Whatever happened to tv shows like...

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Little House on the Prairie?

My DD9 just finished reading the books, and we're now working our way through the tv series. Believe it or not, I'm enjoying it as much now as I did when I was her age. There's little violence, little sexual innuendo (although there's lots of nice, clean, innocent flirtation), the kids are respectful, and the vast majority of characters are good, honest, hardworking people. Even the "mean" characters like Nellie and Mrs. Olsen have redeeming qualities at heart.

Is there ANYTHING that can compare to this series today? Am I just not looking at the right shows? It's nice to be able to watch something the whole family really can enjoy.

 

[Suzie Zoo]

Well, there was last year but it didn't get renewed. Life Is Wild was a fantastic show but I think I'm the only one who watched it.

It wasn't quite as pure as Little House on the Prairie, but it was a great family show. Or, in my case, just a nice easy show to watch.

(I gotta say that I never got the attraction of LHOTP. It always frustrated me to watch it... maybe because the concept of living the prairie life made me want to tear my hair out. I'm not exactly the "roughing it" type It's still one of my mom's favorite shows and I know that it's very beloved. Just not by me. I'm weird.)

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I LOVE Little House! Loved the books, and I remember coming home from swim practice over the summer growing up, grabbing something to eat, and sitting down and watching Little House!

The closest on TV now? The Duggar family on TLC!

 

[bicker]

Shows generally are presented in direct proportion to the willingness of 18-35 year olds to sit through the commercials presented during them. That's been the case even since Little House on the Prairie was being broadcast. I don't think there are many shows of that ilk on now; most are either more racy, or are more sickly-sweet. I think, these days, that Crusoe and Ghost Whisperer is perhaps the closest to Little House, though neither feature children.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Shows generally are presented in direct proportion to the willingness of 18-35 year olds to sit through the commercials presented during them. That's been the case even since Little House on the Prairie was being broadcast. I don't think there are many shows of that ilk on now; most are either more racy, or are more sickly-sweet. I think, these days, that Crusoe and Ghost Whisperer is perhaps the closest to Little House, though neither feature children.

Yes, my DD and I watch Ghost Whisperer every week. She loves watching me cry at the end . Life is Wild sounds interesting, but I can only find uploaded video from Chinese (?) websites with rather extensive subtitles shown on the screen...

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jcricket Fan]

Little House can be seen on TV if you can get the Hallmark Channel. That channel has many different shows like what you are looking for.

 

[LOLCAT]

I loved Michael Landon

It was a great show... there was the one episode where the girl was raped by her own father (someone from the town) and she got pregnant and the Ingalls asked Albert if he was the babies father.

 

[Angelhalo]

Never liked Little House. I don't like period pieces for one, and two, it just felt forced sickly sweet.

I used to REALLY like Touched By an Angel until it seemed like it was the exact same story every week and then I bailed. I like for stuff to be clean but real life isnt perfectly clean so its hard for me to find stuff that feels like a good balance. Little House just feels so phony to me, but so many other shows are the complete opposite and just total smut. I want something in the middle that is clean and safe but not like some kind of fairytale land that doesn't really exist or only existed 100 years ago.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Little House can be seen on TV if you can get the Hallmark Channel. That channel has many different shows like what you are looking for.

Unfortunately (well, in respect to tv options!) I live in Santiago, Chile at the moment, so I'm rather limited in what I can watch on tv. I watch most shows through Surfthechannel.com (which links to sites like megavideo, etc.).

Are there any particular shows that you can recommend from the Hallmark Channel?

 

[MsDisney23]

My twenty four year old dd, who lives in AZ loves the Walton's,,, so do I.

 

[TaraPA]

I'm a huge Waltons fan. It's on Hallmark every weekday at 8am and then again at 9am.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

So, I was wracking my brain...if you want shows/ series with good morals, how about:

Seventh Heaven
Gilmore Girls
Anne of Green Gables

I know they're not on TV any more, but maybe you can rent seasons on DVD? I also loved the 1900 House (or 1800 House) on public television, can't remember too much about it but if your daughter likes historical things, it was very interesting! A modern family living in an old house, just like they used to? I know it's on DVD somewhere!

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

So, I was wracking my brain...if you want shows/ series with good morals, how about:

Seventh Heaven
Gilmore Girls
Anne of Green Gables

I know they're not on TV any more, but maybe you can rent seasons on DVD? I also loved the 1900 House (or 1800 House) on public television, can't remember too much about it but if your daughter likes historical things, it was very interesting! A modern family living in an old house, just like they used to? I know it's on DVD somewhere!

Thanks, we've watched all of the Anne of Green Gables series after she read the books last year...I forgot about Road to Avonlea, though. I watched Gilmore Girls and Seventh Heaven sporadically over the years...maybe I'll go back to the beginning and watch them with her.

To be honest, it's not that I'm so worried about "good morals" in the tv shows...I am quite comfortable discussing various issues with her. She just really has no interest in the boy/girl thing, and sex still grosses her out (may that continue for another 9 years ). I was just really surprised at how much both of us have enjoyed the Little House series...especially after all these years!

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

My twenty four year old dd, who lives in AZ loves the Walton's,,, so do I.

Hmmm...I vaguely remember the Waltons from my childhood I'll have to see what's available!

 

[shelemm]

The Disney Channel used to have a lot of programming that was on the serious side without the sardonic humor or talk of sexual attraction. Shows like The Jersey, So Wierd, The Famous Jett Jackson, I'm sure there were a few others. Even Lizzy McGuire was a very innocent show.

Did you ever see the Disney Channel Movie The Color of Friendship? Whenever it comes on I can't stop watching it. The acting, script, everything about it is a joy to watch. No, they don't make 'em that way anymore. But that wasn't so long ago and maybe there will be a new wave to come along.

I have DirectTV, and I am upset that I don't get PBS Kids Channel. Maybe it doesn't exist anymore? programs like Zaboomafoo and Zoom were sensations in our house.

 

[dahirsh]

I loved Michael Landon

It was a great show... there was the one episode where the girl was raped by her own father (someone from the town) and she got pregnant and the Ingalls asked Albert if he was the babies father.

As someone who has seen every episode more than once and owns the whole series on DVD- Sylvia (or was it Sylvie?) wasn't raped by her father. Her rapist was another man from town. Her father was just a mean old coot that wasn't doing a very good job raising a daughter on his own.

 

[C.Ann]

I for one would love to see more shows the LHOTP, The Waltons, 7th Heaven, etc..

Most of what they have on now is garbage (IMO) - no real life lessons to be learned - unless you enjoy pointless violence or the cut-throat competiveness of so many of the reality shows.. Just a sign of the times, I suppose..

 

[HARASW]

So, I was wracking my brain...if you want shows/ series with good morals, how about:

Seventh Heaven
Gilmore Girls
Anne of Green Gables

I know they're not on TV any more, but maybe you can rent seasons on DVD? I also loved the 1900 House (or 1800 House) on public television, can't remember too much about it but if your daughter likes historical things, it was very interesting! A modern family living in an old house, just like they used to? I know it's on DVD somewhere!

Gilmore Girls, Seventh Heaven, Little House on the Prairie, Cosby Show etc. are all available on cable or satellite tv. Gilmore Girls on ABC family, Cosby Show on TVLand and I'm not sure about the other 2.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

oh oh oh...forgot about the Cosby Show...another good one! Thanks!

At this rate, we'll never leave the house! I'll have to stash these ideas away for next winter.

 

[MALE*RN*777]

I think Little House and the Waltons are on the Hallmark channel in the morning or one of them on Direct TV.