Because Gen Xers see themselves as realists, “Get real” was a commonly heard phrase that meant quit spinning things, quit trying to force a happy ending, quit producing the sentimental, simplistic sitcoms of the Boomer era. The entertainment industry picked up this change in thinking, and the word real began popping up in movies, music, and television show titles. While the Boomers tried to fix society so it was fair, Xers learned that life isn’t fair, and so they lampooned it. They watched shows like The Simpsons and created a new way to get their news with The Daily Show and The Colbert
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