Posted on 09/22/2006 7:48:20 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber always had a moral message in their long-running "VeggieTales" video series. But now that the vegetable stars have hit network television, they can't speak as freely as they once did, and that's got the Parents Television Council steamed.
The conservative media-watchdog group issued a statement Wednesday blasting NBC, which airs "VeggieTales," for editing out some references to God from the children's animated show.
"What struck me and continues to strike me is the inanity of ripping the heart and soul out of a successful product and not thinking that there will be consequences to it," said L. Brent Bozell, president of the Parents Television Council. "The series is successful because of its biblical world view, not in spite of it. That's the signature to `VeggieTales.'"
"VeggieTales" is a collection of animated home videos for children that encourage moral behavior based on Christian and biblical principles. More than 50 million copies have been sold since 1993, according to Big Idea Inc., which produces the series.
Two weeks ago, NBC began airing 30-minute episodes of "VeggieTales" on Saturday mornings. The show was edited to comply with the network's broadcast standards, said NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks.
"Our goal is to reach as broad an audience as possible with these positive messages while being careful not to advocate any one religious point of view," she said.
"VeggieTales" creator Phil Vischer, who was responsible for readying episodes for network broadcast, said he didn't know until just weeks before the shows were to begin airing that non-historical references to God and the Bible would have to be removed.
Had he known how much he'd have to change the show — including Bob and Larry's tagline, "Remember kids, God made you special and he loves you very much," that concludes each episode — Vischer said he wouldn't have signed on for the network deal.
"I would have declined partly because I knew a lot of fans would feel like it was a sellout or it was done for money," he said, adding that "there weren't enough shows that could work well without those (religious) references."
All programs set to air on NBC must meet the network's broadcast standards, said Alan Wurtzel, a broadcast standards executive. "VeggieTales" was treated the same as any other program, he said.
"There's a fine line of universally accepted religious values," he said. "We don't get too specific with any particular religious doctrine or any particular religious denomination."
Vischer said he understands the network's position.
"`VeggieTales is religious, NBC is not," he said. "I want to focus people more on `Isn't it cool that Bob and Larry are on television.'"
Marks said the network is "committed to the positive messages and universal values" of the show and expects "VeggieTales" to continue airing.
But Bozell isn't satisfied.
"If NBC is so concerned about that four-letter-word God, then they shouldn't have taken `VeggieTales'," he said. "This just documents the disconnect between Hollywood and the real world."
Yes, I like to talk to tomatoes
and a squash can make me smile
Yes, I like to waltz with potatoes
up and down the produce aiiiiisleeeeeeeeeee
If you sign your artistic creation away to the networks and studios, you've pretty much signed away your right to complain about how they treat it. That's how it's always worked, and it's not going to change for Veggietales.
What a hypocritical media they are!!
I thought maybe they got a bad rap from the E.Coli spinach thing...
AW YEAH. They even have I love my lips. :)
Larry Boy, red green and yellow he's one Super Fellow.
Larry Boy.
L
CCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEBBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
a moo moo moo a moo moo moo.. :)
Personally, I think Veggie Tales is lame. That said, if NBC insists in removing the message from the medium, the owners of the rights should yank the whole program. Since when did religious programming violate any broadcasting standards?
Veggie Tales is for children 2-3 years old....
If you are going to complain about lack of stimulation perhaps you would find Sesame Street or Barney more to your liking.
They edit out Christian content from Veggietales but allow madonna to crusify herself on national tv.
Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.
I wasn't complaining. I just think it's lame. Just my personal opinion. I didn't say they were without value. Lots of kids like them. I show them to kids at church all the time. I just personally don't find talking, singing vegetables all that appealing. Barney and Sesame Street, on the other hand, are pretty much without redeeming social value; but then again, just my opinion and I'm sure there are many who would disagree with me. I thought Superbook and Flying house were great Biblical cartoons.
We are the pirates who don't do anything...
I'd like to see if they'd show madonna dressed like muhammed on NBC. Howm well would that fly?
This is how all religious contents lost in ideas, products, etc., that were religious in the first place. I just don't see why VeggieTales have to be in NBC if it is losing the main message.
Remember kids, God made you special and he loves you very much,"
If that is not considered part of the "universally accepted religious values", what is? Is there any major religion that doesn't teach that God made us special and loves us?
September 23, 2006
Conservatives Want More Religion in One NBC Show, and Less in Another (NYSLIMES)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/23/arts/television/23vegg.html?_r=1&ref=arts&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
Since the show went on the air, however, Phil Vischer, the co-creator of “VeggieTales,” has complained on his Internet site (http://www.philvischer.com/) that NBC has ordered most if not all of the references to God and the Bible to be excised from the episodes prepared for NBC.
Move it to ABC.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.