The scarsdale Inquirer Continued from the previous page
school family-friendly shows is called “Good Luck Charlie” on the Disney channel that they watch together. She described it as a “wholesome show about a family.” “Charlie” is the nickname for Charlotte, the youngest of four Duncan kids, who is about 2 or 3 years old. Older sister Teddy tries to show Charlie what she might go through when she is older by making video diaries for future reference. At the end of each video Teddy or another family member always says, “Good luck, Charlie.” On one of the last episodes of the show that Gerstenblatt’s son watched before leaving for camp for the summer, it was announced that a new baby was expected. He made his mom promise to let him know whether the baby would be a boy or a girl. “The show really captures them,” Gerstenblatt said. “It’s very ‘Full House’-ish — there’s still humor and the family really works together and they’re very close. The teenage boy works at some food place and you learn about work ethics. It’s about family dynamics.” She added, “Everyone I know watches reality competition shows.” Gerstenblatt and her son watch “Chopped.” “At the end of each show you’ve seen people work really hard and you’ve seen a winner,” she said. “I think it’s an OK way to watch [TV] with your kids.” After her daughter goes to sleep, she and her son watch something educational. “I don’t think she could sit through an hour of something, [although] she has watched the Food Network’s ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.’” Her kids are now watching a “new or newish” show from Australia called H20
Back to School
about three mermaids in “either middle or high school” who keep their mermaid identities hidden from everyone except one friend. Gerstenblatt said her friend’s daughters who are aged 7-11 like it. Once her kids are off to sleep, it’s Mommy time, when Gerstenblatt gets to watch her shows that she’s previously recorded on DVR. When asked what parameters she uses to decide what shows are age appropriate for her children, she said, “I think it has to do with the channel it’s on. Nickelodeon and Disney [are appropriate]… most of those history shows, as long as they’re not bloody, I think are interesting.” She stressed that she will never let them have a TV or computer in their room. They have a laptop that can move around. “By setting those parameters, I’m in control,” she said. “I Like TV,” Gerstenblatt concluded. “It’s a nice mental break, especially since kids are so overscheduled, especially in the winter.”
Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 11A
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Thumbs down from watchdog According to the nonprofit Parents Television Council’s website, PTC uses a simple traffic light guide to rate the 90-plus shows on the five TV networks (NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC and CW) that it tracks in prime time now being shown in the 8-11 p.m. slots. Only one show has been given its “green light” seal of approval: “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” In a typical weekly TV lineup that PTC rated, 22 shows were given a yellow designation, indicating shows that contain adultoriented themes and may be inappropriate for children. Red lights are shows it deems Continued on page 12A
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