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Family TV? What a Joke
By John W. Kennedy | August 13, 2008
On Tuesday I listed wholesome examples of the TV American family through the years that have enjoyed tremendous ratings success (watch for Sunday’s article in TPE.)
For the sake of research, I subjected myself to watching episodes of what now constitutes popular programs. Some comedies in particular seem to be nothing more than one long 
stream of improper sexual remarks. Two and a Half Men—TV’s top-rated comedy the past three seasons—really has no plot beyond character Charlie’s obsession with fulfilling his libido. He and his brother Alan trade one joke after another about the male and female anatomy. What is truly disgusting is that as many of the punch lines about sexual functions and dysfunctions are delivered by Alan’s 14-year-old son, Jake. He’s well on his way to becoming a full man, I guess.
The Family Guy episode I screened only partially focused on sex. The non-sexual storyline contained some genuinely hilarious moments. But the repeated gratuitous use of crude humor at random intervals disturbed me. For instance, teenage son Chris utters, “I’m going to take you down to the whorehouse to lose your virginity.” Peter the dad utters the line, “Did you come here to rape my daughter?” There were other throwaway lines about deviant forms of sexual behavior. I didn’t see the humor in it.
According to Jim, which is not as sex-obsessed, nevertheless has a plethora of flatulence jokes and body parts humor.
The tour of today’s TV comedies made me long for the days when series actually relied on good writing. Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke and Bob Newhart didn’t resort to crudeness in an effort to be funny.
On Thursday I’ll give a rundown of the desperate state of TV family dramas in 2008.
Topics: television |
August 17th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Dear Sir,
One must realize we in this country did not go from a Christian nation with Judeo-Christian Family values to that of a Sodom and Gomorrah with no fear of God overnight. It was a subtle and slow yet methodical plan that would destroy our nation by destroying the home, the home as God designed it to be. When the foundations are destroyed the house will fall and the nation with it. This was carried out by men and women under the guidance and direction of Satan, a main part of this plan was Hollywood, and equally important for the plans success was the indoctrination of humanism into the minds of our children. There was a time when our pulpits warned against TV, PERIOD! But now we say that our flock must be careful in what we watch. What happened? It used to be stay away, now it is I don’t see anything wrong with some shows. Get the picture? I DON’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. Is there any good on TV? Perhaps a little. But God hates a mixture. If there is a little bit of good and a whole lot of bad, what should we be doing? One can not watch the weather or news without seeing something in between that grieves the Spirit of God. May I humbly suggest to you that with your position of being able to have so many people read your articles, why not warn people to get rid of the TV, especially if they have children in the home. Why paint us a picture of the horrible filth and degradation that you chose to watch in order to be able to report back to your readers what is on the tube. Now whether you know it or not, you have those scenes imprinted on your memory, and at the appropriate time the enemy will use that to his advantage. I WILL SET NO WICKED THING BEFORE MY EYES! Like most I have had a TV for my adult life, I am 50. But I am closer now than ever to just getting rid of it. I think this is our best choice, just get rid of it. Thanks for your time.
Leonard Myers