A Long Way from Cliff and Clair

If you know us at all, you know we are huge fans of The Cosby Show. We love watching reruns on DVD and we can basically quote every line from every program.

We love that show because it was legitimately funny while still holding on to good family values. The parents were in charge of the home. Discipline was administered, but so were plenty of hugs. Money was plentiful in that house, but it was clearly communicated that it came from hard work. The family taught their children history. Education was strongly stressed (both in “formal” education and in the home). And there was a regular mention of religion in the house.

NBC should be proud that this program is one of the shows that is included in its history of programming.

Last night, another program entered NBC’s “history,” and the station should be ashamed. Instead, they are proud of their role as cultural informant.

The New Normal debuted on Monday night, thankfully getting generally panned by secular reviewers for its lack of real humor. I did not see the show (nor will I), but there are a few things Christians need to keep in mind about this program.

The show is based on the premise that there are two gay lovers who are only missing one thing in their relationship: a baby. Enter a woman new to the West Coast who is willing to be a surrogate mother. Never mind the fact that she already has an 8-year-old daughter.

One of the taglines NBC uses in promoting the show in its webpage is this:

These days, families come in all forms – single dads, double moms, sperm donors, egg donors, one-night-stand donors… It’s 2012 and anything goes.

So, since “anything goes,” we are going to call it all “normal?”

When Cliff and Clair were in charge of the Huxtable household, there was all sorts of sin in our society. Homosexuality was clearly on the national scene, though not as overt as today. Sexual promiscuity was running rampant. Drug usage was exploding through our society. The greed of the 1980s was in full bloom.

That was “normal,” but NBC was not applauding it!

Now, they are admittedly promoting it.

The network stated that this program was being released to break down barriers and to show that everyone is okay. Interestingly, in the first episode, there were jokes at the expense of a little person, and one character in the program is known for being crass about just about everything. So…what’s “tolerant” or “accepting” about that?

It is further interesting that NBC stated that the program would help to bring awareness and tolerance toward those with different genders, races, and sexual orientations. Interesting that we usually see one more thing on that list. What’s missing?

Religions.

How many episodes will it be before Christians are the butt of the jokes? After all, we are far from this type of “normal.”

Christians, what is it going to take for us to turn off our TV sets? How long are we going to let Hollywood preach to us through our screens? How far does a show have to go before you get upset?

NBC has come a long way since Cliff and Clair. Frankly, I wish the network would go back, because they’ve traveled a long way…the wrong way.

QUESTION: What will it take for Christians to turn off TV shows?

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