The Good Old Days

Joel & I were watching a show last night called "Whatever Happened to Them". Which talked about stars that we used to enjoy as children from our favourite tv shows. It got us thinking and talking about how there used to be so many good quality tv shows that showed positive family morals & had good lessons in them. Not only that, but they were a blast to watch. Family Ties was one of my favourites, I learned that Joel had really enjoyed it as a child as well. We reminisced about old favourites like The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, and Family Ties and could recall watching these shows as a family each week when they would come on. Whatever happened to television like this? TV that was fun and entertaining, but still taught some positive lessons about things like family values, self-esteem, and how to treat other people with love and respect. Together Joel and I couldn't think of a single show on tv today that has these same qualities, whereas we could name several that were very popular in our childhood. Isn't that a sad testament to our times these days? Is it that they're so afraid of insulting people by showing that traditional family as a close family unit? Instead they'll show sitcoms like the Family Guy, which I've never watched, but have often been sickened by the ads for it.

I'll admit, I was a huge Seinfeld fan. I have nothing against fun shows that don't teach any lessons, but make you laugh. I still think there's something missing without those old favourites. A friend was talking about how he watched The Brady Bunch dvd's with his kids recently and how some of the episodes really got their kids thinking about some really important values. Can't television entertain and teach at the same time? I remember one of my absolute favourites was Little House on the Prairie. My parents got Izzy the entire set for Christmas and it makes me wish we could watch that show the way I used to with my parents when I was young.

I get so frustrated and angry when I see the quality of tv shows on today. Okay, I know, I used to watch Grey's Anatomy which wasn't a really great moral show. I'm sickened by the number of reality shows that are absolutely offensive that fill the channels on my tv every night. I can honestly say that besides Baby Story (which also makes me angry and frustrated much of the time), there isn't a single show that I make sure I tune into each week. Most weeks I rarely watch anything. I do enjoy Intervention which shows people with addictions and how their family sets up an intervention to get them help, Joel & I will usually tune into that on Monday's.

Joel and I have wondered several times whether we should just cancel our tv altogether. He enjoys watching hockey and the news, and the kids like cartoons in the morning, but that's pretty much it for us.

I guess that's okay though. There are many more important things I'd rather be doing with my family than watching tv. So maybe it's better this way...

I still miss those good ole' days though...

Mel