The Catharsis of Spurious Morality

I'm watching "Shameless".

No doubt you find this situation greatly amusing.

Since I've been on an extended petulent sulk since 23rd December last year (for reasons too pleasingly childish to explain here and which are still awaiting their much-anticipated conclusion), I've been privy to some fine examples of modern television.

So far this evening I have managed to endure "Come Dine With Me", "Coach Trip" and "Emmerdale", but then had to take myself outside for a walk while my dignity recovered.

But "Shameless" is a special case.

For even by the loose standards of today, this really is a rare example of morally bankrupt filth, happily (and deliberately) wallowing in its own turpitude.

Which actually rather bothers me, in more ways than one.

Having been brought up suckling on the wholesome milky teats of Doctor Who Monthly in its younger days, I was always taught to find laughable the antics of Mary Whitehouse and her crusade against media wickedness.

So it is rather ironic that I am teetering on the verge of middle age, advocating a serious reappraisal of morals and ethics in broadcasting. Not along odd and disturbing religious lines like Whitehouse's NVLA (or Mediawatch-UK as it is known now), but just out of good old-fashioned DECENCY, dammit.

I'm not on a crusade to protect the children either, which is the usual excuse. (But this probably wouldn't be a bad thing. Maybe if somebody had been trying to do that, Ms Monoid's child would not be banned from a local shop for theft, and I would not be shamed and embarassed by my tenuous association with her).

Am I merely a middle class snob? Well, yes. I'd be the first to admit that. But as "Shameless" is basically "Brookside" with on-screen copulation, it's not a question of tut-tutting about the "common people".

What is required at this stage is actually something quite basic and - yes, have a laugh - old-fashioned as Good triumphing over Evil, and the concept of just desserts.

Simple as that, really.

Anyway, "Shameless" has finished now. And the best bit about it was the plug for the Samaritans at the end.

Whether that was for people affected by the issues, or for people affected by the lack of a moral compass, we shall never know...