I don't watch a lot of broadcast TV. When the new fall shows come out, I'll check out several of the pilots. I watch about 4 or 5 broadcast shows and probably won't stay with all of them. By the way, a DVR is the way to go. I can watch an hour long show in 40-45 minutes and if my kids need me, they don't have to wait for a commercial.
One show that I thought was funny and sometimes well written is "Big Bang Theory." It is about two "brainiac" 20somethings who are socially awkward. They are trying to make friends with the "hot girl" who moved in next door. It started off relatively cleanly. There were a few questionable references, but noting vulgar. I let my teenagers watch it with me with some reservation. Since both my children are highly intelligent (I'm not trying to brag, it just helps make the point right now.), they caught most of the references to scientific principles and arcane philosophy.
One thing has troubled me about the show. It has gotten more and more sexual. There is not a lot in the way of questionable clothing, but there are a lot of sexual references and even sexual activity. The last episode, before the writers strike sent them into early reruns, made the not so subtle statement that people can only find their real selves and reach their goals if they get a little drunk. At one point, the characters even laughed about spiking another person's cola so that they would lighten up.
Why is it that the video media doesn't get it. This is one of the most irresponsible things a TV show could do. We already have a generation that has been exposed to every kind of mind altering chemical. Why would they encourage students to find the solutions to their problems in alcohol, deceiving others, and in sex. Hasn't they world already seen that none of these are real solutions. At best, the mask the problems. At worst, they let the problems fester under the surface while they are causing new problems.
As much as I like the show, I may be getting this half hour of my life back a little earlier in the season than usual.
