TV LAND AWARDS

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The 2011 TV Land Awards took place not in California, but for the first time in New York City. The show was aired last night and honored the casts of The Cosby Show, Welcome Back Kotter, The Facts of Life and Family Ties. Huge stars like John Trevolta, Michael J. Fox, and Meredith Baxter (who still looks great!) were on hand to celebrate. Regis Philbin was also present to accept the Legend Award. The Music Icon Award was given to Hall and Oates who performed some of their greatest hits.

As the many stars of these shows were reunited on stage, I thought back to the days when we all sat in front of our little TV’s to watch Vinnie Barberino and the sweat hogs learn life's lessons from Mr. Kotter. It made me wonder how many kids today will never know the pleasures we enjoyed in shows like I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Dick Van Dyke show and so many more. There was no bloodshed, sex, serious crime, or tragic death on these shows, yet we couldn’t wait for the next episode.

I remember watching Dark Shadows with my sister, Mary. We would rush home from school to be ready and waiting by 4pm when it started. We couldn’t miss one minute of Barnabus Collins! Our parents didn’t get home from work until 5:30 so we would go into our parents’ room and lay across their bed to watch it on a tiny little black and white TV our Dad bought when we both had the measles. We thought it was the coolest, scariest show ever made. One afternoon, the phone, which was all the way in the kitchen, rang in the middle of a particularly creepy episode. We were so afraid we held hands and went out to answer it together. As we walked past the porch where a metal record player stand stood with our dog’s metal chain hanging from it, the vibration caused the chain to fall through the metal. We were so scared that we both ran back into the bedroom and screamed so loud our Aunt Dolores came running over from next door!  A few years ago they showed a few episodes of the very same Dark Shadows and I couldn’t believe how slow moving and silly it seemed. The special effects seemed ridiculous by today’s standards, but all those years ago we thought they were amazing.

People talk about violence and sex on TV and in the movies all the time, but I really do wonder what all this is doing to kids. Our “violence” was a coyote getting blown up by a road runner, but he always survived and there was no blood! We saw the 3 Stooges slap each other, but never really felt like they were hurt. Lassie was the closest thing to tragedy we watched and he always saved Timmy and recovered from his adventures. Kids don’t have that happy, safe feeling after watching shows and movies today. No wonder so many of them are afraid of nuclear war, invasions from aliens and mass murderers. These are real fears that many children express now and it’s sad that they can’t grow up in the Father Knows Best world we knew as kids.

I know I’ve simplified things in this post and life isn’t that simple. Still, I can’t help thinking that if kids today spent more time watching TV Land rather than playing video games where they slaughter the enemy or watching movies where sex, drugs, crime, war, and every other horror is flashed across the screen, like that’s the way life is supposed to be, there would be less fear and anxiety. My daughter has often told me she envies me my childhood, where we were safe to play in the streets and ally ways from morning till night. Neighbors kept an eye out and we played with sticks and balls, ropes and our imaginations. There was always someone to play with and no need for “play dates” and organized teams. Unfortunately, like the shows of TV Land, that time has passed. We can only hope that, like all history, these good times will roll around again someday.

What was your favorite TV show from your youth? Why do you think you liked it so much? Share your thoughts here in the Delayed Reaction Lounge!

Entire casts of The Cosby Show, Family Ties, The Facts of Life and Welcome Back, Kotter. The Cosby Show will receive The Impact Award at this year's show. The honor is presented to a show that offered both entertainment and enlightenment, with comedy that reflected reality. Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Sabrina Le Beauf, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Raven Symone and Lisa Bonet will all be in attendance. The Fan Favorite Award is being presented to the cast of Family Ties. The series, which won viewers' hearts, starred Michael J. Fox, Meredith Baxter, Michael Gross, Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers, who will all be on hand to accept the award. The cast of The Facts of Life will receive the Pop Culture Award, and the cast of Welcome Back, Kotter will receive the 35th Anniversary Award. John Travolta will reunite with the entire cast of Kotter at the ceremony. Emmy Award-winning television host Regis Philbin will receive the Legend Award. Previous winners include Garry Marshall, Don Rickles, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner. Daryl Hall and John Oates will both receive a Music Icon Award and perform some of their most popular hits. Now in its ninth year, the TV Land Awards pays tribute to classic and contemporary luminaries of TV, music and movies. The 90-minute telecast will feature exhilarating musical performances and will reunite some of the most iconic celebrity TV casts.