Kirstie Alley, Wrestling, And Cartoon Network
This post is a follow up to my post yesterday regarding statements made by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin in an article on the Fox News website.
In addition to expanding federal decency standards to include cable and satellite programs, Martin suggested several options, including creating a “family-friendly” tier of channels that would offer shows suitable for kids, such as the programs shown on the Nickelodeon channel.
He also said that cable and satellite providers might want to consider letting consumers pay for a bundle of channels that they could choose themselves, a variation of the so-called “a la carte” pricing system that some in Congress have backed.
This morning, as I was sitting here working I had the television on in the background, as I normally do. As I listened to commercial after commercial, I got to thinking about those two paragraphs quoted above.
Then it hit me. I need to watch more wrestling and join Jenny Craig. No. Seriously…
Expanding federal decency standards is not the solution. Allowing the federal government to decide what we should be watching is not a very good idea. The last thing we need is more federal oversight of television programming.
It’s time for parents to take the lead in deciding what should be allowed on their family television sets, and use the tools provided to them. It is our responsibility to control our television viewing, we should not allow the government to censor what we watch because some people are too lazy to set the controls they already have in place.
That being said, I decided to do a little research, okay so it only took five minutes, but it was research.
For my extensive research project, I tuned the Dish receiver to the Cartoon Network’s morning programming, TickleU. I hit the record button. Five minutes later I stopped the recording. Simple enough right?
First, some background,
The programs on TickleU are rated TV-Y, and the TickleU website says they are a “preschool programming service“.
For 40 years, children’s television has used humor to teach children everything from letters and numbers to geography and science. But until now children’s programming has never focused on the development of humor skills in and of themselves.
In recognition of the important role that humor plays in a child’s life, Cartoon Network is proud to present Tickle U, a preschool programming service committed to helping children–and the adults who care for them–nurture and enrich a healthy sense of humor.
It is our goal to give your kids a time and place where they can be kids–and to reawaken in parents the kid-like pleasure of a good joke and a big, long, happy laugh. In every aspect of our programming, we hope to inspire and celebrate laughter and optimism so you and your family can function more easily through the stresses of everyday life.
Their “curriculum” page even goes on to say,
This means our television programming will do the following:
- Features age-appropriate humor based upon what we know of how preschool children think and understand their world.
- Discourages the use of humor based upon insult or injury.
- Welcomes and encourage co-viewing between children and their parents or caregivers.
All of the well intentioned television ratings, “family-friendly” programs, and “a la carte” choices in the world don’t matter if the very networks displaying such programming continue to allow the types of commercials shown in my five minutes of research.
While Mr. Martin suggests “family-friendly” tiers of channels and “a la carte” programming as possible solutions to keeping inappropriate content from being viewed by children, what good will that do when the commercials may not be of the same standard?
I don’t think it’s the programming we should be so worried about. Take a look at this video from this morning’s research:
Is the “Battle of Britain” Pay-Per-View event something preschool aged children need to help them apply positive attitudes to their own life experiences?
Is Kirstie Alley in a low cut dress, sitting on Santa’s lap, asking for an Italian man, really an example of what preschool children understand in their world?
While the programming may be deemed safe by the parents, or even the government, the advertisements shown inbetween the programming may not be, and no amount of controls or oversight will matter if the networks continue to place inappropriate advertising within appropriate programming.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying these ads are indecent. I just think, if networks are going to prove they do not need government control, they need to make sure the advertising which appears is appropriate for the program being viewed. That’s all.
3 Comments so far
That’s why the government sho That’s why the government should give everyone free Tivo, no commercials! And I find Tickle U’s programming to be a relief, actually. Thank you.
I don’t have Dish Network - I I don’t have Dish Network - I have DirectTv. I dont know if their programming styles are the same or not. I do know that I do not allow my children to watch Nickelodean (sp?) as I think their cartoons for kids are something created by a bunch of out of work bums high on crack with no drawing skills whatsoever (i.e. Rugrats) that simply teach children that adults are to be disrespected and ignored except when a need arises.
My children watch the Disney channel. The two oldest have their own tv’s with satellite channels, vcr, and dvd players in their rooms. The channel on their tv stays on Disney unless I see something on HBO family they are permitted to watch. The one thing I really like about Disney is when they say they are for kids, they really are. Their commercials don’t try to hawk wares out or Pay Per Views. The only commercials on Disney pertain to the Disney programming or the stars of the Disney shows being interviewed in mass after being asked a thought provoking question (i.e. How is the most influencial person in your life - where Hillary Duff will answer “my mother because…” and then go in to the story).
It has been proven time and time again that I can not trust the children’s channels called Nickelodean and Cartoon Network to be left alone with my children for five minutes. Even on Nick Jr, I’m hardpressed to find good learning shows outside of the Dora, Bob, and Blue. That’s it. It has nothing else going for them. I can trust Disney though.
And right now, I have the school system here (I live in SC) telling me how to dress my child, what to allow them to do with their hair and makeup, etc… you think I want someone else coming in and telling me what I’m allowed to permit them to watch? Forget that! I’m fighting the schools now. I’ll fight anyone else who tries to usurp my authority over my children.
It’s the parents job to raise the child, not the village.
Hi Kelley, \r\n\r\nI agree, Tickl Hi Kelley,
I agree, TickleU’s programming is very good for the young ‘uns.
I do not agree that the government should be handing out free TIVO’s though. The farther the government is from my television, the better off I will be.