Parents Television Council Announces the Best and Worst of 2005-6

The protectors of all that is good and protesters of all that is deemed seedy, the PTC has just announced the best and worst family shows for the current season. I cannot claim to be a fan of the PTC, nor can I claim to really follow their actions, but who can resist best/worst of lists?

Let us take a look at their worst list, I am sure it is going to be the more fun of the two. The titles are theirs, the notes are mine, remember this is all opinion.

The WORST List:

1. The War at Home. Well let me first say that this is actually the worst new show of the year. I had made the mistake of watching the first few episodes. The characters are smarmy one dimensional annoyances whining and attempting to be witty and clever. They only succeed at being terrible characters relying on perceived shock to carry the show. I concur that this is not good for families. Scratch that, this show isn't good for anybody.
2. Family Guy. Granted, this show isn't "good" for families, but it is an absolute riot. Riffing on popular culture and twisting the family dynamic, this is a cross between South Park and The Simpsons. On the other hand, some of their twisted humor may be used as a launching off point in some serious discussions with kids, using the comedy as a way to ease into it in away that allows parents and children to relate. Maybe the PTC has these things backwards?
3. American Dad. From the makers of Family Guy, is there any wonder that this is here too? It also crosses so many lines in terms of crude humor, one wouldn't even know where to begin. Again, perhaps families could use this as discussion fodder. That is, if families actually sat down and watched these shows together.
4. The O.C. I don't watch this show, so I cannot comment too much on it. There is something about the teen soap that doesn't grab me. I didn't watch 90210 or Melrose either.
5. C.S.I. I find this to be an odd choice for the list. Sure, the show depicts many grisly scenes of murder, gore, and many forms of deviancy, but the show is primarily about how an intelligent group of people figure out what happened and get the bad guy. It may be a tad unrealistic, but it's use of science and method could be seen as inspiring. Perhaps it could lead to more kids turning to science as a career?
6. Desperate Housewives. Seeing this made me laugh, not because it was here, but because it has become such a phenomenon that revels it's deviancy undercover of a whitewashed neighborhood. There is a certain level of reality in the surreal nature of the show. It is obviously compressed to display the highest level of absurdity, but there is no denying that some of what happens here doesn't happen in your neighborhood. Probably not good for families, but for couples, sure.
7. Two and a Half Men. This brought another chuckle as my Grandmother doesn't miss an episode! This show seems as if it could have been, at least partially, inspired by the Man Show Boy. It is based primarily on the exploits of Charlie Sheen as a libido driven bachelor dealing with a divorced brother and young nephew. Not the best of role models.
8. That 70's Show. I seriously question this show's inclusion, it hasn't even premiered yet this season. Their reasoning seems to be "Well, it's been on the list before." Hardly good enough evidence. Also referenced is the casual sex and drug use, but then again, they are trying to recreate the 70's, so it may be better this way than they think.
9. Arrested Development. Time for one of my favorites. This show follows the exploits of a moral man in the midst of an amoral family. A family so out of control, how will he ever survive? Keeping the outrageousness of the family at bay is half the fun. Rather than focusing on the bizarre proclivities of the Bluth family at large, perhaps they should look at the central character and where his priorities lie?
10. Bringing up the rear of the list: Cold Case. Another odd choice, much like CSI was. Perhaps instead on looking out the wildness of the crimes, maybe look at the central character who cares enough to look into these crimes which had long ago been shelved in favor of something easier? It seems that there could be more good here than not.

I can see where they are coming from with many of the shows, but rather than focusing on the positives, they focus on the things of the shows, the plot driving nuttiness which, in most cases, is anything but realistic. In many of these shows, they could have spun the negatives in favor of what these shows do right, or could do right. Things like the positive role models that the central characters could present, such as on Cold Case, CSI, and Arrested Development. In other cases they could have focused on using the controversial and oftentimes crude humor and topics to be launching points that parents can use to broach sometimes difficult with subjects. They could reach a level of common ground. That is, if they watch them together, I feel many of these shows, like Family Guy, are not watched in a family setting, but either solo, or among those of similar age.

I also did not really care for the notes that the Parents Television Council provided. Mostly it was them saying the show was raunchy and describing a couple of episode points. I think they could have done a better job of presenting their case.

On to the other side.

The BEST List:

1. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I am not a fan of reality TV, my Mom, on the other hand, likes a many of the offerings, this being one of them. I agree they do good work for people in need, but I still have no desire to watch this. It is uplifting, but hardly compelling.
2. Three Wishes. This is another reality show, this one featuring Amy Grant. Again, I am sure they do good uplifting work, but I cannot believe it to be compelling television. When I watch television, I prefer to see actors and have stories told.
3. American Idol. Another show that has not yet made an appearance this season, why can't they stick to shows that have actually aired? Oh yeah, it's another reality show, and one that I absolutely cannot stand. I cannot, and will not, support this drivel.
4. Ghost Whisperer. Finally, a show I can get behind. I was so sure that this would be goofy and insubstantial. I found the opposite. It still isn't a terribly heavy hitting show, or the way I would approach a ghost show, but there is something about this that I find addictive. It is a little sickly sweet at times, but it puts the ideas of belief and hope on display. It also stars the alluring Jennifer Love Hewitt. This is a good family show.
5. Everybody Hates Chris. This is a very good show, one that I was not so sure was going to be. It is definitely a positive show. It portrays a loving family that is always there to support each despite the torture they inflict on each other. It is very good natured and suitable for the whole family.
6. Reba. I admit, I don't watch this, nor do I have much desire to. Due to that fact, I cannot really comment on it, other than that it is in a family friendly WB block on Friday nights.
7. Bernie Mac. My interest in this show has waned over the years, but it has always been good at mining comedy from the non-traditional family dynamic. The comedy and the love is always apparent, despite some threats of physical violence.
8. Dancing with the Stars. Sorry, next!
9. 7th Heaven. Another show I don't watch. It deals with a minister and his wife and their quickly maturing children. It may be wholesome, but it's not for me.
10. There is no 10th pick.

The best list is too loaded up with reality television. Maybe it's just me, but when I watch TV, the last thing I want to see is so-called "reality" television. They do have a few good choices, but not enough for my tastes. Although, I am not sure what I would populate the list with, I too rarely have my "family viewing" lenses on when I think about the best shows on TV. I more often look for compelling tales with convincing performances, or riotous humor of any variety.

WRAP UP:

I see where they are going with the list, but it seems that they are judging the two lists by different criteria. In the case of the Best list, it looks as if they actually looked at the content of the shows in question. On the flip side, for the Worst list it is almost as if they just read some episode descriptions, didn't like what they saw and labeled it bad. While the shows on the worst list are not terribly wholesome, I would hardly bill them as the "worst." That is a strong claim, and without further investigation it is spurious at best. I mentioned reasons why those shows could be seen as positive. Role models as central characters, plot points as gateways to serious family discussions.

I think the most important thing is that the entire tone of most of these shows can be changed by the viewing environment. If the shows are watched solo, or in the presence of those of like age, sure the shows become superficial, I won't say that they are harmful. Shows themselves are not harmful, it has more to do with the individual and their upbringing. If you take these shows and watch them in a family environment, you can take those potential negatives and put a positive spin on it, if need be.

Sometimes televised entertainment is just that, entertainment.

See the list and the PTC's notes at their site, HERE.