NBC-show 'pushes envelope' by disrespecting Catholic faith

'Committed' Angers Catholics Nation-wide

February 24, 2005

NBC-TV SHOW ANGERS CATHOLICS NATIONWIDE

During the February 22 episode of the NBC-TV sitcom, “Committed,” two non-Catholics are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass. Nate, who is Jewish, and Bowie, a Protestant, don’t know what to do with the Eucharist, so they make several failed attempts to get rid of it. For example, they try slipping it into the pocket of a priest, dropping it on a tray of cheese and crackers, etc.

At one point, the priest, who is portrayed as not knowing the difference between the Host and a cracker, goes to grab the “cracker” from a tray of appetizers; he initially balks when he discovers that it is the last one. Then he changes his mind, saying, “Oh, what the hell.” By far the most offensive scene occurs when Nate and Bowie accidentally flush what they think is the Host down the toilet.

Catholic League president William Donohue commented on this today:

“It’s been quite a while since we’ve been deluged with as many complaints as this episode of ‘Committed’ fielded. To say that Catholics are angry about this show would be an understatement—the outrage is visceral and intense. The complaints have come from bishops, college chaplains, pastors and the laity, and they have come from all over the country. With good reason: NBC has made a direct frontal assault on Roman Catholicism, choosing to mock, trivialize and ridicule the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

“What happened was deliberate. According to a January 2 story in the Cincinnati Enquirer, the writers for the series, Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, have been encouraged by NBC executives ‘to push the limits of comedy.’ For obvious reasons, the writers of ‘Roseanne,’ ‘Murphy Brown’ and ‘Ellen’ chose not to push the buttons of homosexuals (or some other protected group), so they decided to play it safe and stay in good standing with their bosses by bashing Catholics.

“More than an apology is needed. This episode should be retired for good, and that is what we will demand.”

I am only hoping that the reason this garbage was allowed to air was because they truly don't know what the Eucharist means to Catholics. But then again, they had to have known, otherwise they wouldn't have used this subject in a comedy aiming to shock and scandalize. And people say we are paranoid when we claim that Catholics are now the last acceptable group to bash. Would this show have aired if it's focus were on a Jewish or Muslim practice? I truly don't think so.

Please send your e-mails here- nbcshows@nbcuni.com -and let NBC know that this kind of disrespect isn't tolerable.

Me versus Temptation: I hope I can win

Whenever I think of the cross of Christ, and how to embrace it is my life, I always think of the hardships and trials of life. I think about sickness, loving others who aren't so loveable, having patience and gentleness as a mother, being diligent in my household chores, or something like that. Basically, I think of everyday roadblocks when I think of the cross.

However, this Lenten season has opened my eyes to, in my opinion, the most difficult aspect of carrying the cross: resisting temptation and avoiding sin.

I have never really struggled with disobeying God in my life. I'm not saying I don't sin because I do plenty of that. I just have never had to fight to avoid a particular sin weighing heavy on me. But there is a situation in my life right now where I have to fight the roadblocks of temptation on my path towards holiness.

This has been extremely difficult for me because when I am struggling with everyday matters, and I fail, I can just brush myself off, blame it on human imperfection, and try again. But when carrying the cross means resisting temptation, and then I fail, it is devastating to me. It isn't just imperfection or humanity in me, it is sin, hatred, anger, evil, etc. It is all the bad things in the world manifesting itself through my actions. And I find that cross extremely difficult to carry.

To me, it puts on a lot of pressure. When I fail in daily trials, I feel called to pray and recommit myself to the right path, but there isn't a sense of overwhelming guilt. There's just a desire to truly be better. But when I fail, and that failure appears in the form of sin, I feel a very heavy burden of guilt and am not satisfied until I have gone to Confession. Unfortunately, that usually means waiting until Saturday's scheduled time for Reconciliation, and so there are a few days of sadness, remorse, guilt, or other melancholy thoughts. Also, because I feel so down about failing, I usually don't muster up the strength to be better, and the sin continues the rest of the week until I feel the graces pouring into me from my Confession.

I have to admit that while this Lenten season has been difficult so far, it has also taught me so much about having compassion towards others. I have known many people who continue to struggle with the same sinful vices, and I have never been able to be understanding of them. I just want to tell them, "just stop doing it!" It was always so simple, so easy of an answer. But now I see that it isn't so simple for those desperately trying to "just stop doing it!" There's a lot of pressure and emotions involved, and a lot of guilt that may seem to be of a holy nature, but can actually be debilitating to a person so in need of incredible strength at the moment.

