Made in America

Alarmed by such figures, Congress in 1990 introduced the Children’s Television Act, mandating that stations show programs with some educational value. The result, alas, was not better programming but more creative program descriptions. One station described the cartoon series GI Joe as “a pedagogical tool” that “promoted social consciousness” and familiarized children with “the dangers of mass destruction.” Another described Chip ’n’ Dale Rescue Rangers as a valuable demonstration of “the rewards of team effort.” The Flintstones, meanwhile, was found to promote initiative and family values.