Motion Picture Production Code, The - Adopted in 1930 by the film industry, the Motion Picture Production Code was devised to regulate the sex and violence in the entertainment industry. Violators of the code could be fined $25,000 and boycotted or even condemned by the Legion of Decency, (founded in 1934) a group of Roman Catholic bishops. The MPPC was nicknamed the Hays Code after Will H. Hays, the first director of the Motion Picture Association of America. 

Television Code, The - Set of voluntary standards established in March 1, 1952 by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) by which television stations should conduct themselves in the areas of programming and advertising. The code forbade the use of "profanity, obscenity, smut and vulgarity." and instructed producers of television programs to be especially sensitive when depicting sex, violence and horror and alcohol on the screen. In 1975 the television industry adopted the "family viewing time" that required that the programs airing between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00 P.M. be suitable for all members of the family viewing audience. This results in a marked drop in violence on the air in "family time" during the 1975-76 season. Members abiding by the rules won the privilege of displaying the NAB seal of good practice. On November 4, 1976, federal Judge Warren J. Ferguson overturns the NAB policy, deeming it ("family viewing time") a violation of free speech. In 1983, Judge Harold Greene ruled in "United States v. NAB that the Television Code violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and was responsible for keeping the cost of TV commercials artificially high and declared the code unlawful. In the 1990s Congress intervened and reestablished some guidelines for commercials and TV violence allowed on children's programming. 

Ten Commandments of Good TV Viewing - The following was created by the author of this website as spiritual guidance to those channel-surfing through the troubled waters of television. 

1) THOU SHALT always complain to the networks about bad programming. Unless the viewers speaketh out, the networks won't puteth out. [Keep a post card near your TV set and send any criticisms (or compliments) to the brains behind the programs; 

2) THOU SHALT  always have the Weekly TV Program Guide near your television set to keep you informed of the "intricacies" of network viewing. [A sad note: Sister Johnson of Peoria, Illinois threw a renewal subscription to her popular weekly TV Program guide into the trash and was instantly struck blind. Happily, her sight was restored when she touched her television set while listening to a Sunday morning evangelism program. She now owns a lifetime subscription. With the miracles of modern science Sister Johnson now gets her TV information via the Internet at http://www.tvguide.com Say Hallelujah!];

3) THOU SHALT never miss an episode of ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, the daily insiders look at the entertainment industry. Blessed are the legs of Mary Hart.; 

4). THOU SHALT never get caught intercepting cable programming signals with an illegal satellite dish. For those who dare...May the "Idiot Tube" be with you.; 

5) THOU SHALT never watch sports programming to the exclusion of all others. [Those seeking help should read: Hold On, Honey, I'll Take You To The Hospital At Half-time: Confessions of a TV Sports Junkie written by Norman Chad (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1993)];

 6). THOU SHALT never eat food and watch television at the same time. Why? You'll eat too much and get fat, that's why! [Special dispensation has been give to the brothers and sisters belonging to the order of the "Couch Potatoes"];

 7)  THOU SHALT not take the name of Johnny Carson in vain. For blessed is his late night presence. [Though he retired in 1992, he will never be forgotten, but will linger in our thoughts forever.];

 8)  THOU SHALT not covet thy neighbors video cassettes. The good book sayeth "Neither a borrower nor a copyright infringer be.";

 9)  THOU SHALT honor the memory of Benjamin Franklin, the patron saint of electricity. For without his experiments with lightning, we would all be watching television by candlelight. This is our silliest commandment.; and

10) THOU SHALT be wary of advertisers, for always there will be false prophets crying "Buy Me!" in the vast wasteland of television. Wretched are the words "Home Shopping."  

TV Guide's Move Ratings  Guidelines - TV Guide magazine gives summaries of current TV programming as well as movies airing on both cable and regular networks. Movies found in TV Guide are indicated by the symbol M and by a rating system of asterisks: **** (excellent), *** (good), ** (fair), and * (poor). The movie ratings are based on such factors as critical reviews, cast and director, awards earned as well as box office performance. Movies appearing without asterisks ratings are made-for-television movies or unrated movie. TV Guide Rating also includes the official Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. content ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R or NC-17 and NR: not rated) as well as Parental Guidance advisory ratings such as adult themes, sexual situations, strong language, violence or nudity. For more information on movie ratings contact: the Classification and Rating Administration, 15503 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91436 or The National Association of Theatre Owners at 4605 Lankershim Boulevard, Suite 340, North Hollywood, CA 91602. 

    TV Ratings System -  Like the movie rating system, the TV rating system alerts parents and viewers in general of the content of the programs they are about to watch. Established in January 1997, the system categories included these labels TV-G: General audience-this program is suitable for all ages; TV-PG: parental guidance suggested-this program may contain some material (language, limited violence, some sexual content) unsuitable for younger children; TV-14: Parents strongly cautioned-this program may contain some material unsuitable for kids under 14, such as more intense violence, sexual content or strong language; and TV-M: Mature audience only-this program is designed for adults and may be unsuitable for children under 17...may contain mature themes, graphic violence, explicit sexual content or vulgar language. Two other categories TV-Y and TV-Y7 were designed for Kids programming. TV-Y: This program is designed to be appropriate for all children; and TV-Y7: This program may include mild physical comedic violence, or may frighten children under the age of 7. For easy identification, the TV ratings label is displayed in the upper left hand corner of the TV screen at the beginning of a program.