Nickelodeon– A once Innocent Cartoon Network and Now…
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- Glenn Martin, DDS “cast” photo
When I was growing up, I would frequently watch cartoons. I rarely watched “Cartoon Network” because it was a little to gross for me. I prefered Nickelodeon. It was good, clean, funny cartoons. I remember shows like Angry Beavers, Rugrats, Hey Arnold, and Doug. These shows NEVER implied anything inappropriate and my mother could feel safe letting me watch these shows unsupervised. Now, my younger siblings are part of a different generation that seems to think that exposing children to perverse and suggestive images, speech, and situations is perfectly fine!
I went home to visit my family recently, and all my eight year old brother could talk about was this new show on Nick, “Glenn Martin, D.D.S.” He had Tivo-ed it, and replayed it for me. I was horrified! First, there is the blood and gore! There was a fork in someone’s eye and blood was gushing everywhere! And the protagonist’s hand went through one of his patients body, via his mouth, with his hand. The protagonist had a finger biten off (he is a dentist) and you guessed it– blood gushing everywhere. Suprisingly, this is not what made me call my mother in to see what they were watching. Instead, it was an situation where “Glenn” walks into his living room to find his wife doing some home improvement, but is strapped into a harness high up near the ceiling. Glenn– who apparently was expecting “alone time” with his wife, sees this and says something like– ” OH, I have heard about this. Anti-gravity nookie.” He proceeds to tell her that according to their “Sex With Jackie” Calendar (No Joke), that they should be having sex tonight.
From what I have heard, this show uses terms like Sl*t, Prostitute, Wh*re, Bastard, and many other things. Nick has even decided to air a Movie recently called “Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging”. If you are not familiar with British lingo, “Snogging” means “making-out”. It should be obvious what this movie is about. I have not seen the movie, but several others are disturbed by the content. Apparently, this movie contains very blatant talk of sex and boys, and even features a gay couple. THESE CHILDREN ARE FOURTEEN YEARS OLD! There is alcohol use and the language used is awful .
This is what Nickelodeon has become. I did some research and I found that Viacom, the parent company of Nickelodeon, is also the company of MTV. This should explain a lot. If you have ever watched MTV for more than a few minutes–and you are a good parent, you know that you would never allow your child to watch it, much less alone. There is VERY explicit sexual content and vulgar language– vulgar everything, really. How far are the children’s networks coming to MTV? Who knows, but I think we need to open our eyes.
Supporters of Glenn Martin and other’s like it will say that it is on at 8 o’clock, which is now Nick @ Nite time, and that obviously young kids shouldn’t be watching it. There are several things wrong with this argument: 1. Nick @ Nite used to start at 9 o’clock– some parents are still accustomed to THAT schedule. 2. This show is still on too early. 3. Glenn Martin has frequently been sandwiched for re-runs in between other kids shows during early day hours. 4. It looks like a cartoon! This is the same reason medicine shouldn’t look like candy! Kids assume they can have it (or in this case: watch it) 5. This is inappropriate EVEN for their target audience! Even the older “tweens” shouldn’t be watching this filth! 6. It’s just not funny!
I think parents should keep a closer eye on their kids shows, expecially Nick– because we obviously can’t rely on them anymore. I am sure the time will come when even Nick Jr. will be “educating” toddlers on a “proper” and “politically correct” worldview. Remember “Little Bear”? I am sure within a few years, Little Bear’s mommy will die and Papa Bear will get a new “Roommate”, named Bruce Bear– just you wait.
Actually, this article sums it all up better than I can: <http://www.movieguide.org/articles/1/498/racy-programming-and-ads-hit-popular-kidvid-channel-nickelodeon->
In this article, the author lists all the sexual scenarios with this show. “
“Glenn Martin, DDS” on SEX:
- Glenn’s wife Jackie throws him on the bed. He asks if she’s initiating sex. She tells him to shut up and grab the headboard. He does, and after she strips him to his underwear, you have a basic S&M visual, as she stands dominantly beside the bed.
- Glenn sees his wife hanging from a contraption that’s for working on the ceiling. He makes known he’s up for some “zero gravity nookie.” Jackie reminds him she is not really into post-marital sex, and he shows her on the calendar where he had called to schedule “Sex with Jackie.”
- Thirteen-year old Connor peeps with Glenn at a female neighbor who is getting out of the shower.
- Connor also says double entendres like. . . While lifting weights, “I’m so hard right now.” When feeling his muscles, “These pythons could choke a chicken.”
- In a flashback, Glenn watches obscured porn (complete with moans) and quickly switches it off when his wife comes home.
- Glenn comes into the bedroom and asks Jackie if she wants to “churn some butter.”
- Amish woman says, “Don’t be afraid of the Mennonites. Be afraid of the Men at Night. I was Amish when I got there, but by the end of the night I was a Quaker.”
- Amish girl asks Connor if he would like to see the hair under her bonnet. He joyfully replies, “I get to see your hair!”
The show also attacks religion: “
“Glenn Martin, DDS” on RELIGION:
- Daughter accepts a trophy and thanks “the man upstairs.” She then looks up to see an old guy waving in the rafters.
- When told not to take pictures of Amish people, Glenn says he wouldn’t want to get the man in trouble with “his god,” but then tells his wife to sneak a picture later.
- While escaping a gang of Amish who want to hurt him, Glenn takes their pictures to stop them in their tracks and yells, “I’ve got your souls, losers!”"
And also just plain bad ideas for kids to be exposed to:
“Glenn Martin, DDS” on BAD IDEAS:
- Eleven-year-old daughter asks is she should enter an equestrian event or a bourbon making contest.
- The Ringmaster of a circus exclaims, “Yeah, I’m not allowed to drive on goofballs and GIN, but that doesn’t stop me!”
- Connor is too busy to look at Niagara Falls because he is staring into his handheld video game. When his parents request he stop and come look, he boasts, “I’m about to kill a prostitute.” His mother tells him, “He is not old enough to kill a prostitute.”
- Glenn’s kids corrupt Amish children with worldly ways, haughty attitudes and mini-skirts.
I dont even have children yet, and I am appaulled. Another thing to notice– The night of the premire of this show, there was a PSA ad about talking to your kids about sex. I am glad that the government finally stepped in with this issue…
I am going to do some research about the new OBAMA- APPOINTED FCC chairman and see if it has anything to do with this and I will be back!
I completely agree except for one thing. The gay couple thing, I was shocked but they did not do it in a grotesque way. I myself am gay and know many children are corrupt about homosexuality because of what they see. As far as Glen Martin DDS that show needs to be on adult swim, and Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging. I was shocked. The gay couple though thing it was a shock, but not a bad idea for a younger person to see other types of people exist, just like black or asian. The rest I agree with entirely