Creator of 'Mr. Sterling' Admits: We TV Writers Are '99% Leftist'

NewsMax.com ^ | 5/27/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

A big NewsMax thanks to the reader today who sent us the Sunday transcript from CNN's "Reliable Sources." Check out this fascinating exchange between host Howard Kurtz and Lawrence O'Donnell, creator of NBC's Democrat fantasy series "Mr. Sterling" (starring Barbra Streisand's stepson Josh Brolin, and not to be confused with NBC's Democrat fantasy series "The West Wing").

KURTZ: One thing these programs have in common, conservatives are practically invisible. President Bartlett is a Democrat. Martin Sheen, in fact, made anti-war ads before the invasion of Iraq. "Mr. Sterling" is a California liberal based loosely on Jerry Brown. Why aren't there any Republicans?

O'DONNELL: You will never get that TV show. You'll never, ever get the Republican TV show. The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist. And we don't know how to write it. We don't.

KURTZ: I guess we won't be seeing a Karl Rove drama anytime soon. These shows are important, because they help shape the public image of politicians and show the characters wrestling with real issues, but not too real, it turns out, not if you want really big ratings.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Media Bias

[hchutch]

FYI ping. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[Mr. K]

Who is this O'Donnel? I don't mind as much if somone wants to be a commie as long as they are truthful about it

[xkaydet65]

Donald Bellisario comes to mind as an alternative to the left. If he'd do TV, John Milius would be even better.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Not surprised....

Tip the pizza guy!

[RooRoobird14]

Laurence O'Donnell created the pathetic (and cancelled) "Mr. Sterling"? The same pitiful series that starred Mr. BahBwhah Stwyesands's son???

That is TOO FUNNY!!!! O'Donnell is such an @sshole on "The McLaughlin Group"--I dislike him almost as much as I loathe She-Harpy Eleanor Rodham Clift. Television viewers totally rejected O'Donnell's first "creative" attempt to spread limousine leftist propaganda. I love it.

[RooRoobird14]

Watch the "McClaughlin Group" ( but have your barf bag handy). O'Donnell and Eleanor Rodham Clift are the seething-with-anger leftists on the show.

[GreyWolf]

The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist.

Well Duuuuuuh, like we haven't known that for years. The communists didn't go away afer the blacklisting period. They just all became writers in Tencilville and they are still spewing their socialist sh!t to generations to come unless they are stopped. It is blatently obvious to any open-minded or observant person, but then democrats are not exactly open-minded (or observant).

[hchutch]

Yeah, but how much of it was them going in, and how much of it was conservatives LETTING them have it?

Sheesh... but too many conservatives complain, and not enough seem willing to try to do the OBVIOUS thing - start writing something better!

[MattGarrett]

YA THINK?!

This leads me to a question. It's obvious that there is an audience gap between clueless liberals with media bias and millions of Americans seeking programming which is more balanced.

As a writer/director, I've tried to make it in the Entertainment Industry for 15 years and have run into this during my entire career.

And even though O'Donnell is right that these guys won't ever put a show about Republicans on television, I believe that there is a powerful weapon in countering this self admitted socialist programming.


THE INTERNET.

I started thinking this weekend about producing a 1/2 hour series about Republicans and placing it on the internet for download.

It would be done on a shoestring, to begine with. That's for sure. But if this is something you would be interested in watching or even helping (if you are living in or around Washington DC or L.A., that is), email me at mattgarrett_99@yahoo.com.

Perhaps the answer isn't to try and compete on their terms, but to offer an alternative on OURS.

And if it builds an audience ... who knows?

email me. mattgarrett_99@yahoo.com

[marsh2]

I know we have to grab the reins and reshape the presentation of the issues. We do a terrible job of it.

The older I get, the more I realize that people most likely form their opinions based on emotion and not fact. It takes too much work to dig up all the facts on so many issues. T.V. shows frame the issues, personalize the issues and throw "color" upon them. We need to do that. We are too reactive and allow the left to take the stage.

[banjo joe]

Steve Cannell (sp)!!

[ancient_geezer]

And even though O'Donnell is right that these guys won't ever put a show about Republicans on television

 

There was J.R. in Dallas :O) Admittedly a few years ago.

Who says they won't put a show about Republicans on television.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Read David Horowitz's The Art of Political War.

[Ditto]

The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist. And we don't know how to write it. We don't.

Who would have thunk it.

/sarcasm

[mystery-ak]

O'Donnell was on Chrissy's show last week...he predicted a Kerry/Graham ticket..that will beat GW in 2004.

[TruthNtegrity]

I'd like to point that he didn't use the word "democrat" but socialist.

That is telling it like it is and we ought to use that term more often. They aren't just leftist, but they are socialists. Much more dangerous, to my mind.

[sasportas]

"The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist."

I threw out TV years ago, don't have one in my house. This vindicates my action. TV programming is nothing but commie propaganda.

[gcruse]

Donald Bellisario comes to mind as an alternative to the left.

And yet his idea of a reoccurring, worthwhile Congresscritter in JAG
is Congresswoman Latham, a black democrat.