Disney Channel's Sitcom Plot

I was talking to a fellow mom like me, who has teenagers, and I like it that we share the same view regarding Disney sitcoms/shows. Disney channel is supposed to be wholesome and apt for entire-family viewing, but it has been my personal opinion that the plots (i.e., Wizards of Waverly Place and Good Luck Charlie, among others) portray the parents to be lesser people.

The mom I was talking to said she thinks the fathers are depicted as dumb. I agree. This is very demeaning because fathers are supposed to be the head of the household and must be key decision makers in the house. So why are they the laughingstock?

With regards to mom, they're also minimized in their roles; instead of them being portrayed as role models to their teenage daughters, they're turned into ambitious, no-clue characters, who got nothing good to impose upon their offspring.

All these in the spirit of comedy?

I think Disney channel should know better than alienating children from their parents, and vice versa.

Treatment of Parents

My 13-year old spends about four hours watching television on weekdays, that includes an average of 30 minutes before going to school. On weekends, the hours go up to ten in a day.

Because of this, I've watched most shows myself (can't avoid it). I have a feedback on the stories and plots, generally, on all episodes: children don't respect their parents. In the shows like Wizards of Waverly Place, the kids treat their father and mother like their own age, like a peer they could get smart with, treating them as stupid and without respect.

I was thinking that only the profanities are missing and that's just because Disney channel is supposed to be a child-oriented station. I don't consider myself old-fashioned or from a medieval era. But if I did not talk to my parents like that when I was a teenager, then so be it. Also, one thing I never did was to make faces at them if I was scolded, even at their back.

Now, my daughter thinks this is okay just because she sees this on TV everyday. I hope the writers and directors of these shows would realize the impact of what they are modelling to children.

Disney Channel Shows

I've always watched Disney channel but never the tween shows. By tween shows, I mean Hannah Montana, Suite Life on Deck, Wizards of Waverly Place, Sonny with a Chance -- well, you get the idea.

I was watching Disney channel because of Micky Mouse Clubhouse, basically. The toon stuff, the kiddie shows, the one that I hoped would entertain and educate a two-year old. But since my 12-year old daughter moved with me, I have been watching the afternoon and evening shows of Disney channel. Now, I am becoming a follower of Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Last night, we watched the premiere of Wizards of Waverly Place the movie. Great movie. Even my husband agrees with me.

I have always been a teenage movie fan. I appreciate it more than grown-up movies sometimes. For some reason, I could relate to it even if I'm now in my late thirties. Having a 12-year old around is like breathing fresh air all day. Since I appreciate the Disney channels shows that she really likes (she really is a fan of Selena Gomez), we do things together. We even discuss the shows and the actors in it.

As of Selena Gomez, I read from Parade magazine that she was named after Selena, the Mexican-American singer who was portrayed by Jennifer Lopez in the movie, Selena. J Lo and the ill-fated Selena were like my age. Now, this new bunch of celebrities are my daughter's generation. It's like living in another time but being in the same place.

When I was a teenager, I was not into this celebrity fan thing -- at least not to the extent to what my daughter shows. I just hope she'd outgrow it. Being a fan is not a bad thing. Having role models is never a bad thing. Excessive TV watching, even if on Disney channel -- a known institution which we all expect to be socially responsible -- I don't really support. As a parent, who apparently now has a competition with regards to what TV shows we watch at home, I am watchful.

Disney Christmas Day Parade

The two-hour long Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade was aired on ABC. I watched it and it was okay, nothing had changed from the previous years. Spectacular it was but there was nothing new to see.

Regis and Kelly hosted it and everything they said was read. It's so different from when you watch them in their morning show when they are spontaneous and could say what comes up in their minds. I bet even their expressions and exclamations were all scripted.

Disney tried to make it an all-star spectacle with famous and not-so-famous performers. Sarah Brightman sang Oh Holy Night. Ms. Brightman is one of my favorite singers of all time and she did make a perfect rendition of the traditional well-loved Christmas song. My only comment is that she wore heavy makeup despite that it daylight.

Thinking of it, the Disney parade made me want to spend Christmas in Orlando. Why not? It may not be as exciting as when you watch it on TV but I'm sure it would be if you were there to see it in person. Maybe next year.