[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Dan'D

As there was with computers, there are filters and software that helps you eliminate the stuff you don’t want to come up on your computer. There will be in due time, someone will come up something similar to filter out TV.

I do realize there are thing on TV that is not bad but I don’t want my kids going thru a 55 gallon drum of dog poop to find that one piece of candy that is still wrapped on the very bottom. Any way you look at it they would stink time they got to the bottom.

Dan’D

Bro.D,

New TVs have a built-in ability to block any unwanted TV program according to it's rating from the TV Parental Guidelines Sysytem.

The TV Parental Guidelines system was first proposed on December 19, 1996 by the Congress, the television industry and the FCC, and went into effect by January 1, 1997 on most major broadcast and cable networks in response to public concerns of increasingly explicit sexual content, graphic violence and strong profanity in television programs. It was established as a voluntary-participation system, with ratings to be determined by the individually-participating broadcast and cable networks. It was specifically designed to be used with the V-chip, which was mandated to be built into all television sets manufactured since 2000, but the guidelines themselves have no legal force.

The system does not apply to news or sports programming, or commercials. An E/I will be shown during the entirety of some TV-Y shows.

The first 3 ratings are used for kids' shows.

TV-Y (Suitable for all ages.)
The themes and content in programs issued this rating are specifically aimed at a young audience, mainly those ages 2-6. These programs are not expected to frighten or upset young children. Examples of programs issued this rating include The Huggabug Club, Rugrats, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Wow Wow Wubbzy, Poopster Sheep, Go Baby, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Barney And Friends.
TV-Y7 (Unsuitable for children under 7)
These shows may be suitable for all, but may not be appropriate for children under the age of 7. This rating may include mild language, mild violence, and little or none sexual content. Examples include Ed, Edd, n' Eddy, Codename: Kids Next Door, Kappa Mikey, Zoey 101, Digimon, and The Fairly Oddparents. SpongeBob Squarepants was originally rated TV-Y. Then, it was rated TV-Y7.
TV-Y7-FV (May not be suitable for children under 7; contains fantasy violence)
Programs issued this rating contain fantasy violence that may be more intense than other programs in the same category. Pucca and Gargoyles are often given this rating. Other programs issued this rating include: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Chaotic, Sonic X, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Pokemon was originally TV-Y when it was shown on Kids WB, but when it switched to Cartoon Network, it was rated TV-Y7-FV.
TV-G (General audience)
Programs issued this rating are deemed appropriate for general audiences, however content in these programs are not always specifically intended towards children. Examples of programs issued this rating include The Price Is Right, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, earlier episodes of American Idol, religious programming, documentaries, Dexter's Laboratory, Full House, and early episodes of The Simpsons. Many programs on the Disney Channel use the G rating instead of the Y7 rating as the Disney Channel aims toward a family audience.
TV-PG (Unsuitable for young children)
This rating signifies that the program is unsuitable for younger children without the guidance of a parent. Some game shows are rated TV-PG, including Deal or No Deal, The Power of 10, 1 vs. 100, Family Feud (current episodes) and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, mainly for their suggestive dialog. Most reality shows are rated TV-PG, including Supernanny, Wife Swap, Kid Nation, and American Idol, for their suggestive dialog or coarse language. Sitcoms such as Everybody Loves Raymond, The Steve Harvey Show, and Seinfeld also usually will carry a TV-PG rating. Danny Phantom was originally rated TV-Y7-FV. When season 4 was aired, it was rated TV-PG. Also some unamericanized anime sometimes receives this rating such as Princess Tutu, Naruto and Kodocha. Some feature films originally rated PG-13 or R are edited for network or basic cable and are rated TV-PG. Some shows may skip over from TV-PG to TV-14 between episodes, such as House or 30 Rock, in some rare instances when switching networks as well. The rating may be accompanied by one or more of the following subratings:
V for moderate violence
S for mild sexual situations
L for mild coarse language
D for suggestive dialogue (mature themes)
TV-14 (Unsuitable for children under 14)
Programs issued the TV-14 rating are usually unsuitable for children under the age of 14 without the guidance of a parent or guardian. This rating may be accompanied by any of the following subratings:
V for intense violence
S for moderate sexual situations
L for coarse language
D for highly suggestive dialogue
Many programs that air after 9:00 pm are rated TV-14 with some exceptions, including Bones and Prison Break which are on at 8:00 pm, as well as The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live, as well as many prime-time dramas and some sitcoms such as Family Guy and American Dad. Also, many crime dramas carry the TV-14 rating, such as the Law & Order franchise, Prison Break, and some episodes of The Simpsons. Much of Comedy Central's shows such as most Chapelle's Show episodes, The Sarah Silverman Program and Mind of Mencia also carry this rating. Many daytime soap operas such as Guiding Light, and As The World Turns, and wrestling shows such as WWE Raw and ECW on Sci-Fi have this rating as well. Certain PG-13 or R rated feature films are rated TV-14 when edited for network or basic cable. Many programs on Adult Swim get a TV-14 such as Bleach, Shin Chan, Death Note, and InuYasha. Others alternate between TV-14 and TV-MA, such as Happy Tree Friends, Robot Chicken, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG and Blood+.
Often award ceremonies (such as the Academy Awards), concerts and some specials will be rated TV-14. This rating has rated the most shows, with over 200 shows rated TV-14 in history.
TV-MA (intended for mature audiences ages 17 and older; formerly TV-M until 1998)
This program is not intended for and may not be suitable for children under the age of 17 (which is considered the last year of childhood). The program may contain extreme graphic violence, strong profanity, overt explicit sexual dialogue, nudity and/or strong sexual content. South Park frequently carries a TV-MA rating, with the syndicated episodes receiving a TV-14 rating, as well as original programming on HBO and Showtime and some of the shows on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim such as Moral Orel, The Boondocks, Metalocalypse, and Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil. The film Schindler's List was the first network TV program to display this rating whereas the pilot episode of the CBS police drama Brooklyn South was the first network TV show to display the rating.
This rating may be accompanied by any of the following subratings:
V for extreme graphic violence
S for explicit sexual situations
L for strong coarse language
The D sub-rating is not used for TV-MA. When TV-MA was still "TV-M" the D sub-rating was actually used.
The implications of these ratings, particularly the TV-MA rating, vary greatly depending on the situation. For example, South Park, which airs on Comedy Central in prime time, generally contained bleeped language even though it carries the TV-MA rating. Yet certain other TV-MA programs on Comedy Central (including the late-night "Secret Stash" airings of films such as South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Kevin Smith titles and other programs) appear to have no restrictions on language. This largely depends on the wishes of the shows' sponsors.