Why is Christian TV so low-quality

[dawnsday]

Here's what I noticed. It seems that all Christian TV is about preaching. There are some movies out there, but I find most of them are also low quality. Taking into account low budgets, you would think they would at least have better acting.

I would like to see TBN or a subsequent station create sitcoms and drama's with a Christian foundation.

Not preachy every other word is about God stuff. Just like the rest of the TV shows out there, but with Christian Values...(like old shows such as Growing Pains). Stuff that is socially relevant and modern.

I think this ties into a problem Christian society has being IN the world. We are supposed to be IN it not OF it, but it seems we are creating our own seperate world.

I think it would be good for current christians and also, imagine a non-christian stumbling across a funny sitcom they end up loving, in the process learning (not from preaching, just from underlying lessons) more about Christ.

 

[GryffinSong]

I love touched by an angel. As a child I also loved the flying nun! She was so sweet and fun! Although it wasn't overtly religious, I really enjoyed the Cosby show. The one where he was a doctor. I thought that was one of the best sitcoms to show healthy family relationships with an intact family.

Edited to add: M.A.S.H. is on reruns in many places. In the context of the korean war, there were many funny, poignant, sad moments. And Father Mulcahey was a wonderful character!

 

[dawnsday]

I agree, but TV is pretty anti-religion nowadays. Such as them forcing the Veggie Tales to remove all God comments from the show in order to play it on NBC (which, they did...they sold out God...that's pretty bad).

I'd love to see normal style television shows on TBN and other faith based channels. Heck I could write a million of them.

I do veer towards shows such as House and Scrubs right now, that at minimum has a life/moral dillema and makes one think about things greater then themselves.

I miss the days of the Cosby show, growing pains and such.

 

[JTLauder]

It's all about money. No, really. That's what it comes down to: money.

If people are not going to watch something giving it low ratings, advertisers are not interested, so the tv station and producers are not going to make enough money to cover it, why are they going to bother when something else will bring them millions and millions of dollars.

It doesn't matter if it's "religious" or not. As a matter of fact, the more controversy something can stir up the better because it would be free advertising.

As for the acting cast, unless you're a new upcoming or struggling actor, you're not going to want to be associated with something that would be considered a flop. If you're a good actor, and if you have a good agent, you'll want roles that first brings in lots of money and second that will give you good exposure such as from a big hit.

 

[dawnsday]

but why can't they take the money they use on preachy useless shows, televangelist shows that scam people out of money and such and put a few decent TV shows on.

Kirk Cameron would do it I bet LOL

 

[JTLauder]

but why can't they take the money they use on preachy useless shows, televangelist shows that scam people out of money and such and put a few decent TV shows on.

Kirk Cameron would do it I bet LOL

Because there are too "Christians" are elitist with a condescending superiority attitude that they feel they need to preach to you?!

No, seriously, though, recall my previous post about how money is needed to both produce the show and drive revenue in? Well, despite the camera exposure actors get, and it does require a good acting cast, the real source of a good TV show, movie, etc. are the writers. It doesn't matter how good the actors are, if there is no story and bad dialogue, it will not be good to watch.

Everything I said before about money being the motivation applies to getting good writers too.

Does that mean that ther are no good Christian script writers? I would certainly hope not, since I fancy myself a writer. But I guess you go where there is work, and apparently that's not in the Christian TV/film industry.

 

[dawnsday]

Because there are too "Christians" are elitist with a condescending superiority attitude that they feel they need to preach to you?!

No, seriously, though, recall my previous post about how money is needed to both produce the show and drive revenue in? Well, despite the camera exposure actors get, and it does require a good acting cast, the real source of a good TV show, movie, etc. are the writers. It doesn't matter how good the actors are, if there is no story and bad dialogue, it will not be good to watch.

Everything I said before about money being the motivation applies to getting good writers too.

Does that mean that ther are no good Christian script writers? I would certainly hope not, since I fancy myself a writer. But I guess you go where there is work, and apparently that's not in the Christian TV/film industry.

do you think a mass petition requesting this kind of programming would make a difference? maybe if they know people would watch it, then they could get advertising, and they would do it? or am i an idealist and shouldn't even try...

