Should TV Networks Have a Family Hour?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:30:00 -0700

That picture up there? That's "American Dad," otherwise known as the most objectionable show on television, according to the Parents Television Council. The group issued a report this week that said the show had more violent, sexual and profane content than any other show on TV, and its network, Fox, was singled out as the worst network for children (the CW ranked the cleanest; bet that changes after "Gossip Girl" comes out).

One thing "American Dad" has going for it is that it airs later in the night, at 9:30 p.m., when many young children are likely to be in bed. A key finding of the council's study was the increase in profanity, violence and sexual content during the "family hour" of 8 to 9 p.m. (and 7 to 8 p.m. on Sundays). Violence was up more than 50 percent since the council's 2001 study, according to the report, while sexual content jumped 22 percent.

This has led the group to ask for more clean content during the family hour. On the one hand, I see a need for shows that parents and kids can watch together. On the other hand, a lot of good 8 p.m. shows certainly wouldn't be classified as "clean" ("30 Rock," anyone?). Do you think the networks should have an hour each night devoted to family-friendly programming?

Photo courtesy of Fox

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Should TV Networks Have a Family Hour?