In a recent LA Times article, “Television Critic’s Notebook: Networks turn clock back to family hour” Mary Mcnamara discussed network television’s swing back towards family programming.
While Mcnamara, Federal Legislation and I agree there should be no mandate requiring the networks to program family entertainment, it makes sense to move away from graphic content. There will always been rules baring certain things to be on network TV no similar restriction exists for cable. So let them have it.
There were no Cosby or Father Knows Bests this season, but there were a string of programs aimed at the entirely family. Parenthood and Modern Family have their target demos in the titles, but new shows like Cougar Town and Life Unexpected are also takes on modern family life.
In recent years, many shows featuring families used the children as props and plot vehicles. We never got to know Raymond’s kids. However, this new string of sit-coms and dramas are capitalizing on cross generational casts. They have content appropriate for the family with story lines that appeal to all members.
While there are many factors aiding in the Network’s increase in viewers this year, there can be no mistaking the impact that family content has had. In reverting back to cross generational shows with mass appeal, the networks have given up on their content war with cable. NBC can never show what HBO can, but they can show a program that appeals to three times as many people and takes in that much more in advertising.
At’ll do networks. At’ll do.
What are your feelings? Should the networks leave the graphic content to cable?
