In its 2 1/2 seasons on the air, "Everwood" has tackled some tough issues — from death and bereavement to abortion to teenage depression to dysfunctional family dynamics. And, for the most part, the made-in-Utah show has done so with sensitivity and a great deal of success.
But . . . tonight's installment (8 p.m., Ch. 30) does not live up to the high standards "Everwood" has set for itself. The effort is there, but the result falls short.
Granted, anytime a TV show — particularly one that's aimed at a family audience — takes on the subject of teen sexuality it's courting controversy. And "Everwood" has already been doing plenty of courting in that area this season with the burgeoning romance between 16-year-old Ephram (Gregory Smith) and 20-year-old Madison (Sarah Lancaster), the college student hired to baby-sit his preteen sister.
(Isn't it interesting that the relationship hasn't elicited much outcry from viewers? Imagine what the reaction would have been if it were a 16-year-old girl and her 20-year-old boyfriend. But then there was no outcry when teenage Brandon lost his virginity on "Beverly Hills, 90210" a few years back, but a huge outcry when his twin sister, Brenda, did.)
Ephram and Madison's move toward sexualizing their relationship is only one of two such storylines in tonight's episode of "Everwood." Elsewhere, Amy (Emily VanCamp) decides she's ready to have sex with her boyfriend, Tommy (Paul Wasilewski), so she visits Dr. Andy Brown (Treat Williams) — Ephram's father — so he'll prescribe birth control pills for her.
There's plenty of talk about birth control and safe sex, and scriptwriter Joan Binder Weiss has included a commendable scene in which Emily's grandmother, Edna (Debra Mooney), talks to her about the importance of love and fidelity when it comes to sex.
And it's not like "Everwood" is operating in some other universe. Yes, teenagers do talk about and engage in sex.
But one major component of the episode just doesn't ring true. Yes, Andy has sometimes been rather dense when it comes to parenting, but it's impossible to believe that he can't see how inconsistent he's being when he rails at Ephram about premarital sex shortly after informing his son (and his preteen daughter) that he'd like his girlfriend (Marcia Cross) to spend the night with him in their home.
I don't believe that every character on every TV show has to conform to perfect moral standards to be worthwhile. I firmly believe that if a show like this can spark a conversation between parents and their children on moral issues, that's a good thing.
But research shows that parents aren't watching a whole lot of TV with their kids — they're generally in different rooms watching different shows on different televisions.
And, be warned, if you do watch this episode of "Everwood" with your kids — particularly younger kids — you're going to find yourself having to explain an abortive sexual encounter between two of the characters.
I've come to expect better than this from the show's writers and producers.
Frankly, I'm disappointed and somewhat concerned about the direction of the series.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com