Where Have You Gone, Cliff Huxtable? The Decline of Family-Friendly TV
- Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:17am by
Dave Urbanski
- Print »
- Email »
With the rise in popularity of edgy dramas, sexually charged comedies, and reality programming of all sorts in recent years, prime-time television scripted with families in mind is barely an afterthought in the minds of network execs anymore.
Good luck finding more than a handful of programs on the schedule patterned after the likes of “The Cosby Show,“ ”Home Improvement,“ or ”7th Heaven.”
Why, you ask? Critics and industry insiders say the distinct lack of family-based TV shows is as much market driven as culturally reflective. Says Brad Adgate, an analyst for Horizon Media in New York:
“It’s very difficult to program a show with broad-based family appeal. The notion that families are sitting in the living room and watching the same show together is more and more scarce. Shows have become so niche and hyper-targeted, so it’s just hard to put on a show that will appeal to all age groups and genders.”
There are many reasons families don’t sit together in front of the TV that much these days, writes Greg Braxton of the Los Angeles Times. One is that new technology offers endless entertainment alternatives, including iPods, video games, social media, as well as a ton of cable TV programming.
Since “the TV audience has scattered,” Braxton concludes, “programming has become more targeted to the individual viewer, not groups.”
Would you believe that in the mid-1970s the Federal Communications Commission pressured the top three networks to start a “family viewing hour” from 8 to 9 p.m.? While the policy only stood for a few years before the courts struck it down, that it existed at all would seem to demonstrate the gradual shift in what’s defined as “family friendly” to the present day.
A sitcom such as “Three’s Company,” for example—its mixed-gender-unmarried-roommates storyline considered taboo in the Me Decade and clearly not “family viewing hour” fare then—would likely fly well below whatever morality radar remains in 2011.
Consider “Modern Family” and “Glee”—among the most popular TV shows of the moment. At first blush, such programs would seem to fit a family-friendly demographic. But after the first few minutes of just about any episode of either program, you find very adult themes and language that (one would think) are inappropriate for children.
And while reality-based programs such as “American Idol” have been touted as family-friendly—TV historian Tim Brooks noting that it’s “mostly clean-cut kids trying very hard”—not everything that glitters onstage is family-friendly gold.
Last month’s pilot of “The X Factor”—the latest brainchild of ex-Idol judge Simon Cowell—featured a contestant who took off his pants during his performance. Judge Paula Abdul (another Idol judiciary alum) left the arena in disgust, straight up.
The lack of family-friendly scripted television is troubling to Melissa Henson, director of communications for the Parents Television Council, a Los Angeles-based watchdog group that most recently called for a boycott of NBC’s “The Playboy Club” (which was cancelled):
“Not everyone has the luxury of taking their kids to the movies. Being able to find something at home that families can watch at home is very important. There is a real hunger for programs like that. I wish Hollywood would be less worried about being edgy and more focused on stories and characters instead of controversy.”
The most prominent scripted programs that fit the family-friendly bill this season include:
- ABC’s “The Middle” (the Patricia Heaton comedic vehicle about a lower middle class Midwestern family; 8.8 million viewers in a recent tally, which put it in 36th place);
- Fox’s “Terra Nova,” an eco-action-adventure series about a family of five that travels 85 million years into the past to give humans a second chance at caring for Earth, has been described as “‘Little House on the Prairie’ with Dinosaurs”;
- And a surprise hit, ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” about a mother and daughter who mix fairy-tale fantasy with reality. It recently gave the network its highest demo rating for a scripted series in a couple of years, nabbing 12.79 million viewers, according to Nielsen data.
Says San Francisco Chronicle’s David Wiegand about “Once Upon a Time:”
“The show is not only great, fluffy fun, but note that it occupies a traditional family time slot on Sunday nights. For years, Sunday evenings were dominated by the Walt Disney anthology series under a variety of names for, at one time or another, three broadcast networks. ABC is clearly looking to revive that tradition. Family fare is tricky these days—shows that are too G-rated aren’t usually sophisticated enough for older members of the family. But Once Upon a Time is both family-friendly and smart enough to win viewers of any age and level of sophistication.”
Although a look at the quick-cut trailer for the new program starring Ginnifer Goodwin (“Big Love”) might give parents second thoughts:
(h/t: TalkEntertainment; LA Times)
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 591 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 385 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 376 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 385 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (88)
TomFerrari
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:39amI call B.S.
They produce whatever they WANT to produce, and our ONLY input is, to choose the least crappy of 500 channels of junk.
As for me and my house, we just cut the cable.
Did ANYBODY else watch “V”? YEP! But, immediately after obama got elected, it got cancelled!
