We don’t carry cable in the house (have to catch EWTN online).
Going through the broadcast primetime line-up, while there are good shows available, the family-friendly ones would be:
Sunday,
Extreme Makeover (ABC), but I agree with the other poster who complained about the sappiness. I do come away feeling the program exploits the family, however, they
do get one heck of a deal, so maybe it’s worth it.
Monday,
Dancing with the Stars (ABC) is the only one I see as family-friendly, and even then I have a problem with the costumes for the ladies and some of the movements for younger kids.
In our house it’s
Heroes (NBC) though because we love comic books (particularly X-men) and this show is kind of like how the world of X-men came to be. It is family-friendly in its lessons, but there’s too much conspiracy to make it appropriate for elementary kids (kinda scary, really), plus the whole concept of super-powers from genetics may confuse the younger ones.
Tuesday, as a family,
The Biggest Loser (NBC) has been good to watch because it has helped us understand how easy it is to over-indulge, what the health risks are and how difficult it is to lose the weight the ‘real’ way. We develop such admiration for the contestants.
Wednesday, wow, I don’t see anything family-friendly.
Thursday, is
Ugly Betty (ABC) in our house because of the good messages it sends about that whole business. However, since it is the world of fashion, there is a gay character and Betty’s young nephew appears to be gay but he’s too young for us to know at this point since he hasn’t had any romantic interests. I’m hoping as he grows up he just remains heterosexual but very, very talented in the business. The receptionist has eating issues and sleeping with people, but the show focuses more on how those behaviors are destructive for her, not good at all. Still, those themes are enough to make the show not entirely ‘family-friendly’ since it would exclude those under middle school.
Friday, would be
Friday Night Lights (NBC) hands down for our house, however, the story lines are really for middle school and up, not elementary.
I hear
Ghost Whisperer is good, but we boycotted CBS after they cancelled Joan of Arcadia and replaced it with Ghost Whisperer. They went with a paranormal theme over a spiritual one and the offended us. Talking to God and learning how He works through us in every day life with real people was a much better message than tapping into psychic powers to help the dead.
Saturday, we haven’t watched TV on that day, but looking at the broadcast schedule, the “Outrageous Moments” might be family-friendly. We tend to not enjoy laughing at other people’s mistakes though. It’s funny as all heck, yeah, but after we laugh we feel kinda guilty about it and embarrassed for the people we laughed at. I guess it goes to that ‘laughing with’ is ok, ‘laughing at’ is not thing. Looks like that show starts on the 20th.
Pickins’ are slim, definitely. Thank goodness for PBS and the internet.
