Is it time to change the TV content ratings? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-07-2012, 04:06 AM

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Special-...s-1045591.aspx

Do viewers really care whether a show is "TV-14-D-L-S-V" or "TV-MA-L"? One of the people behind the content ratings thinks it's time for an overhaul: "I think the language on TV has evolved and changed, and I don't know that our ratings quite know what to do with that."

Regulus · 04-07-2012, 07:12 AM

Those TV Ratings are designed so those who don't want their children to watch certain programming can program their sets to block those programs (This was a result of the "V-Chip" Law enacted by the Clinton Administration in 1997). It's a good idea, unfortunately there's a loophole in this law big enough to fit Mt. Everest in. Parents may be able to control what Programming their children can watch, but they cannot control the Commercials that will be shown during a program. Time and again, I have seen age-inappropriate commercials shown at times when children are certainly watching (such as Mid-Afternoon Sporting Events), and even during Children's Shows themselves (I've seen commercials for products such as "ED Pills", Contraceptives and Woman's Hygiene Products aired during these shows)!

Therefore I'd would like to see the "V-Chip" Law AMENDED so that it INCLUDES COMMERCIALS! Parents should not have to CRINGE whenever a show their children are watching goes to a commercial break. Rating Commercials would enable them to block those ads they don't want their children to see.

PS Since Children CANNOT VOTE I would insist that ALL Political Commercials get the highest rating (TV-MA)!

factsoflife · 04-07-2012, 12:12 PM

I do think an overhaul is needed. Mostly because most of us aren't sure what the letters stand for like when it says TV-MA D-L-S .

I think it should be much more simple. Like movie ratings they should have

TV-G (anybody can safely watch)
TV-PG (most can watch but parents should use caution)
TV-PG13 (Most 13 and over can watch)
TV-R (meant for mature audiences only)

It would be a much more clear system that people could understand quickly without all the extra letters.

EmoJoe · 04-07-2012, 12:56 PM

Do people even pay attention to those? lol. I did notice the other day that Community has a TV-PG rating while 30 Rock and Parks & Rec are TV-14, which confuses me a little. They don't seem all that far apart in content. They say "dick" all of the time on Community which wasn't even allowed to be said until very recently.

icecream · 04-07-2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by factsoflife

I do think an overhaul is needed. Mostly because most of us aren't sure what the letters stand for like when it says TV-MA D-L-S .

I think it should be much more simple. Like movie ratings they should have

TV-G (anybody can safely watch)
TV-PG (most can watch but parents should use caution)
TV-PG13 (Most 13 and over can watch)
TV-R (meant for mature audiences only)

It would be a much more clear system that people could understand quickly without all the extra letters.

The ratings aren't hard to understand at all. TV14 means only audiences age 14 and over should watch. TVMA means it's meant for mature audiences only. D stands for Dialogue, L stands for Language, S stands for Sex, and V stands for Violence. The subratings are definitely needed.

AKA · 04-07-2012, 03:37 PM

The ratings system is useless if there isn't an independent body outside the networks (or studios) rating the shows. If they want a system that works, they should rebuild it to match the MPAA's model.

yankeesrj12 · 04-07-2012, 05:02 PM

Just do away with the system. If parents don't want their kids to watch something, block the channel. Americans are smart enough (or so I hope) to be able to make their own choices when it comes to what they want to watch.

factsoflife · 04-07-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeesrj12

Just do away with the system. If parents don't want their kids to watch something, block the channel. Americans are smart enough (or so I hope) to be able to make their own choices when it comes to what they want to watch.

I agree 100%. If you aren't smart enough to know what shows your kids should and should not be watching, then frankly you shouldn't have kids. It doesn't take a genius to know that Sesame Street is good for kids, but Desperate Housewives isn't.

Regulus · 04-07-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by factsoflife

I agree 100%. If you aren't smart enough to know what shows your kids should and should not be watching, then frankly you shouldn't have kids. It doesn't take a genius to know that Sesame Street is good for kids, but Desperate Housewives isn't.

I agree as well. IMO it isn't the Programming that's the problem (Most age-inappropriate programming is not shown until 9 or 10 PM when most children are asleep). Commercials are a whole other matter. Commercials for projects such as Kotex, Trojens and Cialis, among others are shown Morning, Noon and Night. There is absolutely no indication these kinds of commercials are about to come on, and even children's programs aren't safe from these kinds of ads. Since Advertisers show no regard to who's watching their commercials, a system needs to be enacted so parents can know their children won't be exposed to these kinds of commercials until their parents or guardians determine they are old enough to do so. This is why I'd like to see commercials rated.

AKA · 04-07-2012, 09:04 PM

I agree wholeheartedly that the ball is entirely in parents' courts when it comes to raising children and deciding what they can and can't watch. If my son watches something he shouldn't, shame on me, not on NBC.

Having said that, though, there are some "grey-area" shows for which an advisory is nice. While it is common sense that kids shouldn't be watching Breaking Bad or Sons of Anarchy and that Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba are okay, I'd like to know whether or not Make It or Break It or iCarly contain content I might find objectionable for my child.

That's where a standardized ratings system would could come in handy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

I agree as well. IMO it isn't the Programming that's the problem (Most age-inappropriate programming is not shown until 9 or 10 PM when most children are asleep). Commercials are a whole other matter. Commercials for projects such as Kotex, Trojens and Cialis, among others are shown Morning, Noon and Night. There is absolutely no indication these kinds of commercials are about to come on, and even children's programs aren't safe from these kinds of ads. Since Advertisers show no regard to who's watching their commercials, a system needs to be enacted so parents can know their children won't be exposed to these kinds of commercials until their parents or guardians determine they are old enough to do so. This is why I'd like to see commercials rated.

