Do you remember the ABC After School Specials?

I do think they were a great avenue for helping parents talk to their kids about tough situations that go on. I guess now if it's not cool and exciting it's not going to make it. Not much thought-provoking material gets on the tube lately.

That's ok blueunicorn, I totally understand. You should find the discussion about the "new" no child left behind laws. You'd have a field day!!!

reiny, you are right about there not being much thought-provoking material on T.V. anymore. I think that is a problem for our kids now days. They aren't expected to think past the very minimum that is required of them. My daughter is in first grade. On her spelling test each week there are bonus words. I've volunteered in the classroom, so I know the teacher tells them these words are for "if you choose to give it a try". My daughter asks every week if she can just skip those. Her dad and I have told her every week that she is expected to at least try them. We don't expect her to get every one right, but we do expect effort. We have even erased complete homework pages and had her start again because it was just messy and had no thought put into it. Effort and expanded thinking is part of character in my opinion. Well, I'm off on a tangent. Sorry about that.

Um.... "as a kid"??? With American Gladiators??? Maybe you're not as close to my age as I thought... I'm sure you even told me, but I surely don't remember... See, my KIDS watched American Gladiators... And um... that's really all I remember about them - although I did watch with them and liked when they fought with the big q-tips standing on those poles... btw - LOVE the new avitar, not as much as the bloody keyboard, but it'll do. I just have to get used to it!!! Glad to see ya 'round again :)

Well, you're 8 years younger than me, 12 years older than my kids... I guess it was on for a LONG time if they watched it when they were little. Geeze, that seemed like EONS ago!

I'll be 36 in March girl. LOL Yeah I must have been like 10 or 11, don't really remember my exact age, but I wasn't that old. lol I was such a Tom Boy growing up! I guess I still am in a way, a feminine Tom Boy lol I just saw on PAX that Hulk Hogan was somehow involved in bringing the show back. I think that is why I used to watch it when I was younger, because my dad used to have me watching wrestling on Sunday mornings with him. lol Bay xx

They were a great forum for parents to start discussions with their children about important issues. It's sad that we seem to be too busy to do that now-a-days.

See, that's where there is a catch 22. If the shows aren't played anymore because the networks figure it wouldn't do any good, then the kids are the ones loosing out. I bet if kids were offered an alternative to what they are watching today it could change their thinking a little bit.

I do remember one about a girl drinking, but there were a ton of those on when I was a kid. I don't know what show you mean with the Jack Terrier... I don't think I ever saw it... Might have to check it out :)

Wishbone was great! PBS occassionally brings it back for a short time, then it will go off again. I think they are desperately trying to keep interest in it. I just heard that they stopped printing the Wishbone books based on the show because of lack of interest. That was sad.

Although my parents didn't use the programs as I would have - as a stepping stone for great converstaions with us - I did learn a lot from them also. I was a "good girl" too and rarely got into trouble - it wasn't worth the belt, brush, spoon, or whatever was handy. Although I don't think Oprah and Rachel are bad, I don't think they compare to the After School Specials...

I haven't watched Oprah in forever, so I'm not sure if this would still apply, but... my mom and I used to watch Oprah together and discuss the issues that were on there, too. This, of course, was once I was in High School. I really learned a lot about debating respectfully and sharing ideas this way. Of course, my mom got to kind of gague where my thinking was and how my morals were developing. I have to say that not all "trash" tv is bad.

Yeah it was usually troubled teen stuff. I think it was good that they made kids feel "safe" to talk about those things instead of hiding it in the closet.

They were great shows for kids. I remember racing home to catch them all the time.

Yes, it's more like using the TV as a conversation starte with the kids instead of a babysitter. I thought the concept was a good one and wish it was still around.

I totally agree. I tried pretty hard to still have meaningful discussions with my kids - although finding the time was not always easy. Sometimes I feel like the parents think their responsibility stops at birth.

I wish the tv show concept was still around, but I also wish that the concept of sitting around with the kids discussing what is on the tv was still around. You may have seen from other posts that I am really unhappy with the state of families in this country now days. I do think that "old fashioned" values coming back would make a huge difference in our society. The after school specials coming back would be a great start. More of those, less of the weird shows that encourage kids to treat their parents and everyone else around them like dirt.