It is just amazing how many times I have asked God to help me to be more compassionate or understanding, to make me a better friend, to help me to love others better, and to see others as God sees them. Oh, how He has an incredible way of answering those prayers.

Virgins Scorned

So, I watched The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All show last night. I know, you can all cyber-slap me now. But anyways, two of the rejected men were virgins saving themselves until marriage. Towards the end of the show there was a feature on the attitude of the men (and Jen) towards the virgins. There were a variety of comments, all ranging from insulting to gut-churning. But absolutely no respect given for the choices these two men made. Granted, one of those men was an all-out jerk, but that was beside the point. Basically, everyone, including Jen, made comments saying that men of "that age" should be having sex with women, and that there was something wrong with them if they weren't. There was one comment referring to men as being "animals", but in a good way.

One comment just angers me because of it's falseness. One guy claimed that two people NEED to sleep with each other in order to find out if they are sexually compatible. I just find that hilarious. What, do you go around sleeping with people, and if they aren't good in bed, then they get the boot? And if things weren't so hot in bed, how do you know it was them and not you?! This is something I have had to answer to, being both my husband and I were virgins when we married. One "friend" of mine said he would never marry a virgin because he didn't want to be with someone who didn't know what they were doing. I admit, that statement freaked me out about my own wedding night. But what I have learned is that sex, while being beautiful, spiritual, powerful, etc. is also something that is learned. And it isn't learned by going around banging every woman you meet in a night club. It is learned when two people, who have given their souls to each other, trust each other enough to make themselves completely vulnerable. It's when two people feel so comfortable with each other that they can be truly free with each other in every way. Sexual compatibility (or as the guy really meant it, GOOD SEX) is present and is made better not by experiementation and trial and error, but by a lifelong, unbreakable bond that makes the couple safe, secure, and free.

Another nauseating comment was made by the host himself. One of the virgins commented that his body wasn't a carnival ride that women could just grab a ticket for and get on (Amen!). The host then posed this question, "What do you do when you find out that your body is a carnival ride and you've been missing out?" OK, ha ha, funny comment. But really, let's take a look at that comment. Carnival ride. So, most carnival rides are maintained by dirty, greasy men who are working "the ride" with one hand and holding a cigarette with another, all the while being paid little more than minimum wage, and provided with less than desirable attire. The rides are put up and taken down with rushed fury and packed away every week or so for a bumpy ride to another county. They are maintained just well enough to actually work, but not well enough to dispell the fear that the whole thing will colapse while you are on it, sending you hurtling through the air toward your impending death. The whole time you are on it, you are screaming you head off, and most of the people who do ride it it are leaving deposits of sweat, saliva, food, drink, possibly blood, and certainly vomit. Yeah, that's how you want to think of your body? That's how you want to treat it? Fine. As for me, my body is a sleek, smooth, silver-lined, very expensive Corvette that a man turns over his entire bank account and takes out a second mortgage for; admired and respected, taken care of very well, and maintained with the utmost scrutiny. And, with only one driver.

Alexa at Domestic Excellence has officially interviewed me!

1- Have you ever visited another country, and if so, what was the occasion?

2- Where did you meet your husband?

3- Describe what you were wearing on your wedding day.

4- If you were a famous celebrity, who would it be?

5- What dinner dish do you make that you most like to eat yourself?

1- I went to Tijuana, Mexico for two summers to help build homes for poor families with my youth group, and I went to Jamaica for my honeymoon.

2- I met him at Church. We were both serving on a retreat team that put on retreats for jr. high and High school students.

3- My white lace wedding dress (very Cinderella-like), and then later I was wearing my birthday suit. ;)

4- I think I would like to be Ron Howard. He had great childhood experiences on two great shows that didn't turn him into a drugged-out rebellious teenager. Now he's extremely talented, respected, successful, and has a great family and a great group of friends.

5- It's a recipe that I got from the Flylady website called Madison County Chicken- Chicken breast smothered with honey mustard, mushrooms, bacon, and cheese. OK, now I'm salivating (thansk a lot, Alexa)!

Okay. If anyone wants to play along...
1-Leave me a comment saying “interview me.”
2-I will respond by asking you five questions.
3-You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions.
4-You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5-When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. (Write your own questions or borrow some.)