Regulus, I watch plenty of children's programming these days. I've never seen a commercial for an adult-themed product during these shows; not once. While I'm not doubting that you have, could it be that the instance you witnessed have been a programming error at the particular network you were watching?

After all, I really don't think it's in Nickelodeon, ABC Family, Disney XD or Cartoon Network's best interest to show these types of commercials. What do they have to gain, other than pissed-off parents?

factsoflife · 04-08-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

Regulus, I watch plenty of children's programming these days. I've never seen a commercial for an adult-themed product during these shows; not once. While I'm not doubting that you have, could it be that the instance you witnessed have been a programming error at the particular network you were watching?

After all, I really don't think it's in Nickelodeon, ABC Family, Disney XD or Cartoon Network's best interest to show these types of commercials. What do they have to gain, other than pissed-off parents?

I agree with you. I've never seen that either. Really other than primetime the only time I've seen these air is during daytime soap operas and talk shows; none of which children should be watching alone anyway.

tiredmike59 · 04-08-2012, 03:17 PM

Our feature presentation;

THE LONE RANGER

Starring; Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels

Extreme violence (Fistfight at the end of each episode)
Bad language (Tonto)

For mature audiences

Mr. Television · 04-08-2012, 05:47 PM

My problem isn't just with children. Some of these commercials are sick. They should air them late at night when I'm asleep. lol

AKA · 04-08-2012, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

My problem isn't just with children. Some of these commercials are sick. They should air them late at night when I'm asleep. lol

I agree with you, though the only commercials I really have a problem with are the ones for vibrators (or, as they delicately call them in the advertisements, "personal massagers"). I don't think those should be advertised anywhere.

Regulus · 04-08-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by factsoflife

I agree with you. I've never seen that either. Really other than primetime the only time I've seen these air is during daytime soap operas and talk shows; none of which children should be watching alone anyway.

I see them ALL THE TIME during weekend afternoon Sporting Events (Which Children are certainly watching). These kinds of Ads should be restricted to between the hours of 10:00PM to 5:00 AM, unfortunately the advertisers insist they MUST be shown whenever they say to. Last November they aired an ad for a Feminine Hygiene Product DURING THE MACY'S PARADE.

A few weeks ago I talked to a Woman who was looking for Children's Videos people were selling at Garage Sales. She told me she cancelled her subscription to a Pay-TV Service after she saw an ad for Condoms during a "Family" Show she and her children were watching. NO, these are NOT "Isolated" incidents, and I'm certain they are NOT "Accidents" at all. Bear in mind Rating the Commercials is not denying the rights for an advertiser to air their Ads, it's simply giving Parents a measure of control over what their children are exposed to.

04-07-2012, 04:06 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,305	Is it time to change the TV content ratings? http://www.tvguide.com/News/Special-...s-1045591.aspx Do viewers really care whether a show is "TV-14-D-L-S-V" or "TV-MA-L"? One of the people behind the content ratings thinks it's time for an overhaul: "I think the language on TV has evolved and changed, and I don't know that our ratings quite know what to do with that."

04-07-2012, 07:12 AM	#2
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	Those TV Ratings are designed so those who don't want their children to watch certain programming can program their sets to block those programs (This was a result of the "V-Chip" Law enacted by the Clinton Administration in 1997). It's a good idea, unfortunately there's a loophole in this law big enough to fit Mt. Everest in. Parents may be able to control what Programming their children can watch, but they cannot control the *Commercials* that will be shown during a program. Time and again, I have seen age-inappropriate commercials shown at times when children are certainly watching (such as Mid-Afternoon Sporting Events), and even during Children's Shows themselves (I've seen commercials for products such as "ED Pills", Contraceptives and Woman's Hygiene Products aired during these shows)! Therefore I'd would like to see the "V-Chip" Law AMENDED so that it INCLUDES COMMERCIALS! Parents should not have to CRINGE whenever a show their children are watching goes to a commercial break. Rating Commercials would enable them to block those ads they don't want their children to see. PS Since Children CANNOT VOTE I would insist that ALL Political Commercials get the highest rating (TV-MA)!
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

04-07-2012, 12:12 PM	#3
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,745	I do think an overhaul is needed. Mostly because most of us aren't sure what the letters stand for like when it says TV-MA D-L-S . I think it should be much more simple. Like movie ratings they should have TV-G (anybody can safely watch) TV-PG (most can watch but parents should use caution) TV-PG13 (Most 13 and over can watch) TV-R (meant for mature audiences only) It would be a much more clear system that people could understand quickly without all the extra letters.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

04-07-2012, 12:56 PM	#4
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	Do people even pay attention to those? lol. I did notice the other day that Community has a TV-PG rating while 30 Rock and Parks & Rec are TV-14, which confuses me a little. They don't seem all that far apart in content. They say "dick" all of the time on Community which wasn't even allowed to be said until very recently.
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

04-08-2012, 05:47 PM	#13
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	My problem isn't just with children. Some of these commercials are sick. They should air them late at night when I'm asleep. lol
	__________________ Sonny

04-07-2012, 03:37 PM	#6
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	The ratings system is useless if there isn't an independent body outside the networks (or studios) rating the shows. If they want a system that works, they should rebuild it to match the MPAA's model.

04-07-2012, 05:02 PM	#7
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	Just do away with the system. If parents don't want their kids to watch something, block the channel. Americans are smart enough (or so I hope) to be able to make their own choices when it comes to what they want to watch.

04-08-2012, 03:17 PM	#12
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	Our feature presentation; THE LONE RANGER Starring; Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels Extreme violence (Fistfight at the end of each episode) Bad language (Tonto) For mature audiences