Announcer: Fictional TV shows are often criticized for having too much sex on them. Dick and Janey, talks show hosts of “Yucky World”, will be discussing this issue with network programmer Seymour Dooless.
Janey: Our topic for today asks the question “Is there too much sex on TV?” This program may not be appropriate for children. Parental discretion is advised.
Dick: Has it gone that far?
Janey: Has what gone where?
Dick: You know…
Janey: Speak up, Dick!
Dick: Sex…
Janey: Yes?
Dick: …on television.
Janey: That depends on what you mean by “how far”?
Dick: Sounds like a question from my last date.
Janey: You’re dating?
Dick: Well, it was actually a blind date.
Janey: And?
Dick: She asked me how far I wanted to go.
Janey: And you said…
Dick: That I didn’t want to leave the county.
Janey: Oh-kay, Dick. Mr. Dooless, is there more sex on TV?
Dooless: Yes, but we think that’s what’s happening in real life, too.
Janey: There was an episode on “How I Met Your Mother” where one of the main characters achieved his goal of a “perfect week” by having sex with seven different women. Do you think that’s real life?
Dooless: Well, you know, TV characters aren’t your average people.
Janey: But they’re watched by average people.
Dick: And their kids.
Janey: Who may not see the real life consequences of all this sexual activity.
Dick: A Rand study found that teens who watched racy TV shows were much more likely to become pregnant than those who didn’t watch those shows.
Dooless: Fictional television stories aren’t real. We’re not responsible for what happens in real life.
Janey: You may have just said the key words, Mr. Dooless.
Dooless: Really? What were they?
Janey: “Not responsible”.
Dick: How about influential? Do you see TV shows as influencing people’s lives?
Dooless: We provide entertainment for people.
Janey: You will admit that sponsors buy advertising time to try to influence the audience to buy their products.
Dooless: Sure, but that’s different. Products advertised on TV are real. Therefore, they can be influential and have real life consequences.
Janey: But fictional TV shows are…
Dooless: Unreal!
Janey: I think we’d better break for a commercial. This whole conversation is beginning to seem awfully unreal.
Dick: That’s what my blind date said about me.
Janey: That you were unreal?
Dick: Right! And my mother even agreed with her.
Janey: Your mother?
Dick: Yeah. She was in the backseat with a map of the county.
