# TV Ratings...Brady Bunch is PG???? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 17, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090 "2001-09-17T04:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/1 "2001-09-17T04:26:53Z")
Ok, I’ve heard that the TV rating system was designed to be confusing. I’ve never belived it until now. I was watching an episode of (god help me) The Brady Bunch with a friend and it said TV-PG. (As an aside, it was the Joe Namath episode) There was no violence, nothing that could concievably be considered bad language, certainly no sex. So why the rating? If something as mayo-on-white bread as The Brady Bunch gets a PG, what in the world would get a G? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/2 "2001-09-17T04:34:02Z")
Well, PG means _Parental Guidance_ is recommended, doesn’t it? I can see how that might apply to the Brady Bunch: “No dear, orange and chocolate is not an acceptable colour for wallpaper”. “Yes dear, people really did dress like that, but we don’t do it anymore and it’s not really polite to talk about flares in public”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/3 "2001-09-17T04:34:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*Ok, I’ve heard that the TV rating system was designed to be confusing. I’ve never belived it until now. I was watching an episode of (god help me) The Brady Bunch with a friend and it said TV-PG. (As an aside, it was the Joe Namath episode) > > There was no violence, nothing that could concievably be considered bad language, certainly no sex. > > So why the rating? If something as mayo-on-white bread as The Brady Bunch gets a PG, what in the world would get a G? > > Fenris \*\* It’s actually a movie, not TV as you asked, but “Planet of the Apes” (the one with Chuck Heston) was released rated G. So was its first sequel. Today, they’d be either PG-13 or R. And if they got an R for the violence, they’d then throw in some gratuitous swearing. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/4 "2001-09-17T05:07:04Z")
Maybe PG meant “pretty groovy”. ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/5 "2001-09-17T05:13:43Z")
The Brady Bunch is rated PG, but the Dukes of Hazzard is rated G. The Dukes of Hazzard has gunfire, fistfights, explosions, and car crashes, but it is far tamer than the Brady Bunch. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/6 "2001-09-17T05:19:26Z")
It was the part where Alice asked Sam the butcher for the biggest sausage he sold and well… one thing led to another. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/7 "2001-09-18T03:36:17Z")
All very funny, but I really did want to know about how the TV ratings system classifies stuff. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/8 "2001-09-18T03:44:18Z")
Doesn’t anybody use Google anymore? 🙂 The first reference on the list was [http://www.tvguidelines.com](http://www.tvguidelines.com), [The TV Parental Guidelines](http://www.tvguidelines.org/guidelin.htm) > [@](#): > > **TVY** All Children. This program is designed to be appropriate for all children. Whether animated or live-action, the themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience, including children from ages 2 - 6. This program is not expected to frighten younger children… > > **TVY7** Directed to Older Children. This program is designed for children age 7 and above.It may be more appropriate for children who have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between make-believe and reality. Themes and elements in this program may include mild fantasy violence or comedic violence, or may frighten children under the age of 7. Therefore, parents may wish to consider the suitability of this program for their very young children. Note: For those programs where fantasy violence may be more intense or more combative than other programs in this category, such programs will be designated TV-Y7-FV. > > The following categories apply to programs designed for the entire audience: > > **TVG** General Audience. Most parents would find this program suitable for all ages. Although this rating does not signify a program designed specifically for children, most parents may let younger children watch this program unattended. It contains little or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue or situations. > > **TVPG** Parental Guidance Suggested. This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Many parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D). > > **TV14** Parents Strongly Cautioned. This program contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D). > > **TVMA** Mature Audience Only. This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17. This program contains one or more of the following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language (L) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/9 "2001-09-18T03:57:40Z")
Three’s Company episodes are routinely rated “G” and that is full of suggestiveness. But each episode is rated differently. Maybe the PG in the Joe Namath episode was for lying. Remember it was the SECOND time a Brady Fibbed. Marcia Brady said she KNEW Davy Jones. Well not exactly the same thing but kind of. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/10 "2001-09-18T07:18:02Z")
