Category Archives: Television

The Parental View on the Tube

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When you think of specific examples of parents in television shows, which characters come to mind? How are they portrayed?

In recent years, the role of parents has been turned on its head. And respect for parents is virtually gone, as well as the belief that they are the models they are called to be.

The most influential of programs are those targeted toward young people. And two of the most popular networks for the youth come from Disney and Nickelodeon.

On Disney Channel’s Good Luck, Charlie, the parents are oftentimes very immature and are insulted by their children without consequence.

The N’s (now known as TeenNick) second-highest rated program a few years ago, Instant Star, had so many parental problems, it can be difficult to know where to begin. So here’s a quick summary:

  • Dad is the more likeable parent of the main character but cheats on her mom. He isn’t remorseful except in how the affair hurt his two daughters.
  • After divorce the mom gets in a relationship with her divorce lawyer, marries him shortly after and leaves the country, never to be seen again in the next few seasons of the show.
  • Dad had been kicked out by Mom after the affair but comes back to live with daughters after Mom takes off. Dad seems like the good guy. The “other woman” is never mentioned again so we don’t know whether he’s still seeing her or not.
  • Dad decides to take an extended overseas soul-search early in the last season and never returns to the program. The daughters are living without either parent for the remainder of the series. At this point the daughters are 18 and early 20s.

What’s the moral of the story? That parents are messed up and irrelevant? That life is better without them?

How have you seen parents portrayed on television?

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Korean Drama: A Refreshing Entertainment Alternative

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If you’re disappointed and even sickened by American television and its disordered views of love, family and sexuality, Korean drama offers a more wholesome form of entertainment.

Popularity for Korean drama is growing throughout the world, including in North America. Non-Korean Americans in particular are seeking refuge from Hollywood’s sorry attempts at entertainment and are enjoying the more innocent and modest options Korean drama provides.

In the Korean drama I’ve watched (particularly Spring Waltz and Boys Before Flowers) there’s a beautiful appreciation for human emotions and everyday struggles, even illustrating love through powerful romance that is both chaste and gentle. The crude humor and sexually scandalous behavior prevalent in much of the “entertainment” we are fed in the United States does not dominate Korean drama, as it rather tends toward modesty and the respect of others. The plots are intriguing, the music is serene, and the characters are enchantingly humorous.

By simply accepting the need to read subtitles, it is fairly easy to forget you’re reading along. I’ve noticed when I think back on scenes I’ve watched, I hear the characters speaking English in my head, proving that the experience has been all-encompassing.

This high praise for Korean entertainment is not intended to place a stamp of perfection on it, but to emphasize the striking contrast between it and what we’re exposed to through our own American channel-surfing.

What alternatives to Hollywood do you find yourself turning to?

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The Catholicism Series

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This ten-episode series hosted by Fr. Robert Barron delves into important topics in the Catholic Faith, including the Eucharist, Mary, and the afterlife. It’s now available for purchase, but you can also catch it for free on EWTN. Even many churches are offering the opportunity to view and discuss episodes from the series.

Since Catholicism was filmed in 16 countries, several locations are featured in every episode. In addition to the overall quality of the production, the frequent change in surroundings can help hold the viewers’ interest – even if they are lethargic teens in Confirmation classes.

The true universality of our Church and its missionary nature is manifested through the variety of countries the viewer travels to in just one episode.

This Lent, experience Fr. Robert Barron’s Catholicism series on your local EWTN television station or at a parish near you.

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TV Holiday Specials

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There are two prominent types of holiday specials that come to mind when I think back on the television shows I used to watch.

Non-Christ Christmas Episodes: Full House (focusing on Santa, presents and the love of family), Family Matters (competing with other shoppers for the coveted Christmas toy of the year), Hey Arnold! (Secret Santa, gift giving).

Hanukkah Episodes: Rugrats and Even Stevens. Both series were respectful and educational in telling the story of Hanukkah.

It seems every theme for this time of year is included but the obvious. I can’t think of a single television show in the last two decades that focused on the true meaning of Christmas. I’m sure there’s got to be (hopefully) a few out there that have escaped my knowledge or memory. I think the closest I’ve seen is Christmas episodes where there is a play involved, with characters playing Biblical figures in the Nativity story (Gilmore Girls).

Why is Hanukkah explained but the story of Jesus’ birth is overlooked? While the Hanukkah focus can be placed rather neatly on the history and bravery of the Jews, it’s nearly impossible to get out of the pure religiosity of Christmas. Jesus’ birth is only significant because He is God made Man.

What has been your experience with television holiday specials?

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Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays – Or Does It Matter?

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The controversy rages on, year after year, as to whether businesses and individuals should wish others a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. The American Family Association is a large proponent of “Merry Christmas,” as they have an entire campaign based on this greeting – complete with buttons and stickers to order. Their Naughty or Nice Christmas List 2011 is helpful, categorizing stores by their use of the word “Christmas” in advertising.

As the “greeter” is wishing wellness of some sort to the “greetee,” it isn’t sensible to take offense at the religious holiday referred to in the greeting. If a Jew wished me a Happy Hanukkah, I would appreciate it. If a Muslim wished me a wonderful Ramadan, that’s great too. It’s beautiful to see others express their religion.

In years past I’ve heard both Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from cashiers. This year, I haven’t heard either.

Even though I haven’t had the greeting drama in person yet this Christmas/holiday season, I’ve noticed radio Happy Holidays greetings. And on television the Hallmark Channel has a Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Movies and Specials All Season Long. ABC Family has a 25 Days of Christmas.

