mondojohnson

It may sound oxymoronic — but the FOX network has become a refuge for rational thought.

I must hasten to say that I’m referring to broadcast, prime-time FOX, not its idiot troglodyte child the Fox News Channel. Clearly there’s not much safe haven for reason on those windy airwaves.

But the daddy FOX network has an impressive track record of bringing unapologetically rational characters. Tonight I tuned into “Bones” and saw the main character scoff at the pseudo-scientific aspects of psychology, and to my pleasant surprise she wasn’t punished in the final act for her disbelief.

FOX also gives us Brian Griffin each week on “Family Guy” — Brian is a strident atheist; in one episode he even used Richard Dawkins’ “The God Delusion” to pick up a like-minded chick.

And of course, the best of the lot is House, M.D., who is my cuppa tea. Dr. House is actively hostile to religion, superstition and unclear thinking. His irritation with fuzzy thought makes him a hard pill to swallow for others, but the writers never steer him toward some warm and phony redemption… he can’t have his brilliance without his pain and anger.

The only show on the prime-time lineup that toys with science-phobia is “Fringe”, which I enjoy quite a bit. But it does have an undercurrent of “science can do unspeakable things” which is kind of a 1950′s approach to sci-fi.

But all in all, kudos to Rupert Murdoch for letting rationality occupy a tiny corner of his media empire.