BONGS & JOINTS ON NETWORK TV?

High on Blair

When's the last time you've seen someone smoke a joint in a family-friendly scripted series on network TV during prime time?

Have you ever seen teenagers with bongs on NBC?

I can't think of a single instance except one memorable episode of The Facts of Life from 1980. (See video excerpt above.)

Am I wrong to conclude that this episode could never air today -- even with its clear anti-drug message?

Perhaps it's no coincidence that the FCC's push to regulate decency standards didn't begin until after 1980 when Reagan was elected.

It's hard to process how some rules have relaxed, while others have tightened over the last quarter century.

(It's also hard to process that I've witnessed over a quarter century of television history.)

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Side note #1:

When's the last time you've seen Helen Hunt peddle ganja on television?

Answer: The last time you watched the above Facts of Life episode.

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Side note #2:

When's the last time you've seen a scripted comedy series on network prime time tackle the subject of pedophilia by airing an episode about a friendly child molester who drugs kids with booze and pills, shows pornographic cartoons, and takes pictures of them bare-chested?

For me, the only show I know that went there is Diff'rent Strokes, which is the show that later spawned Facts of Life.

This was creepy when I watched it over 25 years ago. And it's even creepier now.

While it's great the show brought the issue of child abuse into our homes, I still have nightmares about what happened to Dudley. Plus, I am still very hesitant to enter bike shops.

Again, would any family-friendly show do something similar today?

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Side note #3:

Could there be anything from Diff'rent Strokes that is creepier than the pedophilia episode mentioned above?

Answer: Yes. The opening credits from the show. If you change the music.

(Thanks to Hank for the f'ed up clip above!)

--Junichi