By Jody Brown
A parents group says while it detects some “positive trends” toward family-friendly programming on broadcast television, networks still have a long way to do before families can sit down during prime-time and not worry about being “bombarded with filth.”
The Parents Television Council, based in Los Angeles, has just released its annual list of what it considers the ten best and ten worst programs on prime-time network television. PTC notes that six of the ten shows on its “best” list just completed their inaugural season last year, and most will be returning this fall. PTC says that indicates networks may possibly be giving family-friendly programming a chance to succeed in prime-time.
The WB network came out the big winner in PTC's “best” list, placing four of its shows — 7th Heaven, Smallville, Reba, and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch — in the top ten. Pax and CBS both have two on the “best” list — Doc (#1 on the list) and The Ponderosa from Pax; Baby Bob and the perennial favorite Touched by an Angel from CBS. ABC's George Lopez and Fox's Bernie Mac round out the top ten best.
PTC president Brent Bozell says the networks' plan to renew many of these programs for the upcoming fall season may be the result of network executives and decision-makers doing their own “tuning in” — to the complaints of parents.
“It appears that the networks are finally starting to listen to the collective voice of parents who want to sit down with their children and enjoy high-quality, family-friendly programming in prime-time,” Bozell says.
If indeed the networks are listening, it has not had a pervasive effect. Describing some network programming as “deplorable,” PTC includes three Fox shows in its “worst” list — Temptation Island, That '70s Show, and Boston Public — and two each from CBS (Big Brother II, C.S.I.), NBC (Will & Grace, Friends), and UPN (Buffy the Vampire Slayer [#1 on the list], WWE Smackdown). WB's Off Centre follows Buffy on the “worst” list.
Bozell notes many of the shows winning the dubious honor of being included on the “worst” list include graphic depictions of violence and sex, references to promiscuous lifestyles, and adult themes with explicit sexual references or adult sexual situations. He maintains the networks are being irresponsible when they market adult-oriented programs to young audiences — and are ignoring how children are affected by continuous exposure to “lewd and offensive” programming.
Randall Murphree is editor of AFA Journal, a publication that monitors the programming of the four major networks and promotes the biblical ethic of decency in television and other media. That publication included several programs from PTC's “worst” list in its July review of “prime-time's worst shows” — Boston Public, Friends, and Will & Grace. But Murphree has a different take on what constitutes a “best list” program.
“From [our] perspective, it's hard to find a 'top ten' among television series, because there aren't that many shows that are really 'family-friendly',” Murphree says. “I'd be hesitant to include Sabrina, the Teenage Witch as a top family show because even comedic witchcraft is hard to defend in a time when the occult is a growing danger to youth.”
Murphree concedes that if he were pressed to pick a “ten best” list, it would be “pretty close” to PTC's list. He adds that he agrees with every one of PTC's picks for the “ten worst.”
(This article courtesy of Agape Press.)
