What are popular TV shows teaching young people?

My wife and I like to watch a couple of television shows together in the evenings, but not every evening and not too many shows.  We like the entertainment factor, but have real concerns over what popular shows are teaching a generation of young people.

For example, take the show Dancing with the Stars on ABC.  We both were disgusted with the first show of the new season for several reasons.  First of all, you have Lil’ Kim (a rap star) who bragged that the first time she saw the show was from jail.  Nice.  She is a fantastic role model for our young girls, don’t you think?  Then there is Steve-O, the star of the movie Jackass.  That right there tells you about all you need to know.  He then said, after his dance that he wanted to “shove his foot up the butt of the waltz.”  Another outstanding example of character, hard work and humility.  What a complete moron.  Then there is the lovely Holly Madison, the 29 year old Playboy Playmate who was dating 82 year old Hugh Hefner.  The reason it didn’t work out was because she wanted to have children with Hefner, and he didn’t.  Wow.

I have a problem with the whole tone of the show.  Here you have Steve Wozniak, who is a pioneer in the computer industry and has really done something with his life to improve the lives of countless others and he is being depicted as the geek and anti-social nerd. (I am not saying that he isn’t a geek, but the show could spend a little more time telling us about the accomplishments of it’s “Stars”). 

 Then there is Ty Murray, who is a pioneer in Rodeo.  He not only is a 9 time World Champion Cowboy, but he was the first Rodeo Cowboy to have an agent, the first Cowboy to earn $1 million, have personal sponsors, sign big endorsement deals, etc.  He paved the way for all of the current Rodeo stars, giving them a way to make a living.  Yet he is portrayed as the stiff, old fashioned cowboy.  (Of course he has had so many injuries that he IS stiff.)

I just would like these “reality” shows to use their immense influence and their grand stage to promote more positive messages.  Our country is in big trouble right now, and it would help to have our young people aspire to actually ACCOMPLISH things, not just be drugged out morons like Steve-O and make a movie and all the sudden become a star.  I am positive, for example, that most young people know more about Lil’ Kim and Holly Madison than Steve Wozniak, and that is a SAD statement.

I was going to talk about other shows like The Bachelor, but I became irritated and disgusted just thinking about it. 

We are grooming another generation of underperforming, apathetic youths who are going to end up needing government assistance to provide their income.  Of course, with the current leadership (political and in Hollywood),  it wouldn’t suprise me if that’s not the intention. 

I am anxious for the time when this country takes a big turn back toward family values, character and hard work.  No more instant gratification or talentless dults being promoted as “Stars”.  We need people to learn actual skills, produce things of value and cultivate strong work ethics.  America was great because of our ability to come together, and work tirelessly toward the good of us all.  We have become so fat and lazy that most young people have no idea what I’m even talking about.

If you are a parent, I hope you take this post to heart, and I am so happy that there are parents out there who are doing the right things, raising responsible and intelligent children.  Those are the kids who are going to thrive in the future, while the rest wait for their government entitlements.