[stillafreemind]

Call me crazy..I just cannot think of modern shows that can even stand a chance of teaching kids (or adults) anything worth knowing. Of course...I am a Gunsmoke fan too!

[Sacajaweau]

I watch the rifleman, too.

And they have Beaver on now. There's always a lesson....and they make it very clear.

Another thing they make clear in all these shows is that "wisdom comes with age"...providing you're a good person to start with.

[MosesKnows]

'Gunsmoke' Principles Teach Us About Life

I also would highly recommend The Andy Griffith Show to illustrate life's lessons.

[faithhopecharity]

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/our-american-pravda/

[txrangerette]

One of life’s lessons is that “less, is more”.

Matt didn’t say very much, only what was required, therefore what he DID say was important.

And the explicit relationship between him and Kitty? That’s the point. It wasn’t explicit. If it had been, it would have RUINED the show.

Ahhhhhh...

To quote the lyric sung by “Archie and Edith” opening their show... “those were the days”.

Ironic, they helped usher in the explicitness belied by their nostalgic theme song, right down to the sound of an upstairs toilet flushing...

[oh8eleven]

Of course...I am a Gunsmoke fan too!
I grew up in the 50s and 60s but never really liked Westerns. However, in the last 2 years I've started watching Gunsmoke via the Encore Channel if for no other reason than no commercials.
It is overly simplistic in both plot development and dialogue, but it's in your face morality is second to none. It's also fairly interesting from a historical perspective.
Oh, and Miss Kitty really was a babe.

[winodog]

I have noticed lately how Bonanza and gunsmoke reflect different values and teach good things.

My favorite shows were Daniel Boone and wonderful world of Disney most sunday nights.

[Portcall24]

Hopalong Cassidy was the man. He was strong and fought for justice. He was always polite and never drew first and then winged them so the sheriff could come in to make the arrest.

[zbogwan2]

I always watched and loved Gunsmoke from day one of it’s original airing and I still watch all of the reruns now. The characters from Matt on down to the town drunk Louie always brought some morality to the show.

[Kartographer]

Some have their moments like 'Falling Skies':

Lourdes: “I know a lot of people have lost their faith, but mine is stronger than ever.”

Karen: “Good for you. Next time you get on your knees could you see if the Big Guy can get us a operational B-2 Bomber loaded with nukes?”

Lourdes: “I don't pray for God to give me things. I don't think it works like that.”

Karen: “The what do you pray for?”

Lourdes: “I ask God to show me what I can do for him.”

[circlecity]

I was always a “Rawhide” guy myself.

[Theodore R.]

There’s an episode c. 1971 in which a man seeks vengeance against another who had caused him so kind of wrong. When he finally finds the man, the man had no knowledge whatever of the afflicted one. I can’t recall the details, just the general principle about vengeance being in the realm of God back in a time when many Americans still believed in God.

[Mr Rogers]

I prefer Rawhide & The Virginian. But all of the old westerns promoted values. One Bonanza I just saw finished with Ben giving a short prayer of thanks to God for his sons. IIRC, Rawhide had an episode where a woman refused to blame a man for a mistake he made that killed her family, saying that God had forgiven her, so how could she hold a grudge?