Depictions of Aging and Old Age on Saturday Morning Television

In order to determine the nature and extent of material on aging and old age in children's television programming, a sample of 106 cartoons broadcast on commerical networks during a 6-week period was obtained. Analysis of the data indicates that, although old age is not a dominant theme in these programs, the topic does emerge and is typically framed in negative terms. The argument is made that these negative images, despite their relative infrequency, have the potential to reinforce dominant cultural stereotypes about aging and old age in American society.