An Open Letter To Nickelodeon And The Disney Channel

Today, when my kids arrive home from school, I predict the first thing they will want to talk about is the fact that Zoey 101 is going to have a baby.

And then the questions will start. "Mom, isn't she in like 9th grade?" "Mom, Jamie Lynn Spears isn't married." "Mom, how can a kid have a baby?"

Spears and her mother selling the news of the impending pregnancy to a magazine in the first place explains so much in terms of the whole family's excruciating emotional and psychological issues. And while the Spears family most definitely should crawl back to their trailer park and stay there, the broader implications of their public behavior does affect us, especially our young daughters and sons.

My children span from ages 10 to three, so we haven't had the birds and bees talk -- yet. But it feels like that time is quickly approaching, if not here.

Thanks, Nick.

The kids at our elementary school -- like kids everywhere -- soak up every piece of information they hear about Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Lynn Spears and all the other characters that prance around on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. For starters, how can they miss the magazines in the check out lines? They are placed at kids' exact eye level.

Most of that information my kids hear about the shows' stars involves naked pictures on the internet, drugs, obnoxious behavior and now a very public pregnancy which will no doubt be plastered everywhere (just wait till they sell the baby pics.)

Nick and Disney Channel, what is going on? (Taking a look at Jamie Lynn Spears' website just now is so sad and laughable at the same time. Pure innocence. What a joke.)

The programming on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel often includes children and teens who are rude, disrespectful, untrustworthy and mean (just try to get through five minutes of Suite Life of Zack and Cody without being disgusted) -- and the off-air, public actions of many of the networks' stars is worse.

Our kids grow up so fast, it is painful that they learn so much about adult things in elementary school and you, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon (even if we don't watch you) are putting people and messages out there that are harmful. You own some responsibility here. The question is, what are you going to do about it?

Comments

[strifeknot]

Since when is Nickelodeon responsible for Spears getting knocked up?

Do your job as a parent and don't let your kids watch these channels if you think they're harmful.

[Arvin]

Let the histrionics begin....queue The Simpson's clip-- "But what about the children??? Someone, PLEASE think about the children!!!" (Helen Lovejoy).

Having to talk about teen pregnancy with a 10 yr old should NOT elicit a huffing and puffing editorial blaming Nickelodeon. Its called the reality of today's society. Just calm down, and be a parent to your children, and talk to them. Teen pregnancy has been an epidemic in this country long before Jaime Lynn Spears, and will continue to be so, whether Nickelodeon fires her or not. If we expect the trend to change, it'll be because of good responsible parenting, not because of good responsible networks.

[curiousasheck]

Copper does have a point show business is more geared towards hooking the lowest common denominator now days. The only other reason much of this adolescent crap would be on prime time is to desensitize and encourage people to imitate "art" (if you want to call it art) in real life. Not much on TV these days encourages pure intellectual effort and exercise.

Any parent who desire their kids to even have a chance in this world at a positive life would have to keep to keep them in solitary confinement to keep them from being exposed to all the bad programing, bad actors and their real life imitators who chew up the scenery.

Whens the last time your kid came home and said, I don't feel like watching the stupid TV or surfing the stupid net. I want to do my homework and then practice my guitar. I want to excel. (Rather then standing in front of the mirror doing Spears moves or imitating a gangster rapper)

So for all you hustlers and super pimps out there, for a country thats supposedly family oriented, and wants a positive future we sure don't walk the talk anymore thats for sure.

[baedeker]

Dear Put-upon Cooper.
Why on earth would you look to TV for any model towards raising mannerly, exciting and curious kids? This is like being angry at the waves for being too big in the sea. And what on earth do you expect the executives at Disney/or Nick to do about Ms. Spears? As for your children -- well, with all respect, how about the following: They're your kids, turn the thing off, don't let them watch, reading and sports are good. As for the producers of the show - they'll win some award for dealing with the entire business responsibly and earnestly and with suitable dullness.

[Philippa]

I believe there's that feature that comes with subscriptions called parental control. Block Nickolodeon and Disney Channel.Leave access only to the channels that you think will positively influence your children.

[Paw1]

Take a pill, Coop. If you are unable to explain to your kids the difference between televised entertainment and reality, why is that Nickelodeon's or Disney's fault? If the programming on those channels doesn't fit your definition of age appropriate entertainment, don't let them watch those shows. If enough families feel like you do, the shows will disappear.

As for the Spears family, they are human beings, not characters. They may not be the sharpest tools in the shed, but they make mistakes like everyone else. I can practically guarantee that your children will know at least one pregnant school mate by the time they finish high school. Maybe they'll be more sympathetic from their exposure to this incident. Maybe they'll use protection. In any case, rather than crucify Jamie Lynn, let's at least applaud her decision to take responsibility and elect not to have an abortion, whether we agree with her method of delivering the news to the world or not.

[ThatsNotFunny]

Nobody should let their kids watch that crap in the first place.

[hopeless277]

Dear Ms. Munroe,

We are going to roll around naked in the cash that you spend on our products and our sponsor's products. Just like we do every day. You, Ms. Munroe, may be incensed, but your children are hypnotized. How do we know? Because WE ARE THE ONES HYPNOTIZING THEM. Resistance is futile, Ms. Munroe. They may be your children, but WE own their souls.

Sincerely,
Micky Mouse & Co.

[JustAnotherJoe]

C'mon. You disparage people living in trailer parks with the comment that the Spears family should crawl back to theirs and then you take the Disney channel to task for rude programming? The last thing I'd want is a family who behaves as boorishly as the Spears living in the trailer next to mine.