In half a dozen news stories on the complaint, I saw no references to affiliate concern over the networks increasingly tasteless prime time fare, which more and more affiliates are reluctant to carry. It s not inevitably problematic to have Hollywood and New York deciding what airs on the major broadcast networks. After all, there was no affiliate revolt during the 1950s and 60s, the era of The Honeymooners, Leave It to Beaver, and The Andy Griffith Show. S.C. Consequently, on Thursdays the station manager of the Greenville NBC affiliate ought to be able to delay Friends until 9 p.m., when children are less likely to be watching, if he feels that airing it at 8 o clock runs counter to community standards, and he ought to be able to do so free from the harassment of network bigwigs who could decide, if it was their wish, to yank his affiliation in retaliation. There are, of course, business considerations involved in such moves.
Friends is, admittedly, a hugely popular show.
Last year, some NBC stations refused to air the short-lived animated series God, the Devil and Bob not only because of its religious bigotry, but also, no doubt, because it sounded like a Nielsen disaster in the making. But that s localism. Please, no more talk about the lack of market interest in family programming during the family hour. Hit series after hit series addressing a family audience proves that is an empty proposition. A syndicated family show resulting from such an arrangement would make 8 p.m. the family hour again, at least in those markets where stations take the public interest seriously.