Report Post »It was one of the best produced sci-fi shows on tv.
SyFy channel is now WWE/WWF, dragon-a-saurus-mosquito-gator vs sharkzilla – a bunch of film-school CG junk, and, low-budget spittle.
408 CheyTac
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:54amSciFi channel is such garbage. Used to like it, didn’t really have to worry what the kids had on it, most was decent. Now that is the biggest collection of low-budget garbage you will find anywhere. And what is with the name spelling? They must have hired some idiot that spends too much time texting, and hasn’t learned to spell.
Report Post »LCData1701
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 12:03pmI’m pretty sure the reason for the Syfy name is that they wanted a name they could copyright, and Sci-Fi is a generic term that they weren’t allowed to secure. So mostly a business decision there.
Report Post »Silverburst
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 12:33pmI was really pissed when they cancelled V! Great show!
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 3:33pmA Famine of good writing had plagued American entertainment for decades. We’re just noticing it now because the “re-makes” are happening within 3 or 4 years, not 20.
Shows I would watch:
Star Wars – live-action television series. (think of how successful Star Trek and Battle Star Galactica became as series).
Variety Shows – ala the old Bob Hope Specials. Get some good writers, a start studded guest lineup, some improv, good music – move away from the “Late Night” routine that has been overdone to death. Something fun but cleaner than SNL that sometimes dwells in the gutter for cheap laughs.
Military – based series. Modern versions of Black Sheep Squadron, updated to show the next generations what heroes look like.
Westerns. Where are the good American Westerns?
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 3:29amIT’s garbage i tell you garbage the FCC sucks………….
Report Post »foundersfan1977
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:18amthose of with conservative values, Christian values, or with a desire to watch shows with our children that are uplifting, educational, and entertaining are not backwards uptight dinosaurs. And publius, your original argument was ridiculous. How does us lamenting the lack of family friendly programming, and wanting more of it have anything to do with not liking the free market system. I’d say stop being a troll, and try to at least be an honest counterpoint to our conservative views, but having seen the garbage that spills out of your keyboard for some time now, I know that is not possible.
Report Post »Curtcougar
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:17amMy family and I were really sad to ass ABC’s “No Ordinary Family,” cut. My wife, and my 3 older daughter, (11, 9 and 6,) and myself all enjoyed sitting together in the family room watching this show last season. We really enjoyed it and it was a great show. Another good one was NBC’s “Surface,” they cut several years back. Its sad how they start good shows and then don’t continue them.
Report Post »hi
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:49amI think this is really where Mr. Beck could step in and hire some writers and make TV shows for his network.. But they have to be just clean, not preachy and they must be very interesting. There should be a variety.
You can get shows on Hulu TV on the computer.
Report Post »CottonMPG
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:41amThere is a market across all generations for decent programs. The Hollywood mentality just is in denial or trying to push it out. Box office receipts prove family friendly sells. Even so called family friendly movies generally aren’t due to the swing between overly babyish content and vulgar bathroom humor, suggestive humor, and “mild” bad language. They have not been making good G rated movies for years, especially live action. Perhaps I’m a little cynical but I think it is a purposeful orchestration by the liberals who create, direct and promote these things.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:51amFunny how none of you Conservatives love the free market when it is not producing what you want it to….
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:51amAmerica would rather watch fat slobs hatched from Sonny and Cher spawn.
Report Post »lisa2994
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:36amHeck I still miss Home Improvement too! I often watch The Cosby show when I see it on as well as Family Matters, Little House on the Prairie and many others. Seems we don’t have good wholesome family shows anymore.
Report Post »obama-mecca-me-sick
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 2:40pmThey have been replaced with “cool” shows like Jersey Shore that glorify drinking and promiscuity. Our Nations values have sunk so low.
Report Post »LOOKINGFROMTHERIGHT
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:56pmThose of us, I would imagine tens of millions racists who watched The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince, Flip Wilson and many other family friendly shows than I count, have been replaced be the likes of Jersey Shore et al.
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:17amMy wife and I watch a marathon of old Tarzan movies on AMC, laughed about the special affects and cried about the simpler times. When watching the oldies it always takes be back to loved ones long gone.
My grandpa loved Abbott and Costello, we all laughed harder when he did. He would always tell the story of meeting them while they were on tour selling war bonds.
My father delivered milk to the family that was a Big screen actors in laws, when he visited he always made time to personally say hello and shack his hand. Even invited my father a veteran of Korea and mother over for a meal. Are there people like that left in Hollywood?
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:04amI stopped watching TV years ago due to crap like this. That and there are more productive things you can be doing, there’s no time for TV.
