Terry Rakolta facts for kids

Terry Lynn Rakolta is an American woman known for leading a protest against a TV show called Married... with Children in 1989. She believed the show had content that was not appropriate for families.

Who is Terry Lynn Rakolta?

Terry Lynn Rakolta became well-known for her efforts to make television shows more family-friendly. She believed that some programs contained material that was not suitable for children. Her actions sparked a big discussion about what should be shown on TV.

Her Family and Life

Terry Lynn Rakolta lives in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She is married to John Rakolta. He used to be the head of a large construction company called Walbridge. He also served as an Ambassador for the United States.

Terry Lynn Rakolta's sister, Ronna Romney, is involved in politics. She is a Republican activist and used to host a radio talk show. Terry Lynn Rakolta is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often called Mormon.

The Married... with Children Boycott

Terry Lynn Rakolta is most famous for leading a boycott against the TV show Married... with Children. This show was a sitcom on the Fox network.

Why the Boycott Started

On January 15, 1989, Terry Lynn Rakolta's children watched an episode of Married... with Children. In this episode, the character Al Bundy and his friend bought a bra for Al's wife. Terry Lynn Rakolta felt this content was not right for her children to see. She decided to write to the companies that advertised during the show. Many of these companies then stopped showing their commercials during the program.

How Fox Responded

In response to the boycott, Fox changed the show's time slot. They moved it from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Fox also tried to make the show less "raunchy," meaning they reduced some of the adult content.

There was one episode called "I'll See You in Court" that Fox decided not to air. This episode was known as the "lost episode" for a long time. It finally aired in 2002 on the FX channel. It was also included in the DVD release of the third season in 2005.

What Happened After the Boycott

Terry Lynn Rakolta appeared on several TV talk shows and news programs. She discussed her concerns about television content.

Even though the boycott briefly changed the show's content, it did not cause much financial harm. About a year after the boycott began, most of the advertisers returned. The show's ratings actually got better.

The show Married... with Children even mentioned Terry Lynn Rakolta and her boycott. In an episode from 1994, a TV show based on the Bundys' lives was canceled because "some woman in Michigan didn't like it."

Her Later Activism

After the Married... with Children boycott, Terry Lynn Rakolta started a group called Americans for Responsible Television. This group worked to protest other TV shows that she felt were inappropriate.