CBS yields on Reagan movie - Streisand screeches

Washington Times ^ | 11/05/03 | Jennifer Harper

[kattracks]

CBS will not broadcast a miniseries about the legacy of former President Ronald Reagan, conceding yesterday that the production "does not present a balanced portrayal of the Reagans."

But the project is still alive and kicking. In a deft scheduling maneuver, CBS will now air the "The Reagans" on cable channel Showtime, owned by Viacom, the parent company to both networks.

[reagan_fanatic]

[katnip]

I wonder what Babs would do if someone decided to make a semi-fictional movie about her life?

Maybe they could have the pretend Barbara performing lap-dances in dingy clubs to survive while she was struggling her way to the big time.

Hey, that's my "artistic" perception of her.

[Grampa Dave]

She is one butt ugly it with a donkey's nose!

[Cooter]

Isn't there some tie-in between Viacom and the Clintons? I vaguely recall that there is.

Senator-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) had agreed to accept a gargantuan $8 million book advance from Simon & Schuster, a subsidiary of Viacom...

[CheneyChick]

I hope Streisand doesn't write this stuff, because it's 6th grade level.

It really is elementary, isn't it? That struck me too.

[savedbygrace]

That's probably what I was thinking about. It's still a tie-in, albeit a weak one at this point.

[tuckrdout]

I am so "surprized" BS is upset about the movie being pulled. Gosh, she said that she had nothing to do with the movie.....

[connectthedots]

CBS will not broadcast a miniseries about the legacy of former President Ronald Reagan, conceding yesterday that the production "does not present a balanced portrayal of the Reagans."
But the project is still alive and kicking. In a deft scheduling maneuver, CBS will now air the "The Reagans" on cable channel Showtime, owned by Viacom, the parent company to both networks.

This is not good for CBS. If they air this miniseries without major changes, these comments will be used effectively against it in a defamation action. An admission that the miniseries is not balanced would destroy any attempted defense to such an action.

As for B.S.'s comments, there is no artistice freedom defense to defamation. Airing it on Showtime will not help either. It is my guess that CBS will eat the cost of this miniseries and it will never be aired.

[tuckrdout]

I wonder how BS would like some of us to make a movie about her? I wonder if she would fight so hard to have it remain on tv, and stand up for the "right of artistic freedom"? Hummm?

[connectthedots]

"A free broadcast network, available to all over the public airwaves, has different standards than media the public must pay to view," the network explained in a statement, praising the $9 million production for its "impressive production values and acting performances" and categorizing the decision as "fair."

People pay for books and authors can be sued for defamation, so this argument would never fly in a court of law.

[connectthedots]

But CBS was adamant it was not bowing to public pressure, claiming that their decision "is based solely on our reaction to seeing the final film, not the controversy that erupted around a draft of the script."

This may be true, but it is very likely they are bowing to the advice of its attorneys.

[tuckrdout]

"Hell, the left wouldn't even let Dr. Laura have her show"

So right! Where was her outrage for "artistic Freedom" in the case of Dr. Laura? Come on BS, you just don't like any other opinion voiced but yours. You are a bigot. Barbra Streisand is one of the biggest bigots in the USA!

[Lucky2]

At first this idiot distanced herself, now she's screaming censorship! She's so out of touch with regular human beings it's almost sad! The bunch of liberals and gays that follow that bi**h are not regular human beings and certainly not true Americans.

[Matchett-PI]

Barbara Streisand "Queen of Hearts" in deck of weasels

[desertcry]

It's high time for the Jewish community to speak out against ms. streisand's corrosive effect on the reputation of the Jews in the USA.

[Stewart_B]

....rather than an attempt to appease a small group of vocal dissidents.

Babs should take a look at her liberal play book again. This is exactly what they have been doing for years.

Libs are such hypocrites.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Good start, how about...

Don't forget when she was younger she would run around the house with a wire hanger whipping her son Jason.

Or nowadays when she gets drunk and throws lamps at her present husband.

The days when she was addicted to cocaine.

During passover when she bakes pastries made with the blood of Palestinians.

(/satire off)

[hosepipe]

Streisand Screeches <<- is that the title of her next album ?.

[Bilbo Baggins]

passover = Passover

Sorry about that.

[katnip]

Hmmmm..

Maybe we can throw in some gay stuff too!

Maybe she became gay after spending so many years lap-dancing and walking Hunts Point turned her off men.

Later in life James, so tender, limp and metro-sexual teaches her to love men again!