Are You Age-Appropriate for a Fifth Grader?
Fox's Are You Smarter passes the PTC's test. Does it pass yours? Rachel Devine/FOX
I tend to be hard on the Parents Television Council and its campaigns for TV decency, but in truth the PTC is a bit of a two-edged sword. Some of its efforts--the most-publicized ones, which I spend the most time bashing--involve agitating for stronger government regulation and oversight of TV programming. But it also does work and keeps databases to advise parents on deciding what their own kids should watch. In other words, sometimes it advocates taking choices away from viewers and other times it advocates helping viewers make informed choices, and if I'm going to slam the former I should praise the latter.
Today, for instance, the PTC issued its ratings of 20 programs most watched among kids under 18, and ranked each for appropriateness. Do I agree with all their assessments? Of course not: I'd probably rather not have my kids watching the crass Deal or No Deal; whereas the objectionability of Heroes or House (to me) depends entirely on a kid's age. (I'd rather have a 14-year-old watch them than, say, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, but that's me.) And every reader will have his or her own objections and agreeements. Some parents are bothered more by violence, some by sex, some by other things.
But that's the point: the PTC makes its case, gives reasons, and parents can look to the list, decide whether they have the same priorities as the PTC, then use that information (or not) to make their own choices. What a concept! If only everything the PTC did were about informing people's choices--rather than protecting people from their own choices or, worse, from other people's choices--I'd have no problem with the group.
(Speaking of choice, the PTC also advocates for a la carte cable pricing; i.e., charging customers for only those channels they view, a practice some commenters wished for in this morning's cable thread. So whaddya know? P_lukasiak has at least one thing in common with former PTC president and conservative columnist L. Brent Bozell!)
Parent (or non-parents): Are there any "inappropriate" shows you think are fine for your kids, or vice versa? What are the things you watch out for most in your own kids' TV viewing? Has Grey's Anatomy led you and your children to valuable family discussions about public health issues?
-
1
Reading over that list is a sad reflection of the TV of our times. Out of those twenty shows, I'm interested in watching exactly none of them.
-
2
I was interested, when reading the full list, to see that most of the reasons against a program seemed to be based just on the sex and violence and offensive language.
I'd more more concerned, watching Survivor for example, that my child would learn that lying, cheating and stabbing people in the back is a good thing, as that's how you win money on that show.
Still, my 5 and 2 year old are only allowed to watch Playhouse Disney, or two programmes on Nickelodeon... So I'm probably not the best judge...
-
3
NBC's Sunday Night Football? I guess the PTC doesn't place much emphasis on forming coherent sentences and logical arguments, a la John Madden.
-
4
Also, it bothers me James that you don't have a wikipedia page yet.
-
5
So whaddya know? P_lukasiak has at least one thing in common with former PTC president and conservative columnist L. Brent Bozell!)
Grrrrrrr.....
-
6
Notice nearly all the Green light shows are reality shows? In fact, the first scripted show is The Simpsons, bottom of the yellow light heap. Is this the future of family T.V? Reality crapola? Thank god I don't have kids.
-
7
I could take issue with so many of the placements on this list...!!! The "Not Suitable" list - pretty much agreed - isn't Desperate Housewives in the top 20? "Not Suitable" also, but one of my top 3 shows to watch...with the door locked and shades drawn...
My youngest is 10 years old. I had to switcheroo a couple of lists on the first two lists. DWTS and Amazing Race questionable? ARace is a family must for us! Besides a very few "bad words" can't see what's wrong with a little healthy competition and adventure. DWTS - maybe the revealing costumes, but we can deal with that...
On the most suitable list - I'd rip Supernanny right off there - or at least switcheroo with American's Funniest Home Videos (how LONG has that been on?) Supernanny is a great show for snarking at, but would I want young children seeing THOSE tyrants - no.
Also interesting to read the "full report" list. I think I"d be a little antsy in my seat if I was sitting in that big parentstv.org conference table with some of the comments listed there...yikes.
-
8
Any list of children's programming that does not include "Hannah Montana" clearly is not an accurate list of what kids are watching.
-
9
How much of a football game can a 2-year-old really absorb?
-
10
I don't think having some information overshadows the PTC's bad work, including the way the PTC dominates FCC complaints. I understand the desire of some parents to have information about what kind of content is in a television show, but that just makes me wish there was a kids-in-mind.com for TV – that site has a comprehensive listing of what exactly is objectionable about a movie, which would be helpful instead of the PTC's vagueness.
@Lori: It's a top 20 of viewers 2-17, then ranked by the PTC. So Desperate Housewives isn't that popular among 2-17-year-olds.
@Neil: It's a top 20 list of broadcast shows. Hannah Montana isn't broadcast.
-
11
The PTC report is just hilarious in how it's so uninformative. Why continue to mention that peanut butter incident on Survivor when it has an overall history of titillation?
@Allison, I agree a kids-in-mind for TV would be the ideal. It doesn't judge, just lets parents know what they're in for.
- poniewozik @carr2n Virgin is the best, LAX-JFK - 20 minutes ago
- poniewozik Did NPR interview abt multiscreen multitasking. After, automatically reached for iPhone in pocket. Like don draper wd have for cigarettes. - 1 hour ago
- poniewozik webinar #PleaseKillThisWord - 2 hours ago
Most Popular »
- Best of the Decade: Sci-Fi Movies
- Is Harry Reid Burning Out?
- How Will Obama Pay For Stimulus 2.1? (or 3.0, 3.1, whatever you want to call it)
- The Health Reform Abortion Wars, Part Deux
- War of the Supermen: Q&A With Matt Idelson
- Quinnipiac: Obama Gets Bump on Afghanistan
- Economists Growing More Wary of the Senate Health Bill
- How to Outsmart a Debt Collector
- Best of the Decade: Gadgets
- "How Will Dave Ever Make Fun of Sex Scandals Again?"
- The Truth Behind the Leaked Climate-Change E-Mails
- Tiger Woods Must Face His Fans' Moral Outrage
- Mexico Witness Protection: Corrupt Program, New Killings
- Helicopter Parents: The Backlash Against Overparenting
- Taiwan: World's Lowest Birthrate Could Affect Society
- Creating Jobs: Can Obama Government Boost Employment?
- How Strong Is the Evidence Against Amanda Knox?
- Humanure: Goodbye, Toilets. Hello, Extreme Composting
- Suspect Headley: Pakistani Terrorist Group Going Global?
- Study: Parents' Sex Talks with Kids Happening Too Late
Quotes of the Day »
RSS