Storming the Heavens for Terri Schiavo

Terri Schiavo's life hangs in the balance again. Please, get your prayers up there for her! And pray for the soul of her husband and everyone advocating the murder of this woman.

Happy Catholic has some great quotes summarizing what many of us pro-lifers are feeling about this case.

Spiritual Warfare: praying in front of abortion clinics really works!

I used to pray in front of our local abortion clinic when I was engaged and in college. This inspirational story makes me think that once all my little ones are in school, it is a habit I would like to take up again. It really is a powerful experience. I remember there was our little group of Catholics praying the Rosary, a couple of Protestants holding protest signs, and then a trio of people who would actually block any pregnant moms from coming into contact with us. One of them even said to us "Having an abortion was the best thing I ever did." We would sometimes get honks from cars passing by in support, and sometimes the horns would blare in contempt, followed by obscenities and gestures hurled at us from their car window. Interestingly, the sound of the horns are the same, but even with my back turned I knew which ones were in solidarity and which ones were in opposition. But praying in front of the abortion clinic was one of the things I loved most because I felt like I was aiding the Holy Spirit in saving lives.

Thanks to Maria from Catholic Mom Community for the link.

NBA fans given code of conduct

The code of conduct the NBA is making mandatory across the league is a step in the right direction, paticularly with the limitations on alcohol during games. The brawl in Detroit was an embarrassment we all hope will never be repeated. But I was one of the viewers who felt that the fans were more in the wrong than the players and that they were completely out of control. I especially like that the code of conduct addressed foul language and obscene gestures. Now, if the NBA could get their players to refrain from using foul language on the court (which any kid gets a glimpse of while lip reading a player during a game), then I would really be happy. But thank you to the NBA for doing something to make this game more enjoyable for everyone.

Not on the Same Page

Here's a great article by Sara Fox Peterson at CatholicMom.com regarding couples who aren't sharing the same perspective regarding the use of Natural Family Planning. Check out her other columns over there if you are interested in this subject, because she is a great resource.

St. Francis de Sales and Devotion

One of my Lenten practices is reading An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. It is one of my favorites because St. Francis explains things so clearly to me in ways that touch my heart. However, he also can explain things in a way that makes me cringe with acknowledgment of my imperfections.

In the first chapter, a passage really revealed to me that while I may think I am religious and devout, I probably am not as much as I think. It also made me realize that while I may be critical of the weaknesses or lack of devotion of others, they probably have strengths and devotion that I do not.

Arelius was wont to paint all his pictures with the features and expression of the women he loved, and even so we all colour devotion according to our own likings and dispositions. One man sets great value on fasting, and believes himself to be leading a very devout life, so long as he fasts rigorously, although the while his heart is full of bitterness;—and while he will not moisten his lips with wine, perhaps not even with water, in his great abstinence, he does not scruple to steep them in his neighbour’s blood, through slander and detraction. Another man reckons himself as devout because he repeats many prayers daily, although at the same time he does not refrain from all manner of angry, irritating, conceited or insulting speeches among his family and neighbours. This man freely opens his purse in almsgiving, but closes his heart to all gentle and forgiving feelings towards those who are opposed to him; while that one is ready enough to forgive his enemies, but will never pay his rightful debts save under pressure. Meanwhile all these people are conventionally called religious, but nevertheless they are in no true sense really devout.

It was such an inspiring to read to start off my Lent. His writings are truly meant for lay people who strive for true devotion and holiness.

He then inpsires us to aim towards true devotion, telling us that true devotion consists of loving God, which then fills us with Grace, which then leads us to act with Charity, and "when it attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly, then it is called Devotion."

Sr. Lucia, Fatima seer, dies at age 97

Sr. Lucia, one of the children to whom Mary appeared at Fatima, died on February 13, 2005. The 13th also happens to be the date on which Mary would appear to the children each month. This story gives me chills and inspires me to pray and repent, and to ponder the end-times. But I know I must remember that if I live my life the way I should right now, there is no need to be too anxious over the end-times.

Ash Wednesday Musings

Why is it that I am more hungry on Ash Wednesday (and Good Friday as well) than any other day of the year? I mean, on any other normal day I can be fine going without breakfast. But yesterday, my stomach was screaming at me by 9:30 a.m. And why is it that you crave foods you don't even like? I'm OK with Taco Bell, but it's not my fave. Yet passing by TB yesterday while running errands made me salivate and whimper. For dinner last night we had a plain tuna sandich, and I have never loved tuna so much in my life.

