For the forth time this season Two and a Half Men has earned the dishonor
of being named our Worst of the Week, and this week's episode is the
"worst" yet. Its careless discussion of promiscuous sex, masturbation, and
infidelity in front of a young boy is evidence of the network's (CBS) complete
disregard for family viewers at 9:00 p.m. (8:00 in the Central and Mountain time
zones). Families should not only avoid this program at all costs, but should be
concerned about the precedent this popular program is setting in the dumbing-down
of American broadcast standards.
In this episode
entitled "Don't Worry, Speed Racer," 12-year-old Jake asks his father and uncle
questions about sex over breakfast. His curiosity on the subject is sparked by
his having overheard his mother and her boyfriend having sex night after night.
Instead of displaying responsible parenting and helping Jake to understand
complexities of what he has heard, Jake's father (Alan), uncle (Charlie), and
housekeeper begin a dialogue rich in kinky sexual innuendo that carries on for
the entirety of the show. Alan and Charlie jab at each other as they recall
items Alan used as tools for masturbation as a young boy.
Charlie: "Huh, more awkward then when you were a kid and had
to explain to Mom why you were hiding a slab of raw liver in your sock drawer?"
Alan: "Okay the second most awkward."
Charlie: "What about when she found the warm cantaloupe with
the face drawn on it."
Alan: "Alright, it was in the top five. I mean, it's just
unnatural for some guy to tell his ex wife to pipe down while having sex with
another man."
Charlie: "I'll tell you what's unnatural, the look on that
melon's face. Fruit should not look surprised." (Charlie makes an "O" shape
with his mouth.)
Alan: "You're the one that gave me that idea."
Charlie: "I was joking."
Alan: "You told me it's what the astronauts do."
Charlie: "Oh, right. That's how I got you to pee in the tang
jar. Oh, and let's not forget how I convinced you Mom's douche bag was Mom's
air supply."
Alan: "Yeah, yeah. My breath smelt like vinegar for two
weeks."
Charlie: "Ahh, those were innocent times."
Later in the show
Charlie discovers repressed memories of watching his mother having sex with
several different men and one woman. He agonizes over the trauma the memories
have caused him. When he tries to confront his mother about the memories he
once again catches his mother in the act of promiscuous sex with a strange man.
The irony of the
episode it that it carelessly documents the trauma a young boy experienced and
the developmental problems he faces after being exposed to reckless sex, while
at the same time broadcasting the content for millions of young viewers to
digest. Again, the PTC urges parents to take caution regarding such programming
and to continue to support the PTC in our efforts to promote decency on
television.