Television bears a heavy burden. Unlike movies or books or plays, TV shows are expected to do more than just provide entertainment. They are asked to be socially responsible as well. Because they come into the home uninvited, network programs are supposed to uphold proper moral values and teach life lessons: drugs are bad, race discrimination is wrong, women should get breast exams early and often. Sometimes the second task tends to overwhelm the first: that is, a show is so busy doing good that no one bothers to notice whether it is good. The new season's prime example is ABC's...
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