Speaking of tuna, my husband asked me to put little chunks of celery in the tuna mix last night. I said we shouldn't because it was Ash Wednesday. He said, "Come on! It's the only thing we are eating all day! It's not like I'm asking you to layer it with Hershey's chocolate!" So, I put the celery in, but still think we should have gone without. What do you all think?

My daughter is a beautiful 4 year old, and at Mass yesterday as we are in line to receive our ashes asks in a loud kid-voice, "Are we going to go up and get a rash on our forehead?"

One thing about Ash Wednesday; make sure that you eat all your food from the Fat Tuesday celebration beforehand. Nothing defines "the occasion of sin" more than two boxes of Chinese leftovers, a half a bag of Hershey's miniatures, and 2 extra Hostess donuts flashing themselves at you in your kitchen first thing in the morning.

For my kids, I read them the story of Jesus in the desert being tempted by the devil. My 5 year old son made his image of satan very clear when I asked him what he thought of the story. He said, "So when the devil drives up to us on the street and says, 'come here come here! get into my car! ' we should run away so he won't kidnap us and make us sin. And if he grabs us we should scream and yell and kick and bite, whatever we have to to get away." Well, I was glad to know I have prepared my children to face the world of potential molesters and kidnappers. Hopefully when he is 16 he will feel similar sentiments about the devil disguised as a pretty young girl scantily clad on prom night.

So when explaining Lent to my kids, they of course were obsessed with the idea of giving things up. Their first suggestions were, of course, to give up "setting the table" or "cleaning their toys", but have now moved to the level of "not messing up mommy and daddy's games" and "picking out my own clothes for school". Well, it's a start.

And to end it off with another of my daughter's quotes from our Lenten discussion yesterday: "I didn't want Jesus to make me. I wanted Mary to make me because she's a girl."

I'm really looking forward to breakfast now. Gotta love the day after Ash Wednesday. Makes all foods taste better.

TV-Time

Alias
"Nocturne" was a good episode. Very creepy, but I still liked it. I enjoyed seeing Sydney and Nadia interact in a personal way with each other, getting closer to being sisterly. I am looking forward to next week's eppie, when it looks like the sister relationship will really be explored. I really enjoyed Dixon calling out Sloane. Oh, we all know he's still our favorite Spy-baddie. We just have to be patient.

Lost
I haven't been as faithful to this show as I have wanted to, so I am a bit confused on some things. Like, is Ethan the other french lady's son? Is he human? I really wonder what he has done to those he's kidnapped. And I thought the Chinese couple could understand English, but were keeping it under wraps? Oh, I can't wait for this show to come out on dvd so I can catch up on all I've missed.

Veronica Mars
I really liked the episode, but one thing I really like is how the show portrays Lily as a normal teenager. She is a bad girl who sometimes acts very immature and childish, as we saw in her treatment of Yolanda this episode. But most shows portray their dead characters as saints. This is very refreshing. I am also loving Logan more and more each episode. I even thought last night, "I wonder if he and Veronica could hook up?" But I know, the forever hope for us all will be her reunion with Duncan. But I sure hope they clear up the question as to whether or not he's her brother!

The Amazing Race
I'm really mad that Kris and Jon didn't win. They are my favorite team of all time! I look forward to Amber and Rob next season. But the first words out of my husband's mouth was, "Oh, I hope they don't win! It's not like they need the money!" True, but I will still root for them, because I am a sucker for public marriage proposals and true romance. Speaking fo which, Aaron much really really love Hayden to propose to her after that race!

I finally updated my blog list

So now I don't have to go to everyone else's blogs and go to their blog lists, or even more frustrating, dig through their posts to find a comment you made so that I can get to your blog. Anyway, if you really feel you should or you really want to be on my blog list, let me know, because today I am in the mood to mess around with my template. Usually I try to avoid all HTML stuff, so I might not update my blog list for a while again. But all these additions make me realize that instead of cutting back on computer time, I am just adding more and more and more.... Well, at least it's mostly Catholic computer time.

By the way, thank you so much Rebecca for the link to A Mother's Rule for Life. I have also been really wanting to read this book and am glad to see she's in the blogging world now.

Classy Halftime Sow

Well done Paul McCartney!

