September 11, 1998

We Interrupt for this Television Program

I apologize for interrupting the BoB religion series, but I felt the need to talk about this. I watched the Seinfeld finale again tonight, and I was reminded on how a lot of critics of the show were pleased with how it ended. As they claimed it, Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer got what they deserved. They used and insulted people all those years and finally had to pay the piper.

Now, this is for the most part true, but a lot of these critics claimed that they hated the show for the same reason-- the using of people. They claimed that shows like Seinfeld were a bad influence on children.

Now, if you ask them what TV shows have been good influences (and I'm referring to primetime shows, not kiddie morning shows), a very common response is The Cosby Show (the old one).

But ask yourself this, did the show teach any better values? Sure, there were the occasional educational, moral raising moments of seriousness. However, the majority of the plots were these: The parents say don't do something, the kids do it, tragedy befalls them, and through a series of hilarious hi-jinks, everything turns out okay with no longstanding effects. Theo goes out and wrecks the car, no one is injured, and the next week, he's not in trouble.

Does this teach our kids any better?

Comments:

• (this message is sarcastic)
  The Cosby Show was a good influence on our children because it feautures black people who aren't slaves or murderers or rapists.
  -- Ray