The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996            TAG: 9602290038
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   44 lines

OUR RATINGS OF 92 TELEVISION SHOWS AIRING IN CHILDREN'S PRIME TIME

FOR A COMPREHENSIVE look at the kid-worthiness of children's prime time, The Virginian-Pilot monitored the big four networks' local affiliates for a week.

The results: In the eyes of the Pilot monitors, kid prime time ranges from the G-rated good feeling of ``The Cosby Show'' to the wanton depravity of various miscreants in ``Cops,'' a show that ranged close to the R side of PG-13.

Eighteen shows earned PG-13 ratings for some or all of their episodes that aired during the week.

All the monitored programming, with ratings and commentary, is listed below.

Shows that ran more than once during the week may have more than one rating. For example, the panel rated one ``Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' episode G, and another PG.

The viewing took place Feb. 16-22. Five Pilot staff members watched WTKR (Channel 3), WAVY (Channel 10), WVEC (Channel 13) and WTVZ (Channel 33).

Kid prime time was defined as 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Members of the panel were Matt Bowers, Craig Shapiro, Elizabeth Simpson and Diane Tennant, staff writers on the entertainment and women/family/children teams; and Eric Sundquist, features editor.

All are parents of children ages 11 and younger. [List of television shows] Station Origin Time Slot "MPAA" rating Remarks For copy of listing, see microfilm by CNB