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Fierce combat is frequent, and according to Plugged In, it may get worse. "For families that need more reasons than bullet wounds and torture chambers to avert their eyes, they would do well to remember that it's common for producers (Steven Bochco notwithstanding) to hold back racier content until after a series' first few episodes have begun resonating with viewers."

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Speaking of Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue, Murder One), the television producer continues to push the nudity and profanity limits of television with his new courtroom series, Philly. According to a September New York Timesarticle, Bochco "proposed having a character use a scatological reference that has never before been uttered on the ABC series—one considered tougher than the profanities already in use on his police drama, NYPD Blue."

So far, Philly has featured exposed breasts, more than one extended middle finger, and frequent profanity that not long ago was considered taboo in prime time. Plugged In says, "Bochco is fishing for respect with 'realism' and grit. Courthouse bathrooms serve host to both fights and sex. Judges are either callous, corrupt, or maniacally eccentric. Network execs may find all of this perfectly acceptable, but many families won't."

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Family-friendly television has also found a new hit this year, and the biggest ratings Pax TV has ever seen. Debuting last spring, Doc stars Billy Ray Cyrus (of "Achy Breaky Heart" fame) as a Montana physician who moves to New York City and finds a world of vastly different values and morals.

In an interview with Plugged In, cocreator Dave Alan Johnson said, "The only reason we're doing Doc—Billy and us—is to serve God. It's our only motivation."

The Parents Television Council says that the Doc episodes "consistently reinforce family-friendly themes such as honesty, compassion, hope, and reconciliation, making it a perfect fit for its family-hour time slot."

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Only two shows debuted on major networks this year with devout Christians in substantial regular roles. And one is already cancelled. NBC's Kristin had a premise similar to Doc's: a young Christian woman from Oklahoma moved to the Big Apple to find a world of new moral challenges. It wasn't very good; it only lasted six episodes. A New York Times article wondered if a difficulty in portraying earnest religious characters was to blame for the show's shortcomings.

In contrast, the WB's Maybe It's Me is alive and kicking. In fact, it has earned rave reviews as one of the funniest new shows of the season. The show centers on around Molly, a 16-year-old who feels she is the Marilyn in a family of Munsters. What makes her family so weird? Mom and Dad are out of date, Grandma is nutty, her younger twin sisters are creepy, and one brother steals and gambles while the other, Grant, is a strong Christian.

According to the current issue of Focus on the Family's Plugged In, "Grant gets the short end of the stick for his spiritual ideas and Christianese comments, yet he's not despised. Indeed, Molly's best friend has a gigantic crush on him."

In fact, none of the lovable family members are despised by Molly, but their odd traits are played up to be goofy and fun. It is all good-natured. Most of the Grant-centered laughs come from his desire to be a Christian rock star. His songs are over the top and silly. In a bit of creative casting, Levis is a Christian off-screen too and wants to someday be in a Christian band.

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January (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46