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I'd highly recommend watching the show Joan of Arcadia with your kids. Besides having great acxting and phenominal writing, it touches on a lot of topics discussed on this board: self-idenitity, "gifted"children versus "average" ones, economic advantages amd disadvantages, suicide, etc. as well as a surprising number of college topics: AP classes, ECs, smart slackers, etc. That show makes you THINK about things you might otherwise never had thought about and makes them much easier to ponder.

By Fendergirl (Fendergirl) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 11:29 pm: Edit

sorry, i just have to say, i don't watch tv.. Ever.. i've never watched a tv show with my mom, and the last time i watched any kind of show on tv was cartoons when I was a little kids. (other than sunday football.. go eagles)

and I don't plan on getting cable once i have my own house.. complete waste of money..

so i wont be watching your show, but i'm glad you like it.

By Aim78 (Aim78) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:10 am: Edit

Believe me, if you plan on ever getting married...you're going to have a TV. A big one. And it will always be on. And when you're old and weak, and you finally succumb to its power, you'll end up actually planning ahead for 30 minutes of your favorite show, I Love Lucy. It's inevitable, so why fight it? C'mon, everyone's doing it. Just have a taste.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:16 am: Edit

I m married and have been for um 23 years. We don't watch our tv much, although we do have one, but the picture quits if you watch it for more than 8 minutes and since we already have had it repaired twice, not interested in fixing it again, yet not that interested in getting another one yet.
We do watch DVDs on our laptops though
Quantum Leap is a favorite.
( and six feet under)

By Cyclingdad (Cyclingdad) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 07:18 am: Edit

Thanks for the recommendation, Wolfpiper. Funny how mentioning TV prompts declarations, huh?

By Dadx (Dadx) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 08:47 am: Edit

Reminds me of the old Andy Rooney routine about the differences between Democrats and Republicans

D. "We like television and whats on it. We watch a lot of it."

R. "We don't think much of television and what's on it. We watch a lot of it, too."


I think I got it right on the identifications, but I'm not sure how he'd say it today.

By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:06 am: Edit

The tv watching issue is always an interesting one. We have four televisions in our house and I suppose we watch a fair bit. I think that it's fine if people don't want to watch tv but I've never understood the fact that people think that there was something noble in NOT watching. I'm somewhat of a news junkie so I often have CNN on when I'm cooking, puttering in the kitchen. I have my favorite shows which I try to catch each week and I can't imagine not having watched the Olympics or the fun of Jeopardy or The Amazing Race this summer. While it's true that there is a lot of 'crap' on tv these days, there is also much to enjoy and to inform and to entertain. Two of our family favorites to watch together, other than Jeopardy, are Everwood and Six Feet Under.

By Demingy (Demingy) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:23 am: Edit

Yep, I'm one of those evil TV watchers too. I have several favorite shows that I watch when I can (which isn't often while I'm in school) and there are two shows that I specifically tape (Gilmore Girls and CSI-LV).

Fendergirl, I must say that your post was unnecessary, but I guess I'm happy for you that you've never succumbed to the devil box.

By Kathiep (Kathiep) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:24 am: Edit

I love Joan of Arcadia but haven't seen it since marching band season started. We play our games on Friday nights. I watch tv, it's my kids that don't! We don't have cable so only have 10 or so channels to choose from. We have 3 tv's and four computers, the latter get much more action! I really like the new show, "Lost", Judging Amy, the Amazing Race, American Dreams, (hmmm apparently shows that have A in their name)and sometimes Survivor. Saturday and Sunday it's all football - gooo Eagles!

I like to read too, and sometimes they're books that I learn nothing from! okay, ban me from the board now.

By Demingy (Demingy) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:32 am: Edit

Kathiep, LOL! I also liked the first episode of "Lost". In fact, I forgot to add that I'll be taping that as well (at least as long as it stays good).

I have seen a little bit of Joan of Arcadia, but I never really got into it. I do agree with you, Wolfpiper, that this is a good show for families.

BTW, I don't have cable either (that's all I need, an excuse to never leave the TV).

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:50 am: Edit

If I had the tv in the same room while I was cooking I would be a worse cook than I am already.
I didn't say I was noble for not watching it, we are too cheap to get it fixed.
I do have a tv band radio that I enjoy listening to when I am out walking, and I like listening to the radio, but I am too cheap to get a dish or cable and I never can remember what nights my favorite shows are on anyway( CSI and the west wing sometimes)

I am hardly a republician lol, I did get up at 11:30 last week to see Pearl Jam on David Letterman, and was really disappointed Dave didn't have Eddie give his $.02 on the debates.
We did get to see many pictures of John Travoltas jets however, oh. Boy.

By Over30 (Over30) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:08 am: Edit

We have television to thank for our science/computer son's attendance at MIT. He noticed early on that a lot of the 'talking heads' on the science shows on Discovery and PBS were from MIT. He decided in elementary school that MIT was the place for him.

The Stephen Hawking series on PBS sparked an interest in astrophysics for my younger son. We taped "The Elegant Universe" series on PBS and loaned it to his science team for their bus trip last spring. It was a huge hit.

I also have a few favorites. Emerald, CSI is on Thursday and West Wing is Wednesday. I also watch a lot of gardening shows and BBC, as well as listen to the music channels on digital cable. My oldest rarely watches tv, and the youngest mostly watches science and sports shows. It's dad and I who watch a lot.

By Burllinz (Burllinz) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:10 pm: Edit

My family loves TV. We have many in our home. My hs aged kids almost never have time to watch anything on weeknights. We Tivo many many shows and catch up on some weekend nights if they stay home. Its very relaxing family time. I bond with my D watching Gilmore Girls together. I know I will miss this next year when she's away at college. I stopped feeling guilty about the TV when my D got a 1600!

By Amethyst213 (Amethyst213) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:27 pm: Edit

I'm with you, Burllinz! We have several tv's in our house, and there are many shows that each of us watch regularly. Sometimes together, sometimes alone if we don't want to watch the same show. Ranges from news, talk shows (Oprah and Dr. Phil), game shows, reality shows, sitcoms. It can be relaxing to just sit down with the kids and watch something you all enjoy. Often it brings up topics of conversation (for example when my 18 year old daughter decided to watch Sex in the City last season with me because Mikail Baryshnikov was guest starring!) I agree that sometimes it's just mindless relaxation, but it's not like it's the only thing we do. I know that my kids learned lots about letters and numbers by watching Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right, in addition to Sesame Street. Personally, I don't understand how anyone with kids doesn't own a tv (though I do know a few famiies who brag about that fact).
I should also add that both my husband and myself have advanced graduate degrees,are in Mensa, and all 3 kids scored over 1500 on their SAT's.

By Kiddielit (Kiddielit) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 08:48 pm: Edit

Gilmore Girls is the best mom-daughter show to watch together. We tape GG and Amazing Race. Nothing else here is really "cannot miss" -- my brother has been campaigning for us to watch Joan of Arcadia also. My girls like One Tree Hill (ack!)
I can't remember the last time I watched a sitcom.
Anyone see Desperate Housewives?

By Alphamom (Alphamom) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:31 am: Edit

We get a lot of useful information from TV as well as entertainment (Yay, Gilmore Girls!). It's all how it hits your brain. My D has an incredible store of general knowledge from TV which has served her well in school and engendered amazed looks from her equally academic friends. "How do you KNOW THAT?" is the phrase I have often heard them ask. She can sift information out of any program like a magnet. Joan of Arcadia is definitely a thought provoker, and it's fun to watch Russ Tamblin's (Tom Thumb) daughter in the lead. What a proud Dad he must be.