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:49amThe dementia rampant in television comes from a lack of morals and knowledge. A class of first graders are more creative. When a supposedly family show network, “ABC Family” has shows named “Pretty Little Liars” among other vile creations tells you how far Hollywood has sunk onto the depths of depravity, moral decay, and nastiness. I’ve gone to watching ME TV where old shows are being broadcast, where shows were actually funny without having to cross the line or use sex. The one difference is that, in the old shows, people laughed at themselves, nowadays, they laugh at the misfortune of others.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:52amAnh who ever claimed the market was “moral”?
Report Post »sta
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 8:17amWe watch Gaki no Tsukai from Japan. That is comedy. And although it can be racy, one can pick and choose the episodes to see.
Report Post »Mattyboy
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:39amViolence, demonic shows that appeal to young adults and teens, all the self help-stupid shows, hoarders, storage wars, pawn stars. Some are educational and provide a sense of what the real world can be like. You have to be an adult and decide what you will allow into your home. It is as with just about anything. I was watching a horror flick on AMC and the it was showing more gore than the pics of that quakdaffy guy from Liberalya. I am even more applled by the porn on the internet. I can be honest to say that it is way too easy for men to find porn right into their homes. Men used to have to go to a sleazy joint. I would support a ban on internet porn- hardly hear anything along those lines. Too many people like it, I guess?
Report Post »Blazer123
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 11:16amIf you believe in liberty only for the things you agree with, you don’t believe in liberty at all.
Report Post »sta
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 8:19amPawn Stars is not self help. Dirty Jobs and Mythbusters are still some of the best tv. Also Billy the Exterminator (when they keep a muzzle on the mom) is great.
Report Post »ms4kidz
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:32amOur new favorite family show is “Last Man Standing” with Tim Allen. At first I wasn’t sure because one of the daughters is an unwed mother, but Tim‘s character isn’t too happy about her being single mom either and isn’t shy about telling her . .although they show total affection for the little boy.
Report Post »HTownhammer
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:39amMy family likes that show as well.
Report Post »ExhaustingPassion
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:31amThe Waltons, Little House On The Prairie, I Love Lucy, and Bonanza. That’s my viewing day. I have no idea what “new” shows are on now. Good family tv is still there, it just requires a little channel changing. I spend the rest of the day talking to my college sons about what utter crap their MTV shows are. Jersey Shore has got to be the biggest slap in the face to a parent.
Report Post »westfayetteville
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:09amYou can’t even let your kids watch cartoon network anymore
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:13amSo true. TV is not safe and not turned on in our home very often.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:19amPaula leaving in disgust was just an act.. She was smiling in the beginning..
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:43amThere is nothing worth watching on the majors. History channel is not even safe. GBTV Rocks!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:37amNetwork, cable, and satellite TV will all be things of the past in the next 10 years. Internet TV makes a heck of a lot more sense. You only pay for what you want and watch it on demand. Glenn is ahead of the curve.
Report Post »InversionTheory
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:31amI agree. I’m finding it harder and harder to justify paying $80/month for cable when I’m watching <1% of what's on and most of the stuff I do watch can be obtained online.
Report Post »rickbob
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:28amSince TV Land has started showing the Dick Van **** Show and M.A.S.H., we do enjoy family time in front of the t.v.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:41amDoes the Blaze see an anti lesbian sentiment in a classic TV show? LOL
Report Post »Locked
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:13amM.A.S.H. is fantastic, but not really “family-oriented” in the way the article is describing. Indeed, most of it about war; granted, delivered through an often-humorous lens.
Personally, I wish The Muppet Show would be brought back. Silly enough for kids, but with enough good jokes and guest appearances that even adults would be amused. Again, not necessarily what the article is talking about: their specific context seems to be “sit-coms based around families.”
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:22am.
Report Post »Sorry to say but Dr, Huxtable became addicted to prescription drugs, and was accused of sexual assault of a patient. He was last seen living down by the river in a van………….
endgamer
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:12amI believe the Hallmark Channel becomes the Christmas Channel on November 4th.. Here comes the Christmas Spirit! ( I think it’s holiday overkill but my girlfriend loves it) It is one of the rare times we watch TV.. We watch Football on Sunday. GBTV ( Doesn’t Count) Food network and Cooking Channel and Hallmark for the Holidays.. That’s about it.
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:21amSame here, there is very little on tv today that’s even worth watching. Amazing how with so many channels, there is just more garbage. Everyone just wants to shock and disgust people now for ratings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss_HvByUxVg
Report Post »TxMadMac
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:04amThe nice part about cable is they have Christian stations, Fox news and Fox Business and the weather channel. Don’t watch anything else. Hollywood will pay a heavy price for what they’ve done !