So where there seems to be a problem with Christmas on radio and in stores, the same does not seem to hold true for television stations.

The majority of those buying gifts at this time of year are in fact celebrating Christmas, so it makes sense that it should be prominent in marketing and on the street. But remember that even if you hear “holiday” used, it is still derived from “holy day.”

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No Commercial Breaks in Books

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“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” – Groucho Marx

Last week I sat down for several hours to read then took a break to watch some television. For the most part, what I found were commercials, channels to skip past as fast as possible, commercials, doom, gloom, death, oh and a couple more commercials.

Throughout the years I’ve enjoyed both books and television. But a recent revelation helped me recognize how very thick the line is drawn that divides the two. In a novel the story lives inside your head. Your imagination needs to be active to see the world that is written on paper. For the most part, in a television show, the story lives on the surface, through your eyes and ears. And so television is a more passive form of entertainment.

I agree that television can be a nice break from everything going on. If you’re feeling sick and not able to put effort into reading, a good television show can be just what you need. But I’ve found that channel surfing can be taxing and time consuming.

Reading and watching both have their place. It’s important to be a smart reader as well as a thoughtful viewer.

During this Advent season, consider how much television you take in each day, each week. Is there a show or two you can cut back on? Is there a book you’ve said for years that you’d get around to reading and haven’t yet? If you think you might be watching even the slightest to excess, try cutting back and picking up that book.

If you’re already more of a reader, consider what you’re reading and how beneficial it is to your life and faith. Is there a spiritual book lying around that should be read sooner rather than later?

Let Them Know

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There are countless companies that donate to Planned Parenthood and other anti-life and anti-marriage organizations. There are countless television programs and films that mock sexuality, marriage, our faith and our priests.

It’s important to voice your opinion, even if many times it doesn’t seem to do any good. But there are other times when we see positive results. Shows have been canceled shortly after release (NBC’s The Playboy Club) and sequels have not been made (The Golden Compass). Why certain movies are made or certain products promoted comes down to two facts – money talks and so does agenda.

If agenda talks louder, an organization won’t listen to money or consumers. If money can drown out agenda, we have a chance.

It can get discouraging with all of the immorality supported or promoted, so it’s important to choose your battles. The most important battles typically would be those that large Christian or pro-life organizations are involved in.

But there are other times that you see a program criticizing priests or our faith and are compelled to let your disappointment be known, even if no one else does. The networks know that if one person voices an objection, there may be many more that are disgusted who never will voice their dismay.

Unless you really feel called to write and contact every organization you come across that is giving to another organization you don’t approve of, it’s best to choose a few as they arise. Otherwise you could get discouraged and frustrated by putting all that hard work in and not feeling like the results are equaling your efforts.

A few important tips to remember:

  • Be firm but charitable. It’s important to let them know what you think they did wrong but to be level-headed about it. They aren’t coming from the same place you are. It won’t help your cause to sound like a jerk or a religious zealot.
  • Throw in a touch of sadness. It aids you in taking a humble, vulnerable approach. They just might be more open to what you have to say.
  • Always remember to start out with a compliment! Thank them for their product/program (if there’s anything worth thanking them for). Tell them how much you enjoyed it and wish you could still purchase it (if it’s a product boycott).

Pandora.com is a free music streaming Web site that I use very often. With the free version, there are ads on the side. A few years ago, I kept seeing ads for a birth control product. I ended up writing an email to let them know that it was dangerous to women’s health and that this particular birth control acted as an abortifacient. I included a link to this information I found.

The email I received back said that if I didn’t want ads I could purchase the year subscription. But the gentleman responding also impressed me with one of his remarks. Here’s an excerpt from the Pandora Listener Support email:

Thanks for listening to Pandora, and thanks for writing to share your feedback with us. (And thank you for wording it so calmly).

So even though it didn’t end up changing what ads were on the site (even though, in fact, I hadn’t seen birth control ads at all this year in my heavy listening), it was at least a witness to one of Pandora’s employees.

How do you feel about boycotts and voicing your discouragement?

Romantic Relationships in Kids’ Shows

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It may be something we don’t think about too much, but there is a real danger for kids in heavily viewing supposedly innocent kids’ television programs that deal so frequently with romantic relationships.

From Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, Shake It Up, and Jessie to Nickelodeon’s iCarly, Victorious, and Big Time Rush, it is apparent that romantic relationships and conflicts play a large role in kids’ programming.

It’s sad but true that kids are “growing up” quicker these days. But how much of it comes from the entertainment industry pushing it on them rather than the industry serving it up just because that’s how kids think anyways? Sure, it works both ways.

If writers want to sprinkle in a little romantic tension, that’s one thing. But to make every character who’s 11 to 15 (and sometimes younger) view relationships as so important to their lives – whether that’s “realistic” or not – doesn’t make healthy viewing for young minds.

Kids have enough to worry about without adding on the unnecessary pressure to be in a relationship. Romance and the chaos that comes from it makes for entertaining and comedic shows, but the adults in the audience can appreciate it more than the kids.

So then the question comes. If they are kids’ shows, why try to give them adult problems? When kids see the characters that are close in age to them and whom they admire place such importance on romance and relationships, the natural inclination is imitation. Kids take their social cues from many sources, not the least of which is television.

Many kids are already exposed to the artificial importance their peers put on a romantic relationship early in life. These types of television shows just add to the social pressure to make this a priority. The old, “Everybody’s doing it,” comes to mind. And that’s exactly how it looks to them.

Try to watch television with your kids and discern what’s best in regards to how much of particular programs they should be watching.

What kids’ shows have you seen that are too heavily saturated in romantic relationships?