Smart News Blog - Smart Television Alliance

Smart TV - The Obama’s Do It

Smart Television Alliance — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:05:34 +0000

The other week the First Lady Michelle Obama spoke about the need to make sure kids get exercise and not to spend too much time in front of the television,an issue her husband frequently brings up in discussing parental responsibility.

At the White House the kid’s TV and computer stay off all day until after dinner and before bedtime.

For tips on how to manage the TV in your home visit our Smart Summer Campaign

Smart TV Picks for Older Kids

Smart Television Alliance — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:51:51 +0000

Richard Kahlenberg is an educational media expert and here are a few of his viewing suggestions for the week. The program listings below are aligned with state and national K-12 academic standards. For more information see www.tvsmarts.com for the complete program listings.

Monday, June 29, 2009,
9-10:30 p.m. E/P HBO “Shouting Fire: Stories From The Edge Of Free Speech”
This documentary explores the social and political trends that have shaped our attitudes about free speech–and which now threaten the very tenets upon which our country was built–through four case studies: an Arab-American educator who lost her job over a word; a high-school teen suspended for wearing a Bible-quoting T-shirt; a college professor fired for provocative essays written in the wake of 9/11; and two war protesters who were arrested and later made a shocking discovery. TV14 – adult content and adult language.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009,
10-11 p.m. E/P PBS “WIDE ANGLE: Crossing Heaven’s Border”

North Korean defectors take life-threatening journeys, some traveling thousands of miles from their homeland through China and Laos, in the hope of settling as free citizens in South Korea. Intrepid South Korean journalists with hidden cameras risk their own lives capturing the action and emotion. Hosted by Aaron Brown. TV-PG

Thursday, July 2, 2009,
7-8 p.m. ET, 4-5 p.m. PT TCM “Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The: 50 Years of Magic”

This documentary tells the story of how MGM created one of the most beloved family films of all time. TV-G

50 Years of Bizarre Kids TV

Smart Television Alliance — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:17:39 +0000

“From psychedelic ’70s fare to the other-worldly ’80s and perplexing present-day, children’s programming has a storied history of leaning toward the bizarre. And though yes, we realize “bizarre” is all in the eye of the beholder, it’s hard to deny that there’s not something a little offbeat with the following children’s shows”

Check out this Boston Globe piece on the wild world that can be kids TV.

Thinking back, what were the weirdest shows you remember watching?