Whatever Happened to "The FAMILY Channel"?

from JoeUser Forums

So, we decided to bite the bullet and add satellite to our household. After installing the dish and getting everything setup, I was channel surfing, and turned by "ABC Family".

I remember this as having been "the Family Channel". Once Pat Robertson's domain, it was directed towards family friendly programming. When ABC (owned by Disney) bought this enterprise, it was under the assumption that it would remain so. So, it was to my utter shock to find an "R" rated movie on this "family" oriented channel. Not just ANY R-Rated movie, like something with a redemptive value, but rather the movie "Cruel Intentions", which is not something I would remotely consider family oriented.

Unless...no, we won't go there. Really, we won't.

I really miss the availability of good quality programming for the kids. And we're not prudes; our kids are well versed in "the Simpsons", and the occasional viewing of "the Family Guy". But I think I draw the line at R-Rated flicks, and I find it pretty sad that a channel that uses the word "family" as part of its station name would show a movie that is so obviously NOT oriented toward the family.

2,734 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
We only watch ABC on Sunday nights...America's Funniest Home Videos (Adrian loves that show soooo much) and Extreme Make Over Home Edition.

If you guys have Cartoon Network, check out The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and Foster's Home for Imaginary friends. Those two are really great shows...I think Adrian and I enjoy them as much as the boys do.

The Discovery Channel and National Geographic also have some good family shows. They've got a lot of science and nature stuff that's packaged in an entertaining (as opposed to elite, smarty pants) way. We watch that kind of thing with the kids a lot, too. Try the "Most Extreme" series with animals.

It is difficult to find programming that the family can watch together now. My kids do watch The Simpsons with us, but The Family Guy is a bit too much for them yet.

We rent A LOT (3+ a week) of movies, and we usually get 2 grown-up movies and one for the kids that we all watch together. I don't really go by rating because sometimes it's pretty misleading (I've been more disturbed by some PG-13 things I've seen than R-rated ones), but I don't believe my children have ever seen an R-rated movie because the themes in R movies tend to be too mature for them. Sky High was a great family movie, though and my oldest loved Napoleon Dynamite. Hehe.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
There's a lot of decent stuff on. Check Nickelodeon for shows like "Drake and Josh" and "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide." There's some good cartoons, too. My daughter likes Teen Titans on Cartoon Network, and The Fairly Odd Parents, Spongebob, and Jimmy Neutron on Nick.

If you are looking for old-school family TV, the Hallmark channel runs little house on the prairie and such. Also TV Land has tons of good old shows that we grew up with.

My daughter likes science fiction, so I usually set the VCR and tape star treks or stargate and keep them in reserve for times when nothing else is on.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
My daughter likes Teen Titans on Cartoon Network


We were really sad to hear that Teen Titans had been canceled. We enjoyed that one, too.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I figure it'll be in re-run rotation for a long time. The idiots went nuts and started churning out action figures and trying to inflate it into a cashcow. If you ask me, they are just resting the brand since they overhyped it. I bet it'll be back.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
The idiots went nuts and started churning out action figures and trying to inflate it into a cashcow.


Have you noticed how they've started having toys out for new programs BEFORE the program debuts? I'm thinking of TMNT (the newest incarnation) and Power Rangers (Mystic something or other?), but I know I've seen others.

I bet it'll be back.


I hope so. I *heart* Beast Boy. Haha. I also read an article the other day condemning violence in children's programming that called TT out by name. I'm not quite sure why this is suddenly so damaging for children. It's the same kind of thing I watched as a child, only the humor is better now.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
You know, there really are times that I do miss having television in my home. It's almost as if the last Winter and Summer Olympics never happened; I really miss some of the TV versions of movies (Clean Flicks does help some in that department); and the World Cup Soccer tournament is coming up!!

Then I read blog articles like this one and it reminds me that, while I may be missing some great stuff once in awhile, I'm not missing out on much most the time. ;~D
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

I do not remember the family channel as you do.  I do remember ABC and the Wonderful World of Disney!

Before you time tho!

Sorry.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
I stopped watching when the decidedly non-family-friendly but funny Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion was aired. Yes, it's rated R, folks.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm glad I'm not the only that noticed ABC family has been playing these R rated flicks. BTW, another thing I found really interesting is that Falling Down was shown on Lifetime.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

You can get the "Angel Network" since you have satellite now.  It has somewhere between 25-50 family based channels.  That's all I know about it from the ads.

Our tv rarely leaves Nick and when it does its usually Cartoon Network.

So funny you mention this because I read a write up in USA Today Monday about the Lifetime Channel's CEO.  Bleck.  Why is a channel for women constantly showing women being hunted, raped and beat up?

