TV Programmers just don't care!

I'm writing this brief commentary of Sunday August 7, 2011. Back in 1996 a new TV channel was launched, known as TV LAND. The new station featured a variety of television programming from the 1950s through the 1990s. Its inaugural season featured the Emmy-Award-winning I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke, The Honeymooners and The Ed Sullivan Show. Great detectives were featured every Saturday, with programs including Honey West, Dog and Cat, Burke's Law, Nero Wolfe and Ace Crawford, Private Eye. "TV Land Goes West" presented Shane, Barbary Coast, Have Gun, Will Travel and Best of the West. "Hooterville Saturday" featured Petticoat Junction and Green Acres; and "Sunday in the Barracks" laughed with the military in The Phil Silvers Show and Hogan's Heroes. Many other classics were added giving adults and children a great place to enjoy the clean, family friendly programming that is lacking on television today. However, over time, the station began to abandon most of the classics and cater to the younger generations with shows like Third Rock from the Sun, Scrubs, Boston Legal, The Cougar, High School Reunion and disfunctional family shows like Everybody Loves Raymond and Roseanne. Today, a Sunday, when many kids are spending much of their time watching TV, the TV LAND lineup starting at 8AM has The Nanny for an hour then Happily Divorced until 11am then Hot in Cleveland ALL DAY until 8pm. All three shows rely mostly on sexual humor and innuendo. Sadly, this new generation will probably never experience the plethora of wonderful shows from the distant past.
If there is anyone out there that still doesn't realize why our culture continues to deteriorate, it's because our children are being fed only specific types of programming with total disregard to the long term effects on the future of society. By the way, TV LAND is owned by MTV Networks Entertainment Group. What does that tell you? We will all pay dearly because TV programmers just don't care.

Talented? Yes - Honorable? No way!

Unless you live under a rock, you've probably heard about the rants of actor Charlie Sheen because the media is spending quite a bit of time on this person. He's become more famous for his pathetic behavior than anything else he's done in his life. I have difficulty feeling sorry for him as he was born into an affluent family and had every opportunity to make much better choices. Not only did he choose a playboy lifestyle, he has a history of violence towards women and the drugs and alcohol have definitely taken their toll on him. The only positive thing I can see for spending so much media time on Mr. Sheen is to show everyone how NOT to live one's life.

One less positive role model

Unless you live in a cave, you've recently been hearing many news reports regarding famous golfer Tiger Woods. Since I don't have an interest in golf, I have never paid much attention to him but he did appear to be a very nice, decent family man with a great smile. Now it seems the only positive thing I can say about him is that he's an exceptional golfer. The world is discovering that Mr. Woods has been quite the "tiger" for many women and even after marriage and children he continued his liaisons while somehow keeping it a secret from the general public as well as his wife. Aside from the obvious problems with this behavior, he also sets a poor example to everyone who looks up to and respects him. Young people learn their behaviors from adults. In fact many adults justify their actions by saying "well if he does it" or "if she does it" and after all, president Clinton did it. Some are trying to imply that Woods has a "sex addiction." In my opinion that's just a fictious way of excusing ones actions. Shame on you Tiger Woods. You've now become one of the many out there who obviously don't care about honor, commitment and respect.