 

[DaBronx]

I think it's also a way of God keeping us humble...whether we believe it will happen to us or not - money does change people...

 

[HeSaveDave]

I wish there were more family friendly shows as well. There are some out there. Just gotta search.

Try "Little People, Big World" on TLC. Its a show about a real family that consists of dwarves and regulars. They are a Christian family. They even pray on tv We enjoy it. The better these types of shows do the more they'll make family programming.

 

[LadyNRA]

do you think a mass petition requesting this kind of programming would make a difference? maybe if they know people would watch it, then they could get advertising, and they would do it? or am i an idealist and shouldn't even try...

I agree with you. There are lots of talented Christians out there who could write. And I don't think it's necessary to write strictly "Christian" programming. Clean programs with messages that are at least not UNgodly would be nice. Problem is that the few movie producers are church based and therefore they don't want to do anything that doesn't have a clear 'christian message' so it's a turn-off for non-believers and they won't watch the movies or series that are like that.

If money were no object, it would be easy to encourage christians with entertainment talents to write and produce series that are clean and entertaining, with or without really obvious christian messages. Once the US saw tht the viewers were appreciating the show, that would attract more viewers and also attract better acting talent, better production professionals and so on. I'm not saying that we need to dump the message, not by any means, but it's time the Christian community think about producing general entertainment that is wholesome regardless of whether it's a sitcom or a science fiction type show.

 

[Elife3]

Probably because major networks don't carry Christian shows often and you may need cable in some areas but a lot of people have cable.

 

[tammym1972]

Hey
I work for TBN so I have to put in my 2 cents worth. We actually do ma sitcom called "Pastor Greg" and a drama called "7th Street Theatre". Unfortunately they are both lacking in quality according to my opinion. There are some good shows on Sat night like Travel The Road, Real Videos and Drive Through History.

 

[Theogonia]

Haven't you noticed? Everything in the Christian entertainment industry is trash. The music, the movies, the books, the TV.

I'll tell you the reason why none of it is good. Because none of it ever is about real life, and real people. It's about God. That's not real. You can't make something good if it isn't real. People can't relate to it, so it becomes fantastical and always comes off as shallow.

Christians are too afraid to present real people with real problems, because real people are not sugary sweet cardboard Christian cut outs. Real people have problems, real people make serious mistakes. Until things like that can be presented in a manner that is NOT watered down, there is no way the Christian entertainment industry can produce anything close to an effective drama.

Maybe, for some reason I can't fathom, other Christians would consider it dramatic. But I believe in God, and I'm shocked by the vapid and pointless themes they consider to be poignant.

Comedy, is another matter and I've never seen any Christian comedy shows; don't know if there even are any.

In short, Christian entertainment will never be good until Christians stop making their themes about Jesus and start using real themes with real situations and real characters.

 

[llghoney]

Ok, so we have some writers here & someone who works for TBN & I'm sure there are some actresses around. Sooooo let's make a show!!

 

[KarrieTex]

Because there are too "Christians" are elitist with a condescending superiority attitude that they feel they need to preach to you?!

No, seriously, though, recall my previous post about how money is needed to both produce the show and drive revenue in? Well, despite the camera exposure actors get, and it does require a good acting cast, the real source of a good TV show, movie, etc. are the writers. It doesn't matter how good the actors are, if there is no story and bad dialogue, it will not be good to watch.

Everything I said before about money being the motivation applies to getting good writers too.

Does that mean that ther are no good Christian script writers? I would certainly hope not, since I fancy myself a writer. But I guess you go where there is work, and apparently that's not in the Christian TV/film industry.

Yes, but did you see a Night With the King?

Very well done, good actors, nice effects and yet it was not seen by many.

There is something more going on here than just money being low.

 

[thenewageriseth]

Here's what I noticed. It seems that all Christian TV is about preaching. There are some movies out there, but I find most of them are also low quality. Taking into account low budgets, you would think they would at least have better acting.

