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After examining the networks' Saturday morning schedule, we developed categories for the various types of violence in the shows. A reminder: NBC does not broadcast for kids on Saturday morning and its teenage programming raises no concerns in the area of violence. Our three classifications of violence in Saturday morning programming are:
This is the slapstick comedic violence that has been watched by children in television and movies for generations. Typified by the classic Warner Bros. cartoons such as Bugs Bunny or Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner, this type of violence is lighthearted and hyperbolic with comedy as the main theme and purpose. It is never realistic with regard to the violent actions themselves or the consequences. This genre of violence, while occasionally mean-spirited, is not designed to be taken seriously by viewers, no matter what age. Examples of cartoons that feature this type of violence are:
Most of this is programming for the youngest children. Although The Cryptkeeper is based on the violent Tales From the Crypt, it is animated, uses a very different tone from the original and raises very few issues of concern. Likewise, Addams Family is much tamer and less spooky than the television series and movies.
This type of violence is typical of adventure/comedy cartoons in which the violence usually stems from a battle between good and evil and serves as the climax or wrap-up of the show. Also included in this category are somewhat threatening chase scenes that seldom result in harm, even comedic harm. While the tame combat violence is sometimes central to the program's resolution, it is never the crux or focus of the story and typically entails a fairly quick and innocuous fight rather than a scene drawn out for the purposes of action. Everything about this tame violence is minimized. Examples of these shows are:
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