I personally loved the Super Bowl halftime show and felt it was exactly as it should be. It was fun, it was classy, and it had fantastic special effects to coincide with great songs. It was a lot more entertaining to me than watching half-naked people strutting around a stage thrusting their body parts all over the place singing songs with words I can't even understand, nor would I want to (gosh, I feel really old saying that).

It was also funny seeing all these young, twenty something girls in the crowd on the field singing along and screaming for the famous Beatle alongside a group of 30-40 year old men. What, don't younger men appreciate the classic Brit?

Ice, Ice, Baby

I can't believe Vanilla Ice said something profound, or at least something I agree with.

Vanilla Ice also admits he may be a has-been, but finds solace in the timelessness of one of his tunes. “As for music and my place in it, maybe things are changing a little bit,” he says. “I know this: a good song is deeper than a tattoo. It’ll remind you of the car you’re driving and the girl you’re going around with and the streets you’re cruising. It’s better than a photo album. A song is a tattoo that you never lose. ‘Ice, Ice Baby,’ man, you’ll remember that when you’re 90.”

Wrongful Death Claimed in Case of Discarded Embryo

(AP) A couple whose frozen embryo was accidentally destroyed at a fertility clinic has the right in Illinois to file a wrongful-death lawsuit, a judge has ruled in a case that some legal experts say could have implications in the debate over embryonic stem cell research.

In an opinion issued Friday, Judge Jeffrey Lawrence said "a pre-embryo is a 'human being' ...whether or not it is implanted in its mother's womb."

He said the couple is as entitled to seek compensation as any parents whose child has been killed.

I really, really hope this couple wins their case. It is very similar to the controversy surrounding cases where an unborn child killed in a crime or accident lead to a murder conviction (most recently, the Scott Peterson case) yet abortion remains legal. I think (or at least, I pray) that the more we face the contradictions in the law head on, the more our society will realize and be compelled to accept the sanctity of human life at all stages.

Light of the World, Salt of the Earth: A mixture of thoughts by me, Fr. Mark, and Fr. George

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:13-16

Our priests gave an excellent homilies this Sunday (one I actually heard, the other my husband retold to me) from which I was able to draw from. They were talking about what exactly salt does and what it meant to the early Church. Salt was used to purify things, preserve food, and was used to flavor food. How does this apply to us as Christians? Do we purify our lives, our days, and those around us? Do we keep others from rotting? How well do we sustain, and how well to we sustain others? Do we add meaning and purpose as Christians to this world? Do we make our lives flavorful with love, joy, peace, hope, or faith?

Salt was also used as an offering to God. In the Old Testament, the meat offerings to God were commanded to be seasoned with salt. Are we making ourselves part of an overall offering to God?

When a meal is under-seasoned or over-seasoned, the whole meal tastes poorly, and then the meal becomes all about the salt (the abundance or lack of it). However, when the salt is just right, no one even notices the salt. Instead the meal is about the food and the overall flavor. Are we this way in our lives? Do we practice this kind of humility? Or is everything about us?

To be a light of the world. What does light do? It illuminates, let's us see, makes things clear, provides warmth, and dispells fear. Do we do this in our world? In our families? Amongst our friends?

Being the salt of the earth and the light of the world aren't choices. Jesus did not say "you CAN BE the salt of the earth". He said "You ARE the salt of the earth....You ARE the light of the world." It is a part of our vocations, our beings as Christians. There is no decision that needs to be made, other than if we will be salt that retains its flavor, or if we will be the salt that loses its flavor and is therefore thrown out.

Blessings to Fr. Mark and Fr. George.

The Predominant Fault

Last night I was so blessed to be able to attend a Fransiscan prayer group started by some close friends. I hadn't been to a prayer group in so long, and was hoping to merely receive some great fellowship. But I recevied so many realizations from God as to what I need to do with my spiritual life, and I am now anticipating Lent with a whole new fervor.

We read a selection from the book To Live As Francis Lived: A Guide for Secular Franciscans. We read Ch. 14, which was titled The Sacrament of Reconciliation. One section of this chapter titled Predominant Fault discussed how each of us have personalities and characteristics that define who we are to those around us and to ourselves. If we ask others to desribe us, they usually can list off particular things about us: perfectionistic, funny, relaxed, intelligent, understanding, emotional, etc. Whatever characteristic it is that people primarily attribute to us can be expressed in either good ways or bad. The point of this section was that we need to figure out what our primary characteristics are and then we will begin to notice that most of our sinful behavior stems from this characteristic.

