Not a Fan of ‘50s TV

Re: “Having a Devil of a Time” (Aug. 14): “7th Heaven” series creator Brenda Hampton models her show after 1950s sitcom morality plays and wonders why no one is watching.

Television today may be violent and grim, but it is preferable to the Big Lie perpetrated by 1950s television: that happiness can only reside in a white middle-class family with two parents, 2.5 children, a detached suburban home and modern appliances, all operating within the confines of the Protestant ethic.

Shows she recalls fondly, such as “Leave It to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best,” are not so fondly recalled by members of society marginalized by their premise.

HEIDI BARRON

Los Angeles