[fight_truth_decay]

Streisand (November 10, 2003): "It seems impossible to believe that CBS has really cancelled the airing of The Reagans - the first time in the history of television that a program has been cancelled just before airing due to political pressure. The movie will now be aired on Showtime, which is broadcast in 14 million homes versus the 108 million homes that can tune into CBS. People should be able to see this movie, or choose not to. What is the network so intimidated by? It couldn't possibly just be the suggested "boycott." If the show had aