Save us from ourselves, Parents Television Council
Posted by Dan
December 11th, 2007 at 01:37pm
In Dexter Parents Television Council Weeds
God bless the Parents Television Council. If not for their watchful eye, people may be exposed to shows that aren’t Two and a Half Men.
Now, everyone’s favorite scolds and schoolmarms are opposing CBS’ plans to bring Dexter to CBS. Via TV Week:
“CBS’ plan is purely based on corporate greed, not what’s good for families or in the public interest,” said PTC President Tim Winter. “These Showtime programs contain some of the most explicit content on television, period. Yet CBS has no qualms about putting shows that make heroes of serial killers and revel in sick, graphic violence or those that condone drug use and glorify drug dealers in front of millions of children and families on broadcast television. Despite that CBS and Viacom are now ‘separate,’ CBS is funneling in super-raunchy Viacom-owned premium cable content onto the CBS broadcast network … It is also another powerful example of why the rules concerning media consolidation must not be loosened.”
Furthermore, they vowed to contact every sponsor of the CBS airings of Dexter. You know, to let them know that they are sponsoring Dexter. In case they thought it was a show about a veterinarian who falls in love with another veterinarian and they live in a lavender house full of rabbits.
I suppose this is nothing new — the whole killjoy aspect of things. It all comes down the fact that there’s family shows and then mom and dad shows. Or, as I see it, kid shows or shows that I would actually watch. I’m not happy about the idea of sanitizing the airwaves of anything remotely dark in the name of parents who can’t control their kids’ viewing habits. Because, you know, one episode of Weeds and the kids are going to run around like crazy taking the pots and the cocaines.
It’s just pretty maddening that there are people who can’t see artistic value in shows like Weeds and Dexter — who can’t see beyond the premise to the stories beneath. Obviously, these people have no idea how fucking awesome these shows are.
This is the part that stuck out to me: “It is also another powerful example of why the rules concerning media consolidation must not be loosened.”
Uh-huh, because if one huge company owns EVERYTHING then there will be no awesome shows, just Two and a Half Men except that everyone will turn to the pots and the cocaines because Two and a Half Men BLOWS. That’s right, BLOW. What Charlie Sheen, star of Two and a Half Men, LOVES. Along with hookers. Let’s have a show about them next, yes?
GAH.
Funny, these same folks used to love it when Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson used to blow away the bad guys. Perhaps soon they’ll want to register surgical saws.
Pretty weak arguments here. Once we get past all the name calling, is there anyone here who has actually watched Dexter and ALSO thinks it’s appropriate for broadcast TV? I’m a fan; have never missed an episode in two seasons, and I definitely think Dexter is R-rated material, no matter how you edit. I know lots of other fans of the show, and NOT ONE thinks it belongs on regular TV.
Personally, I don’t want the kids who go to high school with my daughter watching Dexter. It’s not appropriate for 14 year olds, and it can’t be made appropriate for 14 year olds. Watch the show, think for a minute, and pay attention to what Les Moonves said after Columbine: “Anyone who thinks TV has nothing to do with that is an idiot.”
…pay attention to what Les Moonves said after Columbine: “Anyone who thinks TV has nothing to do with that is an idiot.”
Once we get past all the name calling… Just saying there are bigger issues involved in these events than adult programming in the 10:00 hour. Much bigger.