Howdy, everyone, and welcome to World Smile Day! It’s a day dedicated to kindness and sharing 
a smile; seems like a pretty good way to get through a day. I’m glad we’ve got the Internet to keep us informed of such things. It’s important we see the messages that remind us of the better things in life, and remind us of the importance of doing the right thing.
But guess what else we had, long before the Internet? I know, it’s hardly a surprise when you’re reading a blog involved in a challenge to write about television for 31 days, but in case it hadn’t dawned on you, yes, the answer is television.
Instead of dedicated websites, social media, and viral videos, when television wants to take a moment to educate us on something of importance, it breaks out the PSA—Public Service Announcement. A few brief seconds when for-profit broadcasting pauses to try to make the world a better place. There are lots of different approaches: celebrity appearances, comedy routines, dire announcements; PSAs come in all shapes and sizes, but they’re all designed to get a message across to the public.
What kind of message? Well, that varies, too, How to improve your health, save the planet, be a better person—these and many others are fair game for the televised PSA. Let’s take a look at some of my favorites.
One of my earliest memories of PSAs, and much peppier than the crying Native American man, which is the other one I remember so vividly.
Who better than C3PO and R2D2 to talk to kids about the dangers of smoking?
A more recent offering, though it’s heart-breaking that this is a lesson that needs to be learned.
And one of the true classics. Not the earliest, by any means, but it makes a point simply, and it’s not easily forgotten.
Finally, if you’ll forgive a slight detour from the actual PSA messages, here’s a look at the lighter side of things.
So that’s a look at TV trying to do some good, getting the word out about subjects of public interest. And, since it is World Smile Day, I do hope these at least brought a small smile of reminiscence to your lips.