I’d guess that the Brady Bunch is dated so much that the presence of a parent is required to translate some of the “groovy” terminology. The Dukes of Hazzard is rated “G” because everyone understands the phrase “Hang on, y’all.” Plus, only the bad guys carried guns, this is a message counter to violence so actually counts twice on the good side. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/11 "2001-09-18T12:43:04Z")
Isn’t the Joe Namath episode the one where Bobby is talking about famous athletes of his day and Kareem Abdul-Jabar comes up in the conversation. Bobby says, > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Bobby Brady** _ > Fat chance I have of being 6’ 7"… AND BLACK! Maybe the TVPG rating was given because the topic of race (however tangentially) comes up in this episode. ---
**Author:** ![johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/12 "2001-09-18T13:02:51Z")
I don’t know–wouldn’t anything with Marcia in it be at least TV14? ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/13 "2001-09-18T13:09:50Z")
There was an episode where Bobby develops this Jesse James obsession, and at one point dreams Jesse James guns down his family during a train robbery. I don’t remember the specifics, but it did disturb me when I was about five or six years old. Those Bradys are dark, man. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/14 "2001-09-18T13:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philosophocles \* > \*\*The Brady Bunch is rated PG, but the Dukes of Hazzard is rated G. > > The Dukes of Hazzard has gunfire, fistfights, explosions, and car crashes, but it is far tamer than the Brady Bunch. \*\* [Roscoe P Coletrain] Just like my little fat buddy planned it! Them Brady Kids is gonna fall right of the tele-vision when they get slammed with that rating! GyuhGyuhGyuhGyuh! [/Roscoe P Coletrain] ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/15 "2001-09-18T14:59:52Z")
Easy. In the BB film, there is a scene between the two oldest kids that seemed rather sexual. However, if you had looked at not just the rating ‘PG’ but also the new rating that explains it, it should have a ‘D’ which = discussion, as in that sort of sexual discussion scene above. Next time check the ratings that say why it got PG…thats my WAG. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/16 "2001-09-18T15:05:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*I was watching an episode of (god help me) The Brady Bunch with a friend and it said TV-PG. (As an aside, it was the Joe Namath episode) > > There was no violence, nothing that could concievably be considered bad language, certainly no sex. > > So why the rating? \*\* Was it, perchance, a pop-up video episode of the Brady Bunch on Nickelodeon? I know they did the Joe Namath episode as a pop-up video one, and maybe some of the behind-the-scenes stuff they put up garnered the rating. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/17 "2001-09-18T15:14:39Z")
If you read the guidelines I quoted above, the answer should be obvious. Brady Bunch received the TVPG rating not because of suggestive situations or violence. The show simply cannot be easily interpreted by young children without parental guidance. Themes like lying, dealing with bullies, sibling rivalry, and stealing demand the attention of parents and dialog with young viewers. It’s not rocket science, folks. Sure the themes may seem tame by today’s standards, but responsible parents will want to discuss these issues with their children. (Irresponsible parents aren’t paying attention to the guidleines anyway). The rating isn’t an absolute, either. Note the qualifier “may”. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/18 "2001-09-19T12:25:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilhanz \* > \*\*The show simply cannot be easily interpreted by young children without parental guidance. Themes like lying, dealing with bullies, sibling rivalry, and stealing demand the attention of parents and dialog with young viewers. \*\* But…but then what _could_ get a “TV-G” rating? Sesame Street’s dealt with stealing. Mr. Rodgers has dealt with lying. Bugs Bunny has dealt with falling anvils. I can’t think of _any_ TV show that, by that definition, would get a TV-G or below. Including Barney. I’m not arguing with you, but if you’re right, then the people claming these ratings are meaningless are right. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/19 "2001-09-19T12:52:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilhanz \* > **Themes like lying, dealing with bullies, sibling rivalry, and stealing demand the attention of parents and dialog with young viewers.** That, and why an architect would have six kids and one bathroom. My parents could never explain that to me… ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090/20 "2001-09-19T12:55:55Z")
evilhans, I have to wonder how much the ratings organization follows its own guidelines. I was watching the opening of “Mannix” this morning on TV Land, and I saw it was rated G! Now, “Mannix” had the reputation in its day of being the most violent show around. Not an episode went by without a fist fight, shooting and a car chase/crash. I realize that, compared to, say “Walker, Texas Ranger”, “Mannix” isn’t as violent, but I still say it should be rated PG. As they say in the 'hood, “That is wack!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ratings-brady-bunch-is-pg/82090.md?page=2)