Is ‘The OC’ good family viewing?

Of course I let my two teenage kids watch “The OC.” We usually watch

it together. How else would they know what to aspire to? We are

clearly not living the proper O.C. lifestyle since our lives don’t

resemble the show’s characters in very many ways, so we need to know

what we’re missing. Watching together usually generates some

stimulating family conversations: “Where’s my Range Rover, Dad?” “Can

I move to the pool house?” “Why don’t we have a pool house? Or a

pool?” And then there’s the classic, “I’m 16, whaddaya mean I can’t

go drinking in Tijuana?”

I enjoy pointing out the famous “Orange County landmarks” to the

kids -- places like the Redondo Beach Pier, Palos Verdes, San Pedro,

Malibu and Manhattan Beach. The show is more than just a moral

compass -- it’s a whole darn geography lesson. And we all enjoy

knowing most of the dialogue and cliches before the characters speak.

That way we don’t have to pay close attention when we watch, so we

can talk on our cellphones or do our Yogalates workout.

I asked the teens directly, “Why do you watch ‘The OC?’” My

daughter: “Because Adam Brody is on it!” My son: “Because Anna is

coming back!” (He knows, so remember that you heard it here first.)

For myself, I’m just trying to grow some eyebrows like Peter

Gallagher.

* MARK GLEASON is a parent who lives in Costa Mesa.

I’m the TV czar. I limit the amount of time my kids watch TV and

outlaw shows that undermine the virtues I have worked hard to

instill.

Last year when Emily, 14, asked to watch “The OC,” I said she had

better things to do, like study or read a book.

This year I approached “The OC” differently. It’s called

“opposition research.” I watched it with her and saw the characters

and themes as conversation topics about life in the real O.C.

I gasp at the vanity and sexual promiscuity among the teens and

adults. Currently lesbianism is a sub-theme. To my daughter, “The OC”

is entertaining, but, to my chagrin, she admits some aspects are true

to life in Newport. An impulsive teen, I hope our talks teach her to

think critically about life choices. The show helps me understand her

world.

Sadly, I have come to realize the culture war I have been fighting

has been lost; there’s no going back to the peace and safety of the

‘50s where “Father Knows Best” reinforced those tried-and-true family

values my parents gave me. No longer can I isolate my daughter from

the toxic, salacious culture. But I am committed to helping her

recognize the dangers of relativism and to learn how to discern right

from wrong. These are not fun parenting days. It is hard work.

My hope is that she will be so saturated with the vanity and

hedonism on “The OC” that she will get bored with it and decide to

read a good book instead. And I hope that through our conversations

about “The OC,” she will have the moral character and firm resolve to

choose the right way.

* WENDY LEECE is a parent who lives in Costa Mesa and a former

Newport-Mesa school board member.