I am really disappointed at some of the new Disney Channel shows. The number of references to people in jail - Gibson's girlfriend and the doorman's grandmother on Jessie - just isn't funny. Why is it entertaining to talk about people's relatives in jail?
Why are all the adults stupid? Why is that funny? In Hannah Montana, the kids always thought the dad was stupid, but he wasn't. He knew what was going on and was there to provide a lesson and help kids grow up. Isn't that reassuring to kids? Why is the principle on the Ant Farm a total idiot who is corrupt? Why is that funny? I am watching Disney stoop to a level I never thought you would go down to.
My 10 year old said to me - Mom, why do they make fun of people who are different on Jessie? Zuri and Ravi are different and instead of celebrating those differences, we are supposed to laugh at them. Why can't they come in and save the day because of their diversity. Why is Bertram a self-centered fat man? Why is commenting on his weight and lack of work ethic in every episode good for our children? Even my 10 year old is uncomfortable. I feel like if our kids said half the lines on your shows, they would be be suspended for bullying at school. Why does the police officer dad in Ant Farm steal evidence from work and everyone thinks that is great?
I remember Bill Cosby commenting on A Different World after its first year in production. He said that they needed to change the formula. The material wasn't funny. Characters weren't presented in a dignified way - they were demeaned and got cheap laughs the more stupid they were. He went back to the drawing board. Not studying and being lazy were no longer qualities to be admired, which is why the show lasted as long as it did.
Hannah Montana and Zack and Cody seem to be of a bygone era.
Yet, some of these shows are salvageable. Debby Ryan is a cute actress who is very positive and a great role model. The premise is great. How a bunch of adopted kids with different backgrounds can come together to form a real family, but it is filled with cheap laughs and everyone's expense. I am watching an episode where there is a bully and it is meant to be funny. Bullying is a huge problem in schools. Why is Disney making it FUNNY?
China Anne McClain is a great little actress. Why is everyone around her weird and odd? I thought it would be a show about being smart and how you deal with it in a world that doesn't always think that smart is cool. Well, Disney managed to create a show where smart isn't cool. Except for China Anne McClain, being smart is still dorky and everyone is a social outcast who is smart.
I can%u2019t put my finger on what is wrong with Shake It Up. Except for the episode on dyslexia, which I think was very good, most of the other shows have the same formula %u2013 stupid adults who are serving community service sentences? This is funny? This is how low we have gotten?
Good Luck Charlie seems closer to Hannah Montana and Zack and Cody. The mom and dad have their funny quirks, but they aren%u2019t stupid. They don%u2019t steal things, and they expect their kids to be honest and
Good humor should be intelligent, and not EVEN for kids - ESPECIALLY for kids. They can see through the cheap laughs. I have a lot more Disney years ahead, and I would really like it if Disney would take a second look at their shows.
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