I think most of those “cop” shows today are too graphic for no other reason than they can be. We all know that police, firefighters, nurses, doctors, etc. have to become a little cold in order to do their jobs on a daily basis. But what is irritating about shows like CSI (all flavors), Law & order and now these newer shows is the glib comments viewers must endure. It’s as if we not only have to see something horrific but at the same time must listen to some character make a joke about the death and/or condition of someone deceased on the crime scene.

Do we wonder why kids are so emotionless when it comes to death and killing? Why do you think so many people resort to guns/violence as a way to settle disagreements? These shows just glamorize death and killing and don’t really send home the basic message about death–it’s permanent and there are no re-runs.

To those who say we can always turn the channel–Yes, I agree. However, I can’t turn to a different channel for the other person who is watching this garbage 24×7 and then decides to come to school or a mall or public place and start shooting people up because he thinks it would be cool or fun to kill people…how do you respond to that scenario?

Of course we can turn the channel. Unfortunately, that’s a simplistic way of looking at this situation and does not address the issue at hand–too much violence and desensitization in TV today.

Actually, too many people are in need of some outdoor activity anyway. How about a walk around the block for 30 minutes instead of dropping your butt on a couch for 4 hours a night…

As for these recent shows…I’ll pass. A serial killer is NOT a hero. Maybe these writers should have stayed on strike if this is the best they have…

peace all…

Jackie, I’m sure you know that the show has ben on Showtime for a couple of seasons. I watched the first couple of episodes on Showtime and determined that the show only appealed to gore fans or fans of Michael C. Hall from his time on Six Feet Under. Well, Dexter is nothing like 6FU, so that leaves fans of gore. (Clearly a lot of cuting will be taking place each wekk on CBS)

The fact that it is finding its way onto television (regular variety) only shows that bottom line cost is what rulles these days, along with lack of telented people with new ideas. It’s not only CBS, look at NBC with Knightrider and Bionic Woman.

It’s just like movies, where the people today have the hubris to think they can improve on something great - as an older person, I’m somewhat biased, but when my son tells me that the older version of many movies is better, I think the age argument goes out the window.

I can only think of one or two times where a movie or series has come even close to the original - and in both cases it was because of well done humor when the original wasn’t a comedy.

George Hamilton in ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ was good, not better, and deserves comparison. The other is another George Hamilton film, Zorro (The Gay Blade) aand again, it deserves comparison as it tells a story with humor yet is not silly or stupid. As much as I lke Jim Carrey, his ‘Fun With Dick and Jane’ did not hold a candle to the original with George Segal and Jane Fonda.

It really shows how large the head of Sean Combs must be, as he attempts to do ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ , and seems to forget the giant that was in the original.

I don’t think this is what was meant by ‘everything old is new again’ - at least I hope not.

Dexter is a great show. I’ve watched it on Showtime since it first came out and enjoy it immensely. Here’s what I think: rather than expecting a media outlet to decide what you can and can’t watch, how about a little personal responsibility? Try self-monitoring, monitor what the kids are watching, so on and so forth. Why is it televisions responsibility to decide what *you* and your family watch? If it’s offensive, scary, gory, graphic, sexual, whatever….. turn it off or change the channel! No one is forcing you to watch-you have the power right at your fingertips.

As an adult with children, it’s up to ME to make the choices for my kids and I don’t expect anyone else to do it for me. Censorship in many cases is a very bad thing. I don’t want someone telling me what to do anymore than I already have to tolerate. Personal responsibility for what *you* do and what *you* will allow in your home is all it takes.

There are many shows now where the “hero” is some kind of criminal or loser. The most obvious are the mafia shows, Sopranos, etc., and now there is even one where the high school science teacher also runs a crystal meth lab. (”Breaking Bad”) I can’t even imagine how such a concept could have made its way to the air.

Just do a search and you’ll see, that one has people all over the internet discussing the best crystal meth recipes, compared to what they’ve seen on the show.

Controversy is a form of publicity though, and publicity gets people paid. Unfortunately, any fool can start controversy, and apparently, any fool can now come up with a TV show concept that will get airtime on SOME network.

I fully understand what the previous comments & the author of the piece is saying. Having been in commercial broadcasting for many years…you own your radio/TV & are never forced to listen/watch anything at all. If anything on the air/cable/satellite offends you…TURN IT OFF! Even better… unsubscribe to your service provider…then get rid of your television. Problem solved on any offensive material entering your home.

The problem is that too many people are more than willing to post their feelings about any topic…but they are still the ones who keep the shows they disdain on the air. The prime example is that of Howard Stern. He got most of his ratings from those who couldn’t stand him…but they listened for the same reason those who enjoyed Stern would listen.

