Reviews of the New Fall Shows 2014

For the last five years I've attended PaleyFest, an event at the Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles. At it, the new fall broadcast network shows are premiered, one network per evening. Following are my reviews of this fall's new shows. MORE

VH1 Encourages Naked Dating

Most people understand that nudity is inappropriate in public. Indeed, being outside one’s own home naked is grounds for a criminal charge of “indecent exposure,” and can result in not only a fine, but in the participant being placed on a “sex offender” registry. None of which matters a whit to VH1. MORE

MTV Enters Virgin Territory

MTV is a network aimed squarely at teens and young adults – yet nearly all of its programming is obsessed with promoting teens having sex. MORE

Anti-Christian Bigotry on Display in Salem

Set at the time of the witchcraft trials, WGN America's Salem exhibits all the depth, historical accuracy, and understanding of the nuances of 17th century America to be found on a Bazooka Joe bubble-gum wrapper. MORE

ABC President: Indecency in Family Hour "Not an Issue"

ABC has announced that it will be moving its sex drama Grey’s Anatomy into the Family Hour next fall. When asked about the move, ABC President Paul Lee said showing explicit content when children are in the audience is “much less relevant than it was five years ago.” MORE

Hollywood's New Trend: Naked Dating

Nudity has long been a staple on premium cable networks. But now, “naked dating” programs are poised to become the next big thing on basic cable – and even broadcast – TV. MORE

HBO Urges Teens to Watch "Away From Your Parents"

The entertainment industry claims that it has a “longstanding commitment” to helping parents protect children from harmful media content. But a new series of ads from HBO put the lie to that claim. MORE

NickMom Still Committed to Foul Content

Supposedly aimed at children ages 2-6, the Nick Jr. cable network drove away most of its viewers with its “NickMom” programming block two years ago. Despite its financial and popular failure, the network remains committed to pushing content totally unacceptable for children. MORE

TV Writer: Sex on Sitcoms Not Gratuitous

TV today is infamous for its sex-slathered sitcoms, from Dads to Two and a Half Men. But during a recent Television Critics Association interview, one TV writer claimed that sex on sitcoms is not gratuitous. MORE

Europe Takes Child Media Safety More Seriously Than America

It is a commonly-held belief that Europe is more permissive than the U.S. But two recent incidents demonstrated that European nations are more willing to take positive steps to protect children from harmful media content. MORE

MTV’s Girl Code Degrades Girls

“They’re as complicated and complex as we are. VAGINAS!”

And another episode of MTV’s Girl Code gets underway. MORE

Indecent “NickMom” Devastates Nick Jr. Network

Last October, Nick Jr. – a pay-TV network which billed itself as a “safe, educational place” for kids ages 2-6 – introduced its NickMom programming block, featuring references to genitalia, sex, drinking, and other inappropriate content. A year later, Nick Jr. is reaping what it sowed: plummeting viewership — and revenue. MORE

“About Families” Not the Same as “Safe FOR Families”

Hollywood’s latest scam aimed at viewers is its claim that, because a program is ABOUT a family, the program is therefore appropriate for family viewing. But this is a lie – and this fall’s new “comedies” prove it. MORE

Lament for a Wonder Woman

The star of the 1970’s TV series Wonder Woman will be returning to TV this fall...on CBS’ sleazy sex comedy Two and a Half Men. MORE

Hollywood Writers Attack Decency, Democracy

Recently, the Writers Guild of America (West) filed their “reply comments” on the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed change in enforcement of laws against broadcast decency. In their comments, the Guild launched a vitriolic attack on broadcast decency, the PTC – and the American people. MORE

Entertainment Industry Demands “Right” to Air Indecency

Last month, over 100,000 Americans filed public comments with the Federal Communications Commission, asking the FCC enforce broadcast decency laws. This month, the entertainment industry filed its comments – and arrogantly demanded the “right” to flood American homes with indecent content. MORE

Why Broadcasters Are Afraid

As can be seen by their actions last week in demanding that the Federal Communications Commission completely abandon enforcing broadcast decency laws, the broadcast networks are in panic mode. There are two reasons for this. MORE

Networks to FCC: “Let Us Do Anything We Want”

Since the “trust-busting” era of Teddy Roosevelt, one of the federal government’s responsibilities has been to ensure that private industry does not trample the rights of American citizens. But last week, the broadcast television networks told the government, “Ignore the American people. Let us do anything we want!” MORE

MTV Promotes Teens Making Sex Tapes

“Getting famous is as easy as having sex and letting the cameras roll...When his longtime crush finally asked him out on a date, Zach Stone hatched a plan to cash in on his first time. Because who wouldn’t want to see a sex movie starring an awkward virgin?”

So says MTV. MORE

MTV Sex Programmer Moves to NBC

Under its former executive vice-president David Janollari, MTV moved into ever-more sexually explicit programming – programming the producer apparently thought was perfect for teens. And now, Janollari will be bringing the same sensibility to the NBC broadcast network. MORE