For example, if someone is described as a perfectionist, then he can display that quality in great ways (an orderly life, disciplined in prayer, excellent work habits, etc), and it can also be the source of his most frequently sinful behavior. For example, he may be very critical and judmental of others. He may be too harsh with his children. He may feel prideful over the thought of going to Reconciliation.

I think this is very true. Take my husband for example: he asked me what I thought was his predominant characteristic and I pointed out that he was easy-going. And sure enough, this theory rang true. On the good side, he is very fun to be around, he is very compassionate and non-judgemental, he is easy to talk to, etc. However, he can be very undisciplined in his life, particularly in his prayer-life, and he can also be lazy in his daily routine. This characteristic in him really is the basis for some of his most sinful or imperfect behavior.

Now I was reading this reflection and I began to wonder what my characteristic was. To be honest, I didn't know. What God revealed to me was that I have really packed my life in with lots of stuff and have made no time for self-knowledge and reflection. I get myself so busy with the kids and my household duties and fill up any other free time with reading fiction, watching TV, being on the computer, or talking to my friends on the phone. While in the car I blast the radio searching for songs I am familiar with and can sing along to. There has been no room made in my life for silence, contemplative prayer, or anything that will allow myself to be vulnerable in front of the Lord and allow Him to tell me what I need to work on.

Adoration? I haven't gone in so long, because I can barely sit still and quietly for five minutes. To think of doing so for an hour, putting my entire focus and effort into opening myself up to the Lord has seemed like such work, and it has also scared me. I really don't want to look at myself and see what I need to improve on because the saying is true: ignorance is bliss. Sometimes I fall into the bliss of not knowing my faults and weaknesses, and therefore not having to work on them.

But another thing this reflection pointed out to me is that by not ferreting out my predominant fault, I am allowing the world to become more disordered and sinful, because my sinful behavior affects the entire Body of Christ. I have disillusioned myself into thinking that my sins are my own. But by allowing myself to remain in my base, sinful bliss, I don't love my husband as I should, or my children, my friends, or even strangers I encounter in my daily life. This lack of effort on my part then causes others to withhold the love they need to give in their daily lives. The whole world is affected by personal sin.

That is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is so necessary. When we sin we don't just sin against God, but against the Church as a whole. So just telling God in the privacy of our heart that we are sorry doesn't cut it. We need to be reconciled to the Church. Confessing our sins to the priest, in whom Christ is residing in the Sacrament, reconciles us to the people as well as to our God.

I had already planned on going to Confession weekly as a Lenten resolution; this chapter confirmed that decision. But this reflection made me aware of the fact that this Lent, I must simplify my life in order to make time for more prayer. I need to quiet my life in order to make room for silence. I need to let down my guard and make myself completely open to the Lord, so that I can recognize my predominant fault and the good and evil ways it manifests itself in my life..

TV Needs More Family-Friendly Shows

Last night I was watching the Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reuinion, and it was a pleasant, nostalgic look at a beloved show. I never really watched Happy Days, but my husband did, and used to sigh at the fact I had no clue who Pinky Tescadero was.

While I didn't watch Happy Days faithfully and only caught it's re-runs, there were a lot of shows that I did watch as a kid and have fond memories of: The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, and Who's the Boss are among those shows. Yes, I look back at a couple of them and think, "This show is sooo cheesy and stupid." But as a kid, I loved them!

It all made me think, 20 years from now, what family sitcoms or shows from today would my kids be able to feel nostalgia over while watching a 20 year anniversary/reunion special? Well, the answer is...none.

We don't really watch TV as a family because there just aren't any family shows on TV anymore. These days the emphasis is on edgy, sophisticated, adult shows that are completely inappropriate for kids. I remember Thursday evenings at 8:00 was my night for Cosby. Up until last year the show available at that time slot was Friends, and I would never let my kids watch that show.

There are a lot of shows that my husband and I watch together, but only after the kids are in bed. We enjoy Alias, Veronica Mars, The Amazing Race, and CSI. The only show we sit down and watch as a family is American Idol. I have heard my friends praise Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as being a family show, but we haven't been able to catch that one yet.

So is that it? Reality shows? I that the family fare for this generation of kids?

Well, I guess I can see it in a positive light- my kids just won't be watching that much television. And so they won't be developing the bad TV-watching habits my husband and I have. So, as adults, they probably will have other hobbies and interests to occupy their time because they just didn't grow up watching TV shows. Hmm... maybe the networks should take note.