppies, Cabbage Patch Kids, Punky Brewster, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Care Bears (you didn't think Grams Bear had those cubs herself did you?).

I know there are wayyyy more but my brain has stopped.

Answer 5

Those shows will have themes that reflect what is going on in society. Adoption is very common now, so it  is an integral part in many tv shows.

Answer 6

Isn't Bam Bam from the Flintstones also adopted? And on South Park the boys accidentally "adopted" an ethiopian boy while trying to get a sports watch, but had to give him back. I think they run these stories because adoption is just common enough to where most people know someone who is or has adopted. Its just misunderstood enough for people to laugh at parodies of it, but at the same time understood enough to where its not over people's heads. Also, television shows/cartoons try to stay current with the times and since adoption is in the media a lot (Angelina, Madonna, etc) they act on that. If adoption was still the hush hush thing is was years back, you would not see it as often except the "oh my god I just found out I'm *gasp* adopted!" themes on the old tv shows or the "I am a bad pregnant teenaged mother, don't turn out like me!" after school specials we grew up watching.

Answer 7

Adoption is an interesting and uncommon thing. I think about only 7% of Americans are adopted. I was adopted as a baby and I too became curious as to why my birth mother gave me away. In conversations about parenting or childhoods if I mention that I was adopted I am always asked to tell more about it. People like to hear a sad or dramatic story. That's probably why it is so common a story plot for entertainment.

Answer 8

Nov. is "National Adoption Month"

happy happy joy joy