$300 Million For Stupid Parents

July 28, 2006

Television broadcasters and other entertainment providers unveiled a $300 million ad campaign Thursday to teach parents how to shield their children from objectionable television shows.

Standing in front of the television with their stomach in the way is not an option proposed.

Nor is simply turning off the television. Or throwing it away. Unplugging it. Setting a time limit. Or taking the child to the park and playing outside you know, spending "quality time" together in any old-school sense of the word.

Instead, the public service announcements urge parents to visit a web site that offers information on how to use the “v-chip” and cable set-top boxes to keep sex and violence out of their living rooms.

Oh, so really it’s about buying something new -- or at least a new TV with a V-chip inside. Ugh.

Jack Valenti, former president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, and the single most ridiculous person ever allowed in charge of movie ratings (he invented NC-17, gave movies PG-13 rating for sex but not violence, because killing is better than making love) unveiled the ads to congress yesterday.

Oh great, get them involved. Because they are so useful when it comes to parenting.

Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said the campaign will work “if people listen.”

Please! Somebody! Spend $300 dollars to put Valenti and Stevens on a plane to a very small island. One way. No return. Getting rid of them and their money-wasting ideas could be the most important thing we do it.

If you’d like to contribute to the BBCancelled Stop Wasting Money campaign, email us. If you’d like to laugh at their ridiculous, useless advertisements, watch them here.