DON?T LOOK now, but the latest incipient trend on the tube is the ?sexing up? of some TV shows. It goes beyond the ?sexy, gyrating dancers dressed in next to nothing? syndrome that has ticked us off for years. This time, entire dramas and teleseryes are being whipped up to at least tickle viewers? fancy?if not their libidos.

Of course, the medium being TV, which is generally limited to General Patronage entertainment because it enters viewer?s homes and is watched by kids, the ?sexier? shows have to walk a rather thin tightrope, or else weather the opprobrium, not only of the MTRCB, but also of parents and teachers.

A bit of TV history: When we were with the MTRCB, some American and Latin-American soaps imported for viewing here were much sexier than most current local TV fare. So, in terms of graphic program content, we?re generally better off now. But the perceived move to up the ?sexy? ante on the tube today should be observed and vetted to make sure that its proponents don?t get carried away.

Key consideration

A key consideration is the time the ?sexier? show is telecast. For instance, ?Kristine? is a late-night teleserye, so it?s OK for its characters to be more ?adult? in speech, emotions, the way they dress or undress. But remember, TV folks, that some children are watching beyond their usual bedtime hour?so, when in doubt, put a lid on it!

Aside from overtly or covertly sexy situations and scenes, also watch out for relationships and conflicts that are physically, emotionally or psychologically violent and exploitative, and thus seduce or induce viewers to be similarly negative and nasty in their own actions.

Negative tendency

Teleseryes are particularly guilty of this negative tendency, because they need to keep viewers interested and fixated on a daily basis, so they resort to conflicts, confrontations, high and low melodrama, passionate love and hate scenes, convoluted family histories, vicious acts of vengeance, etc.

Viewers really need to protect and defend their sensibilities from such excesses, for fear of ending up as vile and vengeful in their own attitudes and actions.

A newer show, ?Sabel,? has an earlier telecast and has a younger female protagonist, so the teleserye needs to be even more careful in responsibly heating up its romantic and passionate scenes.

By the way, we should point out that excesses can be found, not just on teleseryes, but also on some ?for the boys? TV or radio-TV programs currently on the tube. Recently, we watched one such show and were disturbed to see and hear the ?boys? behaving roguishly and sometimes even salaciously, all in the name of sassy, with-it fun and games.

Hey, guys, don?t throw your garbage into our yards?keep them to fester in yours, because you obviously love the stink!