Having never watched Dexter…have no comment…other than what those who have seen it have told me.

I think some of you need to get the stick out of your you-know-where and just relax a little. Dexter is one of the most interesting and intriguing shows on TV. I probably won’t be watching in on CBS, having seen all the originals on Showtime and not wanting to see the edited versions, but Like mhz, I prefer this rather kinky and strange anti-hero to the glorified goons of The Sopranos and other organized crime shows. Sure, Dex is not for everyone, but for totally opposite but just as compelling reasons, neither is The Sound of Music.

Your arguement is understandable but not plausible. I am an A-level Media Studies student and Crime Drama is the current module I am studying. You learn that programmes like Dexter are simply trying to think outside the box, if this wasn’t done, companies would be showing the same rubbish which we have seen over and over again.

Dexter is not the hero, he is the protagonist of the series, meaning the main character. He can be described a false hero, because you can see he thinks that he is doing is right, from a viewers point of view it is very easy to say that he is deranged.

You say you only watched the first episode, I don’t think you would want to see the full series because it wouldn’t be your cup of tea but you really need to, to see what messages the series brings across.

Towards the end of the second series he thinks about turning himself in because he knows deep down what he is doing is wrong, it is not encouraging people to go out and do the same. You have to remember this is ‘fiction’, it isn’t real.
“Honesty, decency, and caring for your fellow man”? These things have already been done, can you really blame showcase for wanting to create something original with a bit more flavour? Their only trying to do whatever TV Company wants to do, give their programme a unique selling point, something that other programmes don’t have.
It’s the same case with Dexter.

We need more vigilanties everywhere.I am sick and tired of housing these third and fourth generation of animals conceived on drugs and alcohol,which will NEVER be more than a leech on society.Third violent conviction,summery execution,within minutes if not seconds of conviction.Live within the confinds of civilized society or become a cadaver.GO ISREAL GO,RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAST EMBRYO.FIGHT THE JEWS AND YOU WILL LOSE.POOR MO-HAM-HEAD,HE DIDN’T GET IT ANY MORE THEN,THAN THE BASTARD BLOOD LINE THAT IS CAUSING THE HORROR OF TODAY! DOWN TO THE VERY LAST EMBRYO!!!

Number one, it’s a TV show. It’s meant to entertain people. It isn’t meant to send out good messages or morals. Anyone who decides to go start killing criminals does so at their own free will. It’s called personal responsibility. If I tell you that smoking crack is cool, and you do, are you going to blame me?

Number two, vigilantes do the right thing. I’d appreciate it if there was a real Dexter taking out the violent criminals. Vigilantes keep people safe by getting rid of rapists, murderers and gangs. But I guess a murderer’s life is worth more than public safety, right? Some people are better off dead. Society would be a lot safer with these people gone. The only problem is our legal system. It basically kneels down and lets serious criminals do whatever they want. Vigilante justice takes care of this.

Some people don’t deserve to live. The world is a much safer place with these people gone. Serial killers, rapists, pedophiles and kidnappers are all very dangerous people. They commonly get away, only to hurt someone again. Vigilantes kill them to keep us and our children safe. Many rapists get out after only a few years of jail. They then go and hurt another woman or child again. They get released again, and do it over and over until we decide they belong in jail forever. That’s our take on it. A vigilante doesn’t put up with it. He kills the rapist, to ensure he doesn’t do it again.

Take the OJ Simpson trial as an example. I’d be happy if someone took care of him. He got away, and didn’t get what he deserved. He was released back into the public, endangering everyone around him. But because he was found innocent, nobody should touch him, right? We should just wait until he kills someone else. Then we’ll punish him. Luckily, we caught him. But we risked innocent lives to keep a murderer safe.

Dexter shows the dark side of human nature. We all have both light and dark in us, it’s what we choose to act on that matters. Also, it IS just a TV show, and also about 10000x less violent than many other shows or movies done previously. For the people who are pro censorship (or censorsh*t, as i like to call it, free speech.. yeah right), you need to realize something: Shows, music, games, media.. none of these things MAKES someone do bad things. Someone may have a compulsion and act on it, possibly spurred by some form of media. We all have that dark side. Censorshi*t denies the problem exists, puts a bleep or denies your free speech rights, and makes the problem that much worse by NOT bringing it out in the open and dealing with it. As for Dexter? Each to his own i guess.. personally I don’t 100% agree with what his character does.. but I wouldn’t stand in his way either. Batman did quite similar things, but we glorify him. Why? Because he had a fancy costume and beat criminals to a pulp face to face, one on one, and didn’t use methods of stealth, secrecy, and so on like Dexter does. But the end result is the same.