CBS Pulls 'Reagans' Miniseries [Surrender Alert!]

Hollywood Reporter ^ | Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003 | Scott Collins and Cynthia Littleton

[canuck_conservative]

Following a storm of protest, CBS has yanked its sweep miniseries "The Reagans," a controversial four-hour glimpse of the 40th president and his family, sources close to the production said.

CBS chief Leslie Moonves made the decision after concluding that the film was unfair to the Reagans and that even extensive edits had not produced an acceptably balanced portrayal. The only question that remains is whether the miniseries will be picked up by the cable net Showtime -- like CBS, a unit of Viacom -- or shelved entirely, sources said.

The miniseries was scheduled to bow Nov. 16 on CBS.

"The Reagans," executive produced by Neil Meron and Craig Zadan ("Chicago"), has been vehemently attacked by critics who complained that early drafts of scripts leaked to the press have included scenes with little or no basis in historical fact. At least one version of the script reportedly included material suggesting that President Reagan suffered from Alzheimer's disease as early as 1984 and refused to help AIDS victims because of their "sins."

Broadsides against the eye miniseries became a staple of conservative talk radio. Some critics were jubilant at the news of CBS' turnabout.

"The Reagans deserve to have a film made that didn't come with an agenda," Los Angeles talk show host Al Rantel of KABC-AM said on the air Monday night. "It's like somebody hiring Yassir Arafat to do a movie about the life of (former Israeli President) David Ben-Gurion. ... Those two guys (Zadan and Meron), as believers in the gay left, would like nothing better than to smear Ronald Reagan. If CBS (executives) had any illusions about that, then they're not as smart as they should be."

Some within CBS are shocked by the pre-emptive attacks on the film and had hoped that the network would air the miniseries to let viewers decide the issue for themselves. But Moonves and CBS entertainment president Nancy Tellem believe that the finished product is too politically charged and is not the love story between the Reagans that was originally pitched to network executives, sources said.

CBS declined comment, as did Meron and Zadan.

[canuck_conservative]

Proof that if enough sensible people speak up, things can get done. The liberals don't control everything yet!

And kudos to Matt Drudge for keeping the issue alive.

[veronica]

Let's have a gloat-a-thon, shall we? :)

[oh8eleven]

CBS chief Leslie Moonves made the decision after concluding that the film was unfair to the Reagans and that even extensive edits had not produced an acceptably balanced portrayal.

Just goes to show how bad this really was.

[Made In The USA]

What doesn't make sense is that if CBS pulled the plug because of public outcry - when the hell are they going to pull Dan Rather et al due to the same public complaints?

Does Dan have Senior Management by the short and curlies? Incriminating photos with a Llama?

[Holly_P]

"Let's have a gloat-a-thon, shall we"

...I have read on other threads that many freepers are going to boycott CBS anyway.

...The aholes over at DU are talking boycott too now.....Poor little CBS. (Sar)

[HarleyD]

I'll wait and see who loses their job over this $9 million boondoggle. Probably the 23 year old summer help in editing.

[CR]

Great news -- thanks to Drudge, talk radio and the Fox News Channel.

What's even better is that now I get to cancel my Showtime subscription and let Viacom know why I'm doing it.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The only question that remains is whether the miniseries will be picked up by the cable net Showtime

Yeah, I bet they're just jumping at the chance.

[PeyersPatches]

Good. Maybe this will also finish off any influence that screeching harpy, Babbles Streisand, has in hollywierd.

[Honcho]

If this "movie" is too unfair to the Reagans be shown on CBS then it's too unfair to be shown on Showtime.


Let's keep up the fight against Showtime

[TheFamousMister]

I'll not e watching Showtime any time soon, as Viacom feels that they can just move the lies to pay-tv.

[Ronin]

I'm in!!!

GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!GLOAT!!!

Now if Showtime starts to run with it, any FReeper subscribers can cancel directly and tell them why. That would be even more fun.

[Savage Beast]

Lesson: The Propaganda Machine can be made to respond.

[rface]

What's even better is that now I get to cancel my Showtime subscription and let Viacom know why I'm doing it....

I don't even subscribe to ShowTime - but I think I'll call and cancel anyway!!

[nicmarlo]

I wonder if this is just more spin......I'm in a "wait and see" mode......perhaps it's just a way for CBS to sell the series to a third company (Showtime) to air, and in the process, drum up free advertising......

[randita]

It's instructive how liberals all of a sudden care about the truth when their bottom line is threatened. And they're supposed to be the ones who don't care about money.

[sgtbono2002]

I agree: If the Lefties at CBS saw it and called it unfair it must have been a real hatchet job. Even Babs Streisand is trying to deny any connection with it.

[metalboy]

Well there they go again...CBS showing the world the anti-American idiots that they are. One of the greatest Presidents this country ever had who`s pretty much on his death bed, and what do they do? They kick him. Why? Because they`re mad the commies didn`t win the cold war. When Reagan said "Mr. Gorbachev, take down that wall." CBS was sayin "Keep it up"...If I remember correctly, it was CBS that use to bash the hell out of Reagan and the "star wars" SDI program, calling him "crazy" "it`ll never work" yet it was a deciding factor to Gorbachev when he saw how serious Reagan was about it.

[nicmarlo]

This on Drudge, now:

VIACOM CHAIR SUMNER REDSTONE EXPRESSED GRAVE CONCERN FOR NETWORK BROADCAST...
WILL AIR ON SHOWTIME UNCUT [WITH AIDS QUOTE ONLY DELETION]...
CBS will issue press release early in morning; Robert Greenblatt, head of SHOWTIME will announce that SHOWTIME will air the telepic. Bob Ackerman the Director has said he will re-edit some portions of the film for SHOWTIME. CBS to write-off $9 million...
DRUDGE FLASHBACK: CBS 'REAGAN' REVEALED: WATCH NANCY HIT DAUGHTER, SEE RONNIE CURSE...
DRUDGE FLASHBACK: CBS REAGAN: 'I AM THE ANTI-CHRIST'...
DRUDGE FLASHBACK: STREISAND DRAWS DISTANCE FROM 'REAGANS'; MORE SCENES REVEALED...