ABC Family - A New Kind of Family?
I was minding my own business tonight watching “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” when I saw a commercial for a new ABC Family series called “Greek.” It’s a comedy about college fraternities.
In the 2- minute preview I saw college students drinking in a bar, students in an implied sex scene, and various other scenes familiar from movies like “Animal House” and other great films from American cinematic history. I was pretty surprised to see it on the ABC “Family” channel, so I went to their website to see what was going on.
Sure enough, it premieres this coming Monday night at 8:00 PM Central, 9:00 PM Eastern & Pacific. If I remember my television viewing times, that’s prime time - family hour - shows you can watch with your whole family. And ABC Family’s tagline for their website is “A New Kind of Family.” I guess so!
What’s their definition of that new kind of family? And what does that family watch? Is it the same family that’s looking for faith and family movies? Or is it another example of the media doing what they can to reach a market they really don’t know?
Is ABC Family supposed to be a Christian network?
July 4th, 2007 at 6:37 am
ABC Family doesn’t claim to be a Christian network. But they’re claiming to be a “family” network with family shows. Their family values are really skewed.
July 4th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Overall the norm/mean family values in our culture are becoming more distant from Biblical values
July 4th, 2007 at 11:27 am
“ABC Family doesn’t claim to be a Christian network. But they’re claiming to be a “family” network with family shows. Their family values are really skewed.”
I’m not condoning the drinking and sex they’re featuring in this show, but do “family values” always have to equal Christian values? Isn’t there some validity to what others view as family, or family values?
July 4th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
RE: ABC Family doesn’t claim to be a Christian network. But they’re claiming to be a “family” network with family shows. Their family values are really skewed.
Response: I’m not condoning the drinking and sex they’re featuring in this show, but do “family values” always have to equal Christian values? Isn’t there some validity to what others view as family, or family values?
Well, what is your idea of “family values”? Teens drinking? Abusing drugs? Having indiscriminate sez? I’m curious — do you know anyone who would see these as positive, life-building activities for young people? Do you? I found it very interesting that a secular movie reviewer who has a regular column in our newspaper expressed dismay with this show, though he has never made any statements remotely concerned with Christianity. He simply wanted parents to know that this show did not portray “family values” as most people think them to be. Would you agree or disagree with his assessment?
What bothers me about this show is that so many parents don’t take the time to check out programs, don’t take time to screen TV shows, but just allow their kids to watch whatever, as long as it’s on a channel which has the name and/or reputatation for being family-friendly. I think the ABC Family Channel should air some sort of disclaimer, letting parents know their values are a-changin’. Then at least parents would be forewarned. JMHO
July 5th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Knowing the sorts of shows that ABC “Family” broadcasts, I’m filled with anger and frustration every time I hear them promoting themselves. As far as I’m concerned, family-friendly programming should be something that you can watch with your children of all ages any time of the day. If you are going to call yourself a family channel, your programming must be appropriate to be viewed by a young child. This is not about Christian values being perpetuated through network programming. It’s about producing shows that are positive and that uplift the family support dynamic. Sex, violence, alcoholism, drug-use and disrespect for oneself and others should never be on the channel at all. There is enough of that for children to dread later in life, why not ingrain positivity into our youth now? We may improve our future.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
first time on a blog so lets keep it simple ABC isnt putting out FAMILY VALUE programing just added em to your channel blocklist take a min or so out Write ABC and let them know how you feel use your American right NOT to watch dont tune in
most Main stream meida is FAR LEFT LIBERALISM that is the way America is heading UNTILL the CHRISTAINS and people OF family values stand up and be heard .OH ya and i dont watch ABC nor my teens
July 11th, 2007 at 1:16 am
I went to a movie theater with my wife since we have long discontinued cable (and have no antenna either) at our house. I saw this “Family” Channel flier on the counter at the movies and put it in my pocket to look up. Yes, this is utter foolishness and a perfect example of our society’s sliding values. Many people in my family are not Christian and have fallen horribly into drug and alchohol abuse, it doesn’t take a Christian to see the negatives of this - a family member with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Mental Retardation from the teen-aged pregnant mother not being able to stop drinking, smoking or taking massive amounts of alcohol (and some drugs) during the pregnancy. This along with the great Girl’s Gone Wild commercials and the other very sexual advertisements on channels like Spike TV made me decide that I didn’t want it in my home. Christians really should boycott Cable and then we’d see a new market come up where there is good TV - not just Andy Griffith but shows that attempt to be family friendly - I hate the show Full House myself but and really hate Seventh Heaven but I am disgusted that a channel that claims to be a family channel would create a show called greek. They’re thinking is all greek to me. Oh, that’s right they’re letting their hormones do the thinking and they want us to do the same - we’re probably easier to market products to when our brains are out of gear but our hedonistic impulses are on full-throttle. Let alone any social agenda they may have. After all ABC/Family Channel is owned by the ever decent Disney corporation.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I could definitely do without all of the sex and drugs in television programming, but ABC Family doesn’t even make a lesson out of it. They claim to broadcast shows that deal with “real issues,” but they don’t show how to correct those situations. People need shows that have a positive message, even if it exposes the real issues. ABC Family’s target age group (18-34) definitely have those issues in their lives, so why can’t they at least watch people helping each other and learning from their mistakes and reaching in the end a positive solution? Instead, the broadcasting company is portraying the only virgins at a college as a group of nerdy kids sitting in a dorm room having a bible study or something. Not only is that horribly wrong but it is offensive to me! They are making a mockery of my values. A new kind of family indeed….
July 27th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Wow people here are upset that some shows depict more realistic characters being less than perfect, yet growing and learning from their experiences and NOT being shunned by their loved ones? I thought it was the Supreme Being’s role to judge, no? I was impressed to see how diverse and uplifting the stories on GREEK have been. Bad behavior in the long run is not rewarded nor is ignorance nor are “phobics” of any kind. I wonder about those whose values feel mocked. Jesus was welcoming of all and used parables to teach. What a shame many so called ‘christians’ here seem to forget the majority of the New Testament, but seem only to want to apply Old Testament punishments.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Russ: you are obviously not listining to what people are saying. No one is trying to punish anyone. I like the show greek my husband and I think its really funny, but it does not belong on the “family” channel.
August 8th, 2007 at 6:38 am
ABC family …. yea right …
Family in 2007 is in poor shape if this a our reflection …
Does the media really think all red neck SUV drivers are our role modles.
JESUS SAVES ….
August 13th, 2007 at 6:27 pm