Switching Channels

In the March 26th edition of TIME magazine, there’s an article a couple of pages from the back, and it concerns a group named the Parents’ Television Council (PTC), who have railed variously against all the things you’d expect an organization that sees itself as the protector of “family values” to rail against.

You should also know that, according to wikipedia, the PTC is responsible for 99% of all complaints made to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

So I went to their website, and I read a little, looked at their studies, and I, too, was outraged. “How can this happen in America?“ I wondered; “What has gone so wrong with television that we need a group like this to protect our family values?”

Yes, on the front page is the grinning and over-tanned face of fifties crooner, Pat Boone, asking: “The TV networks think your family want to watch shows featuring EXPLICIT SEX, DIRTY LANGUAGE and SICK VIOLENCE. Are they right?” Well, thank God I joined Nielsen, at least they’re getting my viewing habits about right.

But my point is this: Pat Boone is a glorified Amway salesman, who defended Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic rant last year (even after Gibson apologized) and who labeled anyone who is anti-Iraq-War “unpatriotic”. This from a guy who lived through the McCarthy witch-hunts of the 50s.
He's a man who refused to act an on-screen kiss in the 60s because the leading lady was married in real life. To me that seems like he can't always tell that there's a line between “real” and “make believe”.
Maybe that’s why he’s mugging the front page for the PTC. Maybe he thinks that what’s on TV is real-life. I don’t know.

Anyhow, there’s a PTC best and worst TV shows for families. In the category “best” we have Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NFL Football, Deal or No Deal, American Idol, Dancing With The Stars and the upcoming American Inventor.
In the category “worst” are Lost, House, The War At Home, Grey’s Anatomy, Prison Break, American Dad, Family Guy, Desperate Housewives and CSI.

Now, I’d have to admit that, yes, the “worst” shows often deal with death, crime, sex and politics (not just red and blue; sexual and emotional, too). But they also explore how to deal with those things, they set-up conversations about how we grieve, how we deal with betrayal and how we overcome personal flaws and move on.

How about those “best” shows? What makes them the best? Well, apparently they’re good at uniting families in front of the TV. But really, what is so good about being united in front of the TV? Why is that an honorable goal?

What I think I’d like to tell Pat Boone is this: I can decide what’s best for me, for my family, way better than you can. My family values might not be the same as yours. Clearly you’d like to see more Amway commercials in the 7 hours or so of advertising each network channel airs everyday. That, Mr. Boone, should worry you more.

In three hours of primetime viewing between 7pm and 10pm, viewers will be subjected to almost an hour of commercials including commercials for alcohol, prescription drugs and high-fat, low-nutrition fast foods. Not only that, the very images used to advertise these things glamorize “social” drinking, encourage you to question your doctor’s diagnoses if they don’t mention particular medications, and contribute to a consumerist society obsessed with the accumulation of “stuff”. And they do it all in front of your kids, while you watch with them.

We’re making the mistake of thinking that what our families need is bland voyeuristic television punctuated by eroticized sales of addiction and consumerism for the sake of consumerism.

And I’m sure that that’s not really what the PTC want, but when you take away the things that make us horrified, make us laugh, make our adrenal gland work a little overtime, what we are left with is television that doesn’t educate, doesn’t entertain, only flickers and makes noises to hypnotize us so we’re good and suggestible when the commercials come around.