Hate those Disney shows. There are a lot of old shows on TVLand that are good -- Brady Bunch, Cosby Show, etc. I also watch Modern Family with my kids, but I weed out the ones with more adult themes that would raise questions (e.g., the one where the Dunphy kids walk in on their parents having sex).

My 8 year old loves Tanked on the Animal Planet. It's his favorite show. He also disocvered a new show recently that he loves, Life Below Zero on the National Geographic channel (you might want to screen it first, it might be upsetting for some 8 year olds). Here is the description form teh website:

Life Below Zero follows six people as they battle for the most basic necessities in the state with the lowest population density in the United States. Living at the ends of the world's loneliest roads and subsisting off the rugged Alaskan bush, they battle whiteout snow storms, man-eating carnivores, questionable frozen terrain, and limited resources through a long and bitter winter. Some of them are lone wolves; others have their families beside them. All must overcome despairing odds to brave the wild and survive through to the spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, and thanks so much for the suggestions! The problem with those Disney shows is that *I* detest them, and am looking for more "grown up" stuff that's safe for him to watch without the cattiness.

Well, I'm sure on that case you can always look for old episodes of Lassie and Little House on the Prairie.

Great idea, thanks!

My kids (ages 5-12) actually love Little House on the Prairie, and I'm happy for them to watch it.

Anonymous wrote:OP,

This is a tough age for TV that you can watch together. You'll fare better with a slightly older age. Growing up we watched Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton, Mary Tyler Moore, and the Carol Burnett show.

My kids and I like Pinky and the Brain & Scooby Doo. There aren't a lot of non-animated shows to choose from that I would enjoy (or would want them to watch).

not tough at all actually lots of fun things to watch

Anonymous wrote:The Last Airbender is great. Top Chef Masters is also pretty good without cattiness.

+1 to airbender and also it's sequel Legend of Korra. Some other ones that we've enjoyed watching with our 8 yo DD are: Batman Beyond, X-Men Evolution, H2O, Wolverine and the X-Men, and A Little Snow Fairy Sugar. Currently we're working on Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

OP,

This is a tough age for TV that you can watch together. You'll fare better with a slightly older age. Growing up we watched Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton, Mary Tyler Moore, and the Carol Burnett show.

My kids and I like Pinky and the Brain & Scooby Doo. There aren't a lot of non-animated shows to choose from that I would enjoy (or would want them to watch).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, and thanks so much for the suggestions! The problem with those Disney shows is that *I* detest them, and am looking for more "grown up" stuff that's safe for him to watch without the cattiness.

Well, I'm sure on that case you can always look for old episodes of Lassie and Little House on the Prairie.

Great idea, thanks!

Mythbusters Americas funniest home videos how do they do that? Are favorites in our house

We watch amazing race-- once in a while it might be borderline inappropriate, but generally it's watchable for both of us

Anonymous wrote:We are planning to watch the Sing Off as a family this season.

Us, too - I have a nine-year-old girl.

Impractical jokers! I guess it can be inappropriate at times but we crack up!