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Why is a channel for women constantly showing women being hunted, raped and beat up?


I've often wondered myself. I remember one time "The Deliberate Stranger" aired on lifetime. WTF, this is a movie about Ted Bundy, why would that be on lifetime? LOL
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Why is a channel for women constantly showing women being hunted, raped and beat up?


I never watch Lifetime. No offense to those that do, but I can't stand that crap. It's like the Uber-Oprah. Overly sappy, alarming, and emotional, but without the free cars.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Overly sappy, alarming, and emotional, but without the free cars.


Buwhahahha...SO TRUE
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well, hey, Gideon, don't worry, we elected quite a few 'family friendly' guys who happen to control the majority of all three branches of government - don't worry, they'll think of something....

*Deference begins hacking huge chunks of vomit into nearby waste receptecle, tears leap from his eyes with each violent heave...*
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
"*Deference begins hacking huge chunks of vomit into nearby waste receptecle, tears leap from his eyes with each violent heave...*"


Yeah, I've seen that end of the argument from people who just don't care that kids have fewer and fewer choices. I know parents that rant like hell against any kind of imposition on what time they have to stay up to watch their smut. They don't mind anything airing any time of the day, because they just shove their kids off into another room with their playstation.

I prefer to spend time with my daughter. My 9 year old has seen rated R movies, but only the ones I pick and we watch together. I can't control the fact that Girls Gone Wild infomercials are running one channel above her cartoons on saturday morning. I'd hate to cause Deference any more nausea, so I won't offer any suggestions about what should be done about it.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

I do not remember the family channel as you do. I do remember ABC and the Wonderful World of Disney!
Before you time tho!

Umm, NOT before my time, Dr.

But anyway, my chief lament is that the channel that once billed itself as "the Family Channel...ISN'T

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
As you may guess, what makes me ill was the utter pandering to the socially conservative base with zero follow-through by some in the majority, that's what makes me sick, Baker, not the scarcity of decent adult and children programming.

...but we won't hold the majority accountable 'cause they're 'our' guys, right Baker?
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
As you may guess, what makes me ill was the utter pandering to the socially conservative base with zero follow-through by some in the majority, that's what makes me sick, Baker, not the scarcity of decent adult and children programming. ...but we won't hold the majority accountable 'cause they're 'our' guys, right Baker? - Me

ahem.

This post would have made more sense had I not left out some words, it should read:


As you may guess, what makes me ill was the utter pandering to the socially conservative base with zero follow-through by some in the majority, that's what makes me sick, Baker, but not quite as sick as the scarcity of decent adult and children programming.

...but we won't hold the majority accountable 'cause they're 'our' guys, right Baker?
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

Umm, NOT before my time, Dr.

Remember Annette Funecello when she was 16? hehehehehe

Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
"..but we won't hold the majority accountable 'cause they're 'our' guys, right Baker?"


On the contrary, I have said a number of times that my main gripe with the Bush administration is they play to heavy conservatism, both economic and moral, and then feign their hands being tied. I just know better than to try to discuss it much around here when people are already so outraged that they are portraying America as some sort of Christian Church-state and claiming we're going to start rounding up Atheists any day.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
I just know better than to try to discuss it much around here when people are already so outraged that they are portraying America as some sort of Christian Church-state and claiming we're going to start rounding up Atheists any day. - Bakerstreet

I understand that view. It's also very nice to read your first paragraph of that post, good stuff.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
On the one hand, I'm disgusted with what's available for family entertainment these days (pitifully little). On the other, part of me enjoys that it's harder to find family movies. There's nothing wrong with playing a board game with your kids instead of staring at the screen. If there was an abundance of family appropriate entertainment, I fear my family would spend more time doing that than we would actually communicating. Pros and cons to every situation, I guess.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think its funny that the Family Channel obviously filled a need for family friendly programming and were successful enough that ABC wanted to buy them out and then as soon as they take over they mess with the formula that brought the channel success.

I really am very lenient with my boys. The R rated movies that they show on cable TV (not HBO etc.) have been edited to remove at least the nudity and language if not the violence.

My boys like Nick, Discovery Kids. There really aren't very many family friendly sit com's etc. on the networks anymore. I was kind of disappointed that Amazing Race was scheduled at 9 because that was a show I enjoyed watching with the boys but it's after their bedtime. Remember the long gone family hour?
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was kind of disappointed that Amazing Race was scheduled at 9 because that was a show I enjoyed watching with the boys but it's after their bedtime.


TiVo is your FRIEND....lol!