HOW TO GET CBS TO REIN IN RATHER -- CALLING PATRICIA HEATON!!!!

my fertile mind | 9/13/04 | soccermom

[soccermom]

I know she'll never do it, but I would LOVE to see this done to get CBS to take action against Dan Rather.

PATRICIA HEATON, star of Everybody Loves Raymond should go on strike from the CBS hit show until Dan Rather does one of the following: (a) release the original memos in question for independent scrutiny or (b)if he doesn't have the originals, he should get the source to release the originals or reveal the source or (c)retract his report and apologize to President Bush or (d)resign or get fired.

Patricia Heaton is one of the few Republicans in Hollywood. More importantly, she is on a very popular and critically acclaimed comedy. She has repeatedly won the Best Actress Emmy and the show has won Best Comedy. Everybody Loves Raymond is an important commodity to CBS.

When forced to choose between Patricia Heaton and that old coot Dan Rather, who do you think they're going to choose? Rather is due to go out to pasture soon anyway. Why risk losing someone like Heaton?

Now, I don't think Heaton will do this and I don't blame her. It is hard enough to be a Republican in Hollywood and it isn't fair for me to ask her to risk her career over this. Furthermore, most conservatives in Hollywood aren't the type to get on soap boxes. Still, I would LOVE to see it happen. CBS is being very obstinate. Anyone else have creative ideas for getting the attention of CBS?

[soccermom]

I know, I know....I'd still love to see it.

[soccermom]

I said strike -- not quit. The finale year is very important. I'm sure they want her to close out the series. Yes, it would be a financial/career risk for Heaton, which is why I don't expect her to do it.

Refusing to watch CBS will only have an impact if there is a stark and sharp drop-off and that just isn't going to happen.

[rcfuzz]

It's a silly suggestion. She has a multi-million dollar contract with the production company (HBO and World Wide Pants) that produces RAYMOND. She doesn't work for CBS. Forget Rather and the documents. What we really need to do is to gather and distribute all the evidence that clearly shows that Bush honorably did his TANG duty. No one in the MSM is saying this. Most are assuming the docs are fake but their sentiment is true.

[5by5]

That's a lot to ask of her.

Especially since we regularily condemn Hollywood stars and musicians for involving themselves in stuff like this.

Tempting but ultimately ineffective and needlessly destructive to our allies.

Better to go with the tried and true--boycott the sponsors of 60 Minutes and CBS News. We've done it before and we know it works.

[Heartland Mom]

I agree with others that it would be unprofessional of her to do that. Let's now stoop to their level. I do think that the FCC needs to look at the situation and possible sanctions against the network and CBS needs to be forced to produce the original documents and acknowledge their sources when the documents are conclusively proved to be forgeries. CBS is legally responsible for its on-air content and to air something so inflammatory this close to an election (and then refuse to even appear to be objective in their defense) demands prompt attention by the FCC and FEC.

[katana]

I don't think this will happen either. CBS should know, though, that ELR is the best sitcom on TV and the only program I and probably lots of others ever watch on their network.

Our local CBS affiliate (WJW channel 8) was an institution for decades until CBS lost their NFL contract. Now it's a FOX station and CBS has been moved out into UHF territory (channel 19, or as I prefer to call it "Plan 19 From Outer Space"). Even the idle thought that one crazed POS in the (entirely unprofitable) news department might screw up a cash cow like ELR should scare the living crap out of the network execs.

[soccermom]

I agree. It is the only comedy I like any more. It would be very effective. But I understand it isn't fair to ask of Heaton. I'd still LOVE to see it.....

[right wing]

This is priceless! Everyone needs to let them hear from you on this forum.

CBS set the table for us with this one!

Here's what I wrote:

Yes, I know of a scam that you need to investigate. It happens to be the scam your network and Dan Rather are trying to pull with the fraudulent memos you claim to be true in your blatant attempt to damage President Bush! You need to investigate yourselves and quit insulting the public's intelligence by continuing to stick by a false story. And no, I'm not a right wing partisan nut. I'm just a citizen who is disgusted that your network isn't interested in the truth. Where did you get the fraudulent memos? Remember, the cover-up is always worse than the crime. Why are you defending someone who is helping to destroy the reputation of your entire network? Why won't you come clean? Is hurting Bush that important to you? Your network has become a joke.

[soccermom]

LOL! Great!