Report Post »TPartyXpress
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:55amTelevision’s most powerful competition today is not TV stations, it is social media and the rise of handheld entertainment. They battle to be noticed so they can draw their audience away long enough to watch a big screen instead of a tiny one. Controversy and shock value succeed at this and story content has suffered, to the disgust of viewers who still want to watch TV without worrying about their children seeing something inappropriate.
Report Post »Carol Ingian
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:43amTV is a rip off. You pay a lot of money for shows you don’t want to watch.
Report Post »Many people just use an antennae now.
Why support an immoral Hollywood?
Locked
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:14amI agree TV is not worth it. Anything you want to watch can be found online; cable is pretty much a rip-off.
Report Post »Johnny916
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:37amI always wonder how some can sit down on the coach and waste their own life watching television. What’s so great about television you cannot get in the outside world?
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:26amThere has to be an unwind time, ya know !! Can’t be on the go until the moment you hit the sack. It‘s was nice in the 70’s and 80′s when I would sit with My dad (God Rest his soul) and watch ABC wide world of sports and an Ali – Frazier fight would come on.. And then with the whole family watching Little house on the prarie on a thursday night or National Geo.. It was nice, I miss those days… Can’t do it with my family now, there just aren’t the shows to watch…
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:35amI was watching the World Series and saw the St’ Louis pitcher Carpenter scream G Damn not once but twice that was audible to anyone watching with the sound on. Incredible! Can’t even watch a ball game without God being cussed….
But the FCC wants to shut down people like Glenn….We live in end times for sure. We should defunf the FCC and take away their kill switch too.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:31amThe TV shows over the last 20-30 years indoctrinated most kids and parents to be who they are today, democrats! All in the Family and Archie Bunker was used as an indoctrination show to promote the democratic party’s agenda.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:48amIt started way before that. Almost as soon as the first television shows started there was some sort of influence that started degrading society. The progressive movement can be seen in many of the old shows if you really look. After all who is lord of the air? There never has been a shortage od satanic influences on television, you are like everyone else though, frog in the pot.syndrome.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:30amI guess the market it always right, right Conservatives?
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 6:44amOK Moron…If we had a shows that were NOT controlled by lunatics like you, then we would see ratings way up and peobably a calming of society instead of people doing idiotic things to get a television show….
I cannot wait for the day that your imbecile friends at OWS drag you and other liberal losers in the streets with them and show you their “family values”. But then it will be too late to understand conservative values as they beat you to death. Go ahead and hang with the devil…see where it gets you. Evil eats those who play around with it. Ask someone like Michael Jackson…Oh thats right you cant!
Report Post »Keep on playing you fool….You wont like where evil drags you ..
Gonzo
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:32amYes, “it” always right. Moron.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:35am“OK Moron…If we had a shows that were NOT controlled by lunatics like you, then we would see ratings way up and peobably a calming of society instead of people doing idiotic things to get a television show….”
This from a guy who rehearses in his post a perverse fantasy in which I get beaten to death and then hanged…. You’re not the brightest bulb.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 7:42amYes, “it’” right. LOL
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:43amNot a fantasy…Its a reality. Go on down to an OWS rally. See how long you survive when the SHTF. Well that is if you can get out of your mother’s basement for that long.
Report Post »War_Eagle
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:46amActually, this isn’t an example of the market at work.
There have been many, many studies that show that family friendly movies and TV shows gross more.
RFDtv and Blue Highway are both good examples of this. Although they’re geared toward a rural audience, both are attracting more non-rural viewers because they offer shows you don’t have to watch when your children are out of the room.
Hallmark Channel is another one. Its movies routinely do well, even though its available in fewer homes than most of its competition. So much so that several of them have even spawned sequels.
USA has several shows that are family friendly, such as Royal Pains, Psych, Burn Notice (although, in all fairness, Burn Notice has taken a turn toward more “adult” content this season), and the late, much lamented Monk, that crush the competition, particularly when you consider that USA is a cable channel that has relatively little exposure and is not even available in all viewing homes.
TNT has Leverage. Family Friendly and always good in the ratings.
The problem isn‘t that the market doesn’t want to see family friendly shows, but that Hollywood doesn‘t want to produce family friendly shows because they’re so out of touch with Middle America and can’t believe people still want to see them.
There is a reason that shows like The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, and Touched By an Angel have been in syndication constantly since they ended, you know.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:46amWar_Eagle,
So you are arguing that it is not the market at work when executives are allowed to chose what their companies produce and distribute?
Report Post »