I think for me, the Roseanne Barr show is what kind of ‘did in’ my enjoyment of watching t.v. sitcoms. I grew up watching Green Acres, Father Knows Best, The Brady Bunch, etc. and I think some of those were still in production!! When the Roseanne Barr show first aired back in the late 1980’s we were just starting our family. At first I thought, “Wow, they have so much freedom about everyday life and it is so realistic!” But, that ‘freedom’ turned into disrespect for marriage, a woman staying at home raising her children and a format to explore all sorts of topics. My opinion is: that show started a lot of the trash sitcoms we have now. Each new sitcom wanted to top the other in shock factor until most of them are just disgusting. I admit we have not had television stations in our house since 1999. We rent a movie if we want to watch something. I have not missed it! But, whenever I have seen anything on t.v. of late, whether it be soap operas, sitcoms, etc. I’m newly appalled at the degree of disgust factor.

Anyway, in the same vein, BBC Wales released a spin off series called “Torchwood”. The first episode was watchable, but the second was shocking. It was like watching soft porn - so there I left it. (incidentally, Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who).

And that is very sad - because the potential for interesting drama was put second place to a desire to push the envelope with regards to sex and this society’s obsession with the same.

So in summary - watch Dr Who, but don’t touch Torchwood! :alien:

(I was wondering when I would get to use that smiley )

Thankfully we’ve never bought new, but dh loves his ford trucks!

I can remember my grandfather sitting down with me a few times watching some shows and being able to tell you exactly what was going to happen next– and for him, that made the show less appealing.

The only thing I’m cringing at now is when they’ve done everything that can be done with sex, where will they go to next?

I don’t know the extent to which television leads culture and the extent to which it follows. However, whether it leads or follows, it certainly *reflects* culture, and the current voyeuristic craze for reality television, and gutter culture does not say much for the current moral character of our nations.

I think the worst programme I saw mention of was “Britain’s roughest pubs” (or somesuch title). This was on a Rupert Murdoch channel, and clearly was just sensationalising alcohol fueled yob culture.

Drunken orgies and bad behaviour are nothing new. The Victorians invented “dumb waiters” so that the antics at their orgies would not be reported by the serving staff. But the difference these days appears to be that we revel in bad behaviour and anti-social attitudes. At least the Victorians had the good grace to be embarrassed about their behaviour!

I’m attracted to those old shows, and grateful for ones like Little House on the Prairie and the Waltons to show to my children…my fave as a child was the Donna Reed Show.