CitySimon

Completely agree with the OP about violence on US TV.

While I was getting ready to get married a couple of years ago I remember that I was watching Army of Darkness... It was 3pm on a Sunday!?!

I couldn't help but think that people could be watching it from an age group that really shouldn't.

HappyHammer

I just got back from England on Monday and can make some comparisons. Childrens programming is far more superior to anything offered in the States including the Public Service Channels. I don't encourage the kids to watch a lot of T.V. but I will say this. In the Sates when I switch it off they never complain, but whilst we were in England it was "Ahhhh dad just 5 more minutes please". They are much more educational (remember making things from fairy liquid bottles and sticky back plastic) well I'm glad to say those traditions continues even today
Political programs are much more balanced, I think Jeremy Paxman is sometimes a bit confrontational but it's compelling to watch. There's hardball over here, but that's not even spontaneous because they're always looking down at their notes.
British Suspense Drama can also be very violant as well, but the difference is in the States it's glamourized, sometimes it is even backed by heavy rock music which I thought was against the broadcasting rules.
I suppose living in USA has one big advantage. The programs are fragmented with ads I tend not to watch the telly as much as I did in England, This frees up more time to do other things.
Having said that, I confess I have joined the throngs of ex-pats who regulary download Corrie and Top Gear, and my DVD library consists of The Sweeny - Minder - Only Fools and Horses etc etc etc.

ImHere

Of course there is one bonus: All the crap programs and plenty of ads every 10 minutes means plenty of time to make tea, have a piss and post on here without any danger of missing something worthwhile like a plot or intelligent dialogue.

ladyofthelake

I set the ratings limit on our satellite tv to restrict anything more than a PG13, but the only things which seem to actually get locked out are Shameless, The Smoking Room and Wire in the Blood all on BBCA.

Dant3

Before I actually moved to the US I imagined that American TV would be far more tame than that in England, based on such dubious evidence as the fact that Sex in the City was uncensored on Channel 4 and we invented Graham Norton, Julian Clary and Queer as Folk.

Then I get to America and realise that,

a) whilst everyone is completely horrified by the idea of their children seeing a rogue nipple, it's perfedtly okay to see a graphic re-enactment of rape, torture, murder and the resulting autopsy on primetime TV.

b) the vast majority of people have cable/satalite TV which seems to be largely unregulated in terms of the violence it's permitted to show and as a result, while nudity is STILL censored, graphic horror movies are shown mid-day.

c) a lot of people really see no harm in their children seeing violence. There is no real 18 rating for movies and as a result, parents often take their children to see very violent movies. I remember going to see the Texas Chain Saw Massacre remake and finding myself surrounded by bog-eyed young children with their parents. Not teenagers sneaking in, mind, but 5 and 6 year olds munching popcorn with their mothers! It seems parents think it their right as parents to decide what their children can and can't watch.

Basically, in America, it's okay for a children to watch a girl bound, gagged and eviscerated, so long as she's fully clothed when it happens.

ImHere

And dont forget no-one must swear while doing it.

anotherlimey

I heard on the radio once that cable channels are not regulated the same as traditional broadcasters. Not sure in what ways though.

Are all the US film ratings just recommendations for parents? It seems they are only enforced when a parent/adult is not present.

Bob

It is weird how boobs and butt cracks get blurred over here, and peoples gobs when they swear...and it's weird how horror shows get shown during the day, hard to tell how badly cut they are with so many adds....what's wrong with parents just not letting there kids watch the horror movie in the first place etc?

RoB1833

My American wife was gobsmacked when I was watching Shameless and it showed tits and arse not blanked out.

rincewind

I find the TV here about the same. Besides, most of British TV is American anyway.

My only complaint is the commercial break format. Show teaser-Credits-Commercial. Where the hell did my show go???

We struggle to find good programs most weeks, but sometimes that's due to having too many channels and we end up missing something because it's a pain to look though the whole program guide.

A little hint. If you don't want your child watching slasher movies during the day, use the parental lock on the receiver.

Dant3

Okay, so you've discovered my geek subject. This might be useful to anyone unfamiliar with US movie ratings and why you'll find screaming 5-year olds are NOT evicted from the midnight showing of Cannibal Holocaust...

In 1968, MGM was refused a certificate of distribution for the movie ‘Blow Up’, due to scenes of nudity. MGM went ahead and released the movie anyway. The Motion Picture Association were pissed that they had been ignored and corralled the National Association of Theatre Owners into approving a system of ‘voluntary’ ratings. Movies wouldn’t require a rating by law, they just couldn’t be shown in a cinema without one.

Originally, there were three ratings, (G, M, and R) all allowing children of any age to attend any movie, the only restriction being that for some movies, they would have to be accompanied by an adult. The MPAA were concerned that banning children outright from a movie would be thought an infringement of their freedom, and cause potential problems with the Supreme Court. The National Association of Theatre Owners, on the other hand, feared that they would be sued by parents for allowing their children, even under supervision, to see adult orientated movies. As a result, a forth rating, X, was introduced.

Currently, there are five ratings. All are granted by the MPAA. An MPAA rating is required in order for a movie to be shown in the vast majority of theatres. Ratings are only guides and not legal restrictions. A child of any age, if accompanied by an adult, can see almost any movie released into cinemas. NC-17 has become exclusively a rating for pornography, and has little relevance for theatrically released movies.

G allows entry to anyone of any age
PG allows entry to anyone of any age, but parents are warned of content
PG-13 allows entry to anyone of any age, but parents are warned of content
R allows entry to anyone of any age, but they must be accompanied by someone over the age of 17
NC-17 allows entry only to those over 17.

Dimsie

My view is probably not going to be popular, but I think that not only children, but even we adults watch too much violence in films and on TV, both in the UK and the USA.
We will (or have) become immune to the horror of killing, violence, & general nastiness. Films become more and more horrific to satisfy the growing appetites of a public who has become used to such a diet of grotesque, if cleverly produced, offerings. Until people start staying away from these films though, nothing will change. And the films will arrive on TV in due course.....and the cycle will not end.

Bob

It doesn't matter if a kid watches a movie with a parent/guardian, but they must be of age to watch the movie on there own...it's so weird going to a horror flick and seeing toddlers there...
and what's weird, things that aren't that violent like th Ring, rated so young, far more scary head ***** than seeing actual violence...

Bob

And there's no cut screen jobby for when adds start/end, so it's a pain fast forwarding...only a small gripe that though

anotherlimey

This is why, when I become President (lol ) I'll be making violence on TV before 9pm illegal, but hardcore porno after 11pm will be fine.