I would like to see TBN or a subsequent station create sitcoms and drama's with a Christian foundation.

Not preachy every other word is about God stuff. Just like the rest of the TV shows out there, but with Christian Values...(like old shows such as Growing Pains). Stuff that is socially relevant and modern.

I think this ties into a problem Christian society has being IN the world. We are supposed to be IN it not OF it, but it seems we are creating our own seperate world.

I think it would be good for current christians and also, imagine a non-christian stumbling across a funny sitcom they end up loving, in the process learning (not from preaching, just from underlying lessons) more about Christ.

I agree, to some extenet, because most shows do come off as too preachy, and they should kinda tone it down so as to make it less cliche' and something similar to shows like Growing Pains.

 

[thenewageriseth]

Haven't you noticed? Everything in the Christian entertainment industry is trash. The music, the movies, the books, the TV.

LOL

I'll tell you the reason why none of it is good. Because none of it ever is about real life, and real people. It's about God. That's not real. You can't make something good if it isn't real. People can't relate to it, so it becomes fantastical and always comes off as shallow.

I agree.

Christians are too afraid to present real people with real problems, because real people are not sugary sweet cardboard Christian cut outs. Real people have problems, real people make serious mistakes. Until things like that can be presented in a manner that is NOT watered down, there is no way the Christian entertainment industry can produce anything close to an effective drama.

That's right. Point well taken! I agree they do try to sugarcoat everything. Have you ever seen "Believers Among Us" movie series, btw?

Maybe, for some reason I can't fathom, other Christians would consider it dramatic. But I believe in God, and I'm shocked by the vapid and pointless themes they consider to be poignant.

Drama and real life issues make a show/fictional work more interesting and easier to get hooked on.

Comedy, is another matter and I've never seen any Christian comedy shows; don't know if there even are any.

I was watching a SkyAngel TV Paid Program about the SkyAngel Cable Service for Christian Programming and they said that on one of their channels, they had a Christian sitcom. :o

www.skyangel.com

In short, Christian entertainment will never be good until Christians stop making their themes about Jesus and start using real themes with real situations and real characters.

Yeah, I agree that mixing something similar to these secular shows (i.e. Degrassi, OC, The Hill, Hidden Palms, One Tree Hill, etc), with issues of the real world, with Christian beliefs and "telling it like it is", would make more Christian shows, novels (and maybe even music) more enjoyable.
As a aspiring author, I, myself, try to "keep it real" with some of my series of books. I mix Christianity with the real world, trying to not come off as "preachy". There was this Christian romance novel I read, that was very clean and well written, but VERY preachy.

 

[thenewageriseth]

Hey
I work for TBN so I have to put in my 2 cents worth. We actually do ma sitcom called "Pastor Greg" and a drama called "7th Street Theatre". Unfortunately they are both lacking in quality according to my opinion. There are some good shows on Sat night like Travel The Road, Real Videos and Drive Through History.

Well, another example is "Touched By An Angel". Now ain't that one of the greatest inspirational shows ever made for TV? Heck, I almost forgot to mention that one.

 

[thenewageriseth]

I agree, but TV is pretty anti-religion nowadays. Such as them forcing the Veggie Tales to remove all God comments from the show in order to play it on NBC (which, they did...they sold out God...that's pretty bad).

I'd love to see normal style television shows on TBN and other faith based channels. Heck I could write a million of them.

I do veer towards shows such as House and Scrubs right now, that at minimum has a life/moral dillema and makes one think about things greater then themselves.

I miss the days of the Cosby show, growing pains and such.

I miss those days too.

 

[thenewageriseth]

I love touched by an angel. As a child I also loved the flying nun! She was so sweet and fun!

I'm saying! I love TBAA. I been missing the H- out of it since the regular analog cable plug was pulled in here in my hometown!
And who's the flying nun?

Although it wasn't overtly religious, I really enjoyed the Cosby show. The one where he was a doctor. I thought that was one of the best sitcoms to show healthy family relationships with an intact family.

I agree, the Cosby show is a great show.