Trust me, the Friday Five could not come fast enough. This week, it is all about television, so here we go...
1. How many TVs do you have in your home?
Three. A new 27" Sony, a small television/vcr combo (a gift from a generous neighbor) and a smaller black & white that I'm "borrowing" from my sister.
2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?
Way too much. I counted 12 hours of shows that I consider "must-see" television. Very, very bad.
3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?
Generally, no. There are plenty of solid educational and entertaining shows out there for young kids. Too much television, though, is definitely bad, especially if it is not balanced with plenty of sunlight, water and outdoor activities.
4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken?
Smallville, Scrubs, Firefly and Whose Line is it Anyway?.
5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?
Start with anything from Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek), add anything from Joss Whedon (Buffy), hold everything from David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal), sprinkle it with superheroes, smart comedies and improv, then stir!
For me, growing up on television was part of the family bonding ritual. It is a family custom to eat dinner together in front of the television. For my parents, it is their form of relaxation and entertainment.
I recall times when my mom would get mad and question why my sister or I weren't watching television with the family. If either of us wanted to go out and asked her to tape a show, she would often refuse. It was as if she thought we were being disrespectful to her and the family if we weren't participating in the "custom". I also remember her not being happy if we decided to watch something else in a different room. She would say, "Why are there so many TVs on? You're wasting electricity. Turn some of them off."
That is what I seriously need to do now, turn the the television off. Better yet, never turn it on in the first place.
