Something GOOD to Watch
Are there ANY decent series on broadcast or cable, ones that are worth watching because they support traditional values? Yes, and here they are along with a shout out to our favorites.
We discovered a comprehensive study and list of “conservative tv shows” on the site Conservapedia.com. You’ll find the list here.
We hasten to note that some of these shows are decidedly religious, and some have the taint of scandal associated with them (e.g. “The Cosby Show” since Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault). Here’s an abbreviated version of the chart incorporated in the article consisting of shows we can recommend.
“Title”
Original Run; Network; TV Rating
Description
“24”
2001-2010 Fox TV 14
Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) protects America at all costs against all terrorists, whether Islamic, European, Communist Chinese, African, or even from within the U.S. government. The 2017 sequel series, 24: Legacy, stars Corey Hawkins as ex-Army Ranger Eric Carter, who battles Islamic terrorists planning attacks on American soil.
“Band of Brothers”
2001 HBO TV-MA
This World War II military drama deals with the exploits of E Company, 506th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. Similar to Saving Private Ryan, the mini-series promotes the military and American values in a positive light as well as the Nazis in a negative light.
“Blue Bloods”
2010- CBS TV-PG
Conservative police officer show, that also promotes family. Stars conservative actor Tom Selleck as officer Frank Reagan (a possible name reference to Ronald Reagan). It also features Christian principles, with religion playing a fairly major role in several episodes, and each episode also ending with the Reagan family saying prayers before a meal (with such an overt depiction of Christian principles being rare on present-day TV). In addition, the series is clearly pro-Law Enforcement, with episodes dealing with conflicts between City Hall and the police force. It also includes examples of characters trying to demonize the police force, including some journalists, who are portrayed in a negative light.
“Chuck”
2007-2012 NBC PG
Chuck Bartowsky, a computer repair technician, accidentally downloads numerous top-secret government files into his brain and is recruited by the CIA, seeing as he can help them crack their toughest cases with his ability to rapidly shuffle through and find images in his head relevant to particular elements of a mission. The show emphasizes family values, honor, and a respect for America’s people in uniform, with one character, the brutish but patriotic NSA agent John Casey, as an outspoken conservative and Ronald Reagan supporter. Furthermore, the series averts feminism as positive male and female role models are present: both Chuck’s sister Ellie and her eventual husband Devon/”Captain Awesome” are equally competent physicians; and CIA agent Sarah Walker, who grows from being Chuck’s cover girlfriend to being his real girlfriend and eventually his wife, wants to leave the dangerous world of espionage towards the end of the series with Chuck to start a nuclear family.
“Everybody Loves Raymond”
1996-2005 CBS TV-PG
Based on the stand-up comedy of Ray Romano, this classic sitcom stars Romano as sportswriter Raymond Barone, following his comical everyday life with his wacky but faithful family. It celebrates family values as the characters overcome obstacles in a comic fashion.
“Full House”
1987-1995 ABC TV-G
Family sitcom where after losing his wife to a drunk driver, a younger father has his brother-in-law and best friend move in with him, to help raise his three young daughters. Despite this and living in the most liberal U.S. city-San Francisco-, the importance of having a male and female parent is still encouraged. Starting in Season Two, Becky Donaldson (Jesse’s girlfriend and later wife) becomes a mother figure for the girls. The original series was followed by a more liberal-leaning sequel, Fuller House, which debuted on Netflix in 2016 and promotes more liberal values and politics.
“Heartland”
2007-present CBC(Canada)
Based on the series of books by Linda Chapman and Beth Chambers (both under the pen name of Lauren Brooke), this Canadian drama centers around two sisters named Amy (Amber Marshall) and Lou (Michelle Morgan) Fleming, who run their family’s horse ranch, Heartland, with their grandfather Jack Bartlett (Shaun Johnston) and ranch hand Ty Borden (Graham Wardle) after their mother dies rescuing a horse abused by its owner. Every episode stresses the importance of devotion to family and succeeding with hard work and never giving up, as well as forgiveness, as when Amy and Lou welcome their estranged father Tim (Chris Potter) back into their lives, and how Ty, a parolee when the show begins, eventually earns Jack’s trust as a ranch hand. The show also demonstrates how the Flemings show respect for animals while training them to respect humans. This is one of the very few conservative-leaning shows to air on the otherwise heavily liberal state broadcaster the CBC.
“Justified”
2010- FX Network TV-MA
Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens, a 19th-century-style tough cowboy lawman, enforces his own brand of justice when dealing with criminals of all kinds in the hill country of eastern Kentucky. His boss, the Chief Deputy US Marshal Art Mullen, is played by Nick Searcy, a noted conservative actor.
“Last Man Standing”
2011-2017 (ABC) 2018-present (Fox) ABC & Fox TV-PG
This refreshing sitcom stars Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, a marketing director for a sporting goods store chain called Outdoor Man, who strives to keep his manhood (fishing, hunting, sports and camping), and promotes conservative values (including supporting the military), in opposition to his antagonistic liberal daughter Kristin (the oldest of three daughters Mike has with his wife Vanessa) and her equally-liberal husband Ryan, who often clashes with both Mike and Vanessa over political, cultural and philosophical issues. Unlike the similar and more vehement clashes between Archie Bunker and Mike Stivic in All in the Family where the latter comes out on top due to Archie’s ignorance and lack of ability to make cohesive arguments, the often clueless and hypocritical Ryan loses arguments with the more well-versed and level-headed Mike. Meanwhile, Mike gets along very well with his youngest daughter Eve due to their similar political views and interests, as he does with Boyd, Kristin and Ryan’s son and Mike’s grandson (as expected, Kristin and Ryan are not impressed that Boyd has more in common with his grandfather than with them). Unfortunately, the liberal parent network ABC canceled the series due to its pro-Donald Trump humor, despite it having high ratings.This resulted in Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker taking to Twitter to denounce ABC for the decision, as well as a boycott against ABC and a petition demanding that ABC bring back Last Man Standing, the latter getting over 10,000 signatures within the night the petition was first made. When Country Music Television (CMT) picked up the series for syndication, rumors that it would continue the series started spreading. In May 2018, it was announced the series was being revived by Fox and would return on that network for the 2018-19 season. On its premiere, it managed to gain more viewers than the first episode of the reboot of Murphy Brown.
“Top Gear” 2002- BBC TV-PG
This fun and educational British series discusses cars and automotive technologies while celebrating individual freedom, capitalism, and private-sector innovation. It tends to be politically incorrect as well, poking fun at the belief in “global warming”.
“Yes, Minister!/Yes, Prime Minister!” BBC
This classic British sitcom explores the political machinations of being a cabinet member in the British government, and then eventually as Prime Minister. A recurring theme is that of the struggle of politicians to make desired changes against the resistance of the bureaucracy.
