Forget the war in Iraq, skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, outsourcing jobs, the need for healthcare, education, and housing, Congress may take on the BIG issue that confronts this crippled nation -- too much violence and gore on TV (that's gore with a little g, not the man who won a presidential election). I imagine the first step is to form a committee to look into selecting a subcommittee. Then will come hearings and fact finding missions until it's finally determined that 24 can set off a twelve megaton nuclear bomb but not a fifty.
Where should gore-fest Nip/Tuck draw the line? May they show a face lift but not liposuction? Is it okay to see them operate on Kelly Carlson and not Rosie O'Donnell? (Well, in that case, yeah).
And those simulated close up cameras that zoom into peoples' bodies and crash into aneurisms on CSI and House - ick!!!
Does Vic Mackey have to go to anger management classes on The Shield?
Is the only acceptable episode of Oz the one where Johnny Cash comes to perform?
If someone gets in Tony Soprano's way should he sue him?
Men can be IN trees but not fall out of them.
It is impossible to set guidelines. What show is bloodier, Criminal Minds or MASH? Name me a more sympathetic protagonist than serial killer Dexter.
Don't we have more important things to do than regulate television shows? The offending programs all have disclaimers. And there are alternatives. Touched by an Angel is still showing on one of those cable networks.
And it embarrasses me to say that this whole campaign began because of my generation. We baby boomers all became violent homicidal maniacs because according to Congress back then - we watched Captain Video.
Look, if Congress really wants to end the gore and violence we see on television everyday, then end the Iraq war.
You can read more from Ken at kenlevine.blogspot.com