What I remember Saturdays to be.

When i was younger, there was always something on television that was not relaity tv shows or celebrity trying to be superhuman-beings. With the current economic crisis that we are all in I think it is about time the broadcasters bought back some good family television, give people a reason to want to stay at home on a weekend.

I remember loving saturday nights in. Watching some Noel's House Party with Mr Blobby and geninely not minding being indoors and sitting in front of the screen for hours. It was the height of my week, and as I got older, although this did change slightly, I still loved watching these family orientated programmses. There are two main problems with this nowadays-

1) People over the age of 13 no longer want to spend time with their family. I find this sad! I love my family and I am very thankful for the times that we spent together on the weekends. Maybe it is the way that I was bought up. I was never allowed to roam the streets or drink until I was 18. My parents were strict on what I could and could not do, but I know that this is why I am like I am today. Teenagers would rather be sat in thef reezing cold drinking themselves silly than getting a take away with their family and watching some silly reality show on tv. So, I guess the first problem is the harder of the two. Giving teenagers the 'want' they need to stay indoors rather than wanting to be outside with their mates 24/7. I know that this is not the same for all, but the majority will agree that a night in with their family is the one thing they did not want to do!

and secondly;

Broadcasters need to bring back some family viewing. Such as Noel's house party (which I will always remember for defining a saturday night in). Then there was Gladiators. I loved that show! That was how the night started, then it was Stars in their Eyes. All these shows were made for family viewing and I think encouraged families to sit together and have that one meal a week that everyone needs together. At the moment, to mention just a few, there is Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing on Ice (both of which are the same format with celebrities) and the X-Factor (making people into celebrities).

Saturday nights are now all about getting drunk for most over 18 year old that do not have a family to look after. And there is nothing wrong with that! I was out every weekend before I came to University, and I enjoyed it everytime! Its part of growing up and learning your limits, but with many people not having so much disposable income I think it is time television went back to what it was 10 years ago. These programmes had something for everyone, of all ages. They need to take the old format and create something for the 21st century, it would not be that hard and it might just bring saturdays back to being the night to stay in.

Children need to know that not everything on television is about celebrities and that they should take there time growing up. They need something to make them want to stay at home at least once a week and have a family meal and some quality time with their parents. Your childhood flies by too quick and before you know it there is nothing but adulthood ahead.