Sorry, I know you don't like them, Margaret, but every episode has spot-on cultural lampoons, the most exquisite comedic timing, and very, very sophisticated themes. Wow, what good writing. And yet their '97 Halloween episode, just like every year before, was a masterpiece. So their animation department didn't have any burden of producing the educational programming. But the requirement results in heavy-handed cartoons where the lesson is delivered at the end through a speech by one character.
Kids get education from their parents and their schools.
The people who work on TV shows are artists and entertainers, and so should not be required to do the job of educators . That's one of the most salient points I've heard yet about this whole issue, one that seems to be grossly overlooked whenever the debate about children's programming arises. Anyway, thanks to everyone who responded. Several readers commented about local programming. I edited those comments out because I wanted a more general focus on the year, but I'd like to hearfrom readers about local television programs.