'Shrinking' actor Ted McGinley warns Hollywood 'doesn't care' about family-friendly content
“Shrinking” actor Ted McGinley warned that Hollywood “does not care” about creating TV shows and films safe for children and challenged Christian audiences to support uplifting and inspirational films if they want to see better content on their screens.
Best known for his roles in mainstream sitcoms like "Married... with Children" and more recently in the Apple TV+ series "Shrinking," the 66-year-old actor has also become a familiar face in faith-based films, including Roma Downey’s “The Baxters” and his latest project,” “The Engagement Plan.”
In a recent interview with The Christian Post, McGinley, a father of two, praised platforms like Great American PureFlix and Great American Family for filling the void left by mainstream Hollywood.
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“The great thing about these platforms is that you, as a parent, can say to the babysitter, ‘Anything on this channel is going to be OK while I’m gone,’” he said.
“That's hard to come across. Hollywood does not care. The only reason they care is because they could make money doing it, which is fine for me — if they've discovered that there happens to be a massive Christian audience waiting for content, great. And if they can figure out, ‘Hey, we can make money doing it,’ that's even better, because then it'll get better and better, and they'll hire better people and better writers and better producers and directors. It’s good for the audience.
“But there's always a cutoff, and they don't sometimes know where the cutoff is,” he continued. “Hollywood needs to do it all. I think it's important to have choices for all audiences, not just faith-based … there is a huge Christian audience out there waiting for product.”
As someone who has worked intimately on both sides of the entertainment spectrum for several decades, McGinley said he’s acutely aware of the “us versus them” mentality that often exists between Hollywood and faith-based audiences. However, he stressed that if Christian viewers want to see more of the content they value, they need to support it actively.
“If the faith-based and Christian audiences want to have a product, they have to make sure they support the good ones when they come out,” he emphasized. “Otherwise, they will stop doing it, or it’ll just be a much smaller movie.”
This sense of responsibility, McGinley stressed, extends beyond merely buying a ticket or streaming a film. It involves spreading the word, encouraging others to watch and creating a demand for more content. “It’s important when movies come out that are good, that you go support it and get people to support it, so that synergy keeps happening,” he said.
“There is a huge Christian audience out there waiting for product, but the other half of that is, if they don’t support it, they’ll stop making it,” he added.
McGinley pointed out that there is a certain balancing act Hollywood must perform to appeal to both faith-based audiences and the broader public. Some studios, he said, create “faith-based-ish” or family-forward movies that appeal to a mainstream audience without overtly displaying their religious themes, but they don’t always hit the mark.
While these movies can be successful, McGinley said he appreciated the transparency of platforms like Great American Pure Flix. “I like the fact that this [‘The Engagement Plan’] tells you what it is. You know what it is, and it’s not going to change,” he said.
“The Engagement Plan,” released last week, tells the story of Wade, a type A financial analyst who schedules every minute of his life and Kayla, the carefree veterinarian he wants to marry.
“He’s from high rises and country clubs, and she’s from cornfields and farmland and their families couldn’t be more different. So when it comes time to propose, and the special weekend he plans with their parents hits unexpected obstacles, Wade’s resolve is tested, and the fun really begins. He must learn that not everything in life can be planned and he must be humble in trusting God to provide for what’s ahead,” reads the film description.
In addition to McGinley, the film stars Jack Schumacher, Mia Pollini, Eva LaRue, Emily Topper, Eric Lutz, Faith Ford and Judd Nelson.
“It’s a beautiful, lovely, simple little story,” he said. “What I got out of it was that we all are so set on moving on and achieving this and that. But you realize, you can do everything you want, but it’s God’s plan, not your plan. I think that’s what you take away from this movie — sometimes life doesn’t work the way you want, and God lets you know how it’s going to work.”
A native of California, McGinley's early breakout role came in the 1980s with the television series "Happy Days," where he played Roger Phillips. In the 1990s, he became a household name after landing the role as Jefferson D’Arcy on the long-running sitcom "Married... with Children." Since then, he's appeared in a slew of TV shows and film projects, both mainstream and faith-based.
Reflecting on his diverse career, McGinley acknowledged the guiding hand of faith in his life, something he said compels him to gravitate toward uplifting projects.
“I’ve always had a relationship with God my entire life. I’ve always felt that when I was completely alone in so many different situations, I was actually never alone because I had God there,” he shared. “That’s been my saving grace.”
This grounding in faith has also influenced how he approaches his work on set. “I try to live by the Golden Rule, ‘do unto others,’ and really what goes around comes around,” McGinley said. “Sets are very trying, sometimes very difficult, but I try to go in and make sure I live by that rule.”
For McGinley, balancing the more mainstream, secular roles with faith-based projects like “The Engagement Plan” is crucial. He told CP he’s committed to creating and supporting content that offers audiences more than just entertainment — it offers hope, values and a safe space for families to enjoy together.
“I love that God has allowed me or put films like this in my life because it gives me balance,” he said. “I do some pretty crazy stuff also, but when you do something like ‘The Engagement Plan,’ it centers you again, and it feels good.”
“The Engagement Plan” can be watched on Great American Pure Flix and Great American Family on Sept. 7.
Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]
