When I hear the term “Family Values,” I think of the Christian Right and Rev. Jerry Falwell, and I get all squirmy and want to run in the opposite direction. But Tyler Perry (seen here at yesterday’s Why Did I Get Married? premiere) recently announced that he wants to launch his own network geared toward promoting family values. Thankfully, that probably doesn’t include gay bashing and anti-abortion speeches. Plus, rumor has it T.P. is the last guy with any business spouting anti-gay invectives. If you catch my drift.
Perry says, “Our children and our families are falling apart because there’s only one thing to see, there’s only one place you can go for information, especially African-American people, and a lot of times it’s very negative.
“There are a lot of horrible things going on when you turn on the television with sex and violence and everybody has become desensitized to it. I want to own a television cable network that will be all positive when you turn it on in the morning, it will inspire your children if they’re watching cartoons or the prime time.”
This sounds like a good idea for kids, even if it turns into a self-indulgent Madea-fest. It will definitely be better than what the kids are watching in the mornings now.
What are the kids watching in the mornings? I’m out of touch.
[SP]
you know, i did squirm a bit when he was on Oprah talking about his special, secret lady friend. really, tyler perry?
I don’t know why he gets so much grief from people. All too often we hear that there is nothing positive for our kids to watch or that there are few positive black messages and he’s at least trying to change that. Personally I love Madea, his stage plays and all that stuff. His TV show is wack, but you can’t win ‘em all! I think TV network that doesn’t show reruns all day, but has new programming for families is a great idea.
I agree with you BMD. Tyler Perry is trying to show black people in a different light and people still sh*t on that.
I don’t think black men dressing in drag shows black people in any new light. It’s basically what Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy have turned into multi-million dollar careers. Resurrecting mammy figures is neither positive nor new. His new movie apparently has none of that but I have a general disinterest in his work after being appalled by Madea. It’s better than watching girls shake it half naked on BET but I wouldn’t call it positive.
I’m going out and buying an alram system….TOMORROW!
I don’t think Madea is a mammy figure and the character is nothing like Martin and Eddie’s characters.