Television trades 'family hour' for raunchier prime-time shows
Editor:
When Sen. John Dingell was pulled out of line and strip-searched before boarding an airplane, was that the first time a politician was caught with his pants down and he did not have to lie about it?
The National Broadcasting Co. has deliberately dropped its drawers and no one seems to care. The whole thing would be funny - like the women who pass a flasher in the street and one of them says, Oh that reminds me! I need to pick up some Vienna Sausages - if the stakes were not so high.
Side-bar, your honor? You do remember, dont you, that NBC has announced it will start to carry advertisements for hard liquor? Throw back your Jack Daniels shots responsibly!
Twenty years ago the broadcast networks were concerned about the fare they showed to the American public. So much so that they designated the time from 7 to 8 p.m. as the family hour. Raunchy programs - and raunch has become more raunchy in the last two decades - could not begin until 8, and by such time the kiddies would all be nestled safe in their beds while visions of mayhem danced in their heads.
Sure, the kids would be in bed. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.
But at least it was something.
Now with the broadcast networks struggling for survival, with a proliferation of anything goes cable channels (Viacom, who owns CBS has announced that it is thinking about launching a gay TV channel), the only word you wont hear from dawn till dark is the F word, and that statement may be subject to challenge.
As I said, NBC has dropped its drawers, specifically in this case, dropped the family hour. According to NBC entertainment president Jeff Zucker, the NBC audience is young and wants more shows with sex. What does that mean we are losing?
Well, locally, there is Steve Harvey at 7 p.m., but I would almost rather flip to TV-36 and watch Kenneth Copeland strut, twist the Bible until God himself wouldnt recognize it, and stick his chin out like a pugilist asking for canvas time. Almost. Nah, never! Spin it, Vannah!
On Friends tonight at 7:30, Jills romantic compass suddenly points towards Ross, Monicas nasty head cold doesnt stop her from making lusty advances towards Chandler, and Joey annoys his boss by wooing pretty customers with free food.
Have you forgotten the thrilling first season? Ross finds out that his ex-wife Carol is pregnant with his child, but wants to raise the baby with her lover Susan. Now theres family time re-run entertainment for you!
My TV has a V, for violence chip. But somehow its just not working. Maybe I should have purchased one with a Decency chip, or a Crudeness chip, or a Responsibility chip. I think Ill just leave the damn thing off.
Oops, sorry. I was just NBCd.
Justen Wonderly
Evans