A couple years ago my wife was feeling nostalgic so she bought our kids the first season of Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons on DVD. These shows from the late 70's were not "cool" to my circle of friends back when I was younger, so I was surprised that my kids actually enjoyed them so much. As I have seen bits and pieces of some of the episodes I have been blown away at how wholesome they are. These shows featured family unity, hard work, praying over meals, trials, and sacrifice. Just like today's shows...NOT! The most risque the Waltons got was when they'd show the two old ladies who made moon shine.When I was a kid the most controversial shows were Threes Company and Dallas. Those shows look more like Mr. Rogers Neighborhood compared to what comes on prime time today. After seeing years of reality TV shows, sleazy dating programs, extreme shock talk shows, and other popular programs it has made the difference even more striking.
I hope I'm not coming across as being judgemental and preachy, I have watched my fair share of mind numbing programs over the years, but it didn't used to be so risky to let you kids flip channels. Luckily with the recent change to digital TV we have not had to worry about what's on TV. I have a digital converter box sitting on our TV, but I haven't gotten around to hooking it up yet so for now we are just watching DVDs until I deplete my Netflix queue.
These days, many would consider The Waltons and Little House to be narrow minded, simplistic, politically incorrect, and boring. If they remade these shows today, you'd probably see episodes featuring Half Pint dealing with teen pregnancy and abortion. Jim Bob would go gang banging with Ike Godsey, Mr. Walton would probably be having affairs all over Waltons Mountain, while John Boy is dealing with a Meth addiction.
Despite the family friendly messages these shows portrayed, I still think Little House on the Prairie featured the most evil villain in entertainment history. Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, and Freddy Krueger can not hold a candle to the pure evil known as Nellie Olsen.
11 comments:
Nellie Olsen scared me!!! I have to edit some of the cartoons that are played too.........although the Road Runner was pretty horrible to Wile E. Coyote.
Nellie Olson was the original beeyotch!!
G'night John-boy!
G'night Chaka!
I am so with you on this Chaka. This is why I have tried to introduce my kids to these sitcoms of the past as well.
We have Looney Tunes (best cartoons ever), Different Strokes (so we can all laugh when someone says 'what choo talkin' 'bout?), and the best for last... Land of the Lost! They love the special effects featured there for sure.
I absolutely LOVED Little House and the Waltons. Most of my friends used to watch them but in secrecy!
And I agree about Nellie Olson!!!!!
Nellie Oleson!!!!!!!!! Nooo!!! I recently discovered this show through re-runs on the Hallmark Channel (because I'm only 20 and wasn't around when the original was on) and initially hated it. But it really grew on me and I'm in love with it now. :)
Try watching, "Two and a Half Men" with your kids.
AWKWARD
I hated Nellie Olsen with a passion. And I'll watch Little House on the Prairie any chance I can get. Good job on keeping your kids off of the boob tube! When my son was little, I refused to have cable. It was PBS or Disney videos only.
The Waltons are all rich now, they went into retail I hear.
I near Southfork Ranch now, sometimes I go over and swim in the actual pool from the TV show Dallas.
You are right about the decline in values on television though.
I used to want to reach right into the TV and yank Nellie Olsen's braided ponytails right off her head! She used to make me so mad! I loved these shows growing up and was thinking about buying the Little House series for my daughter.
I get so frustrated when I hear 12 year olds talk about how funny South Park is...aRRRgghh! Another reason I am a proud homeschooler...no peer pressure about TV watching....
Nellie Olsen was creepy!
Our family was still saying 'G'night John Boy' at the end of the evening until they all left home. Bring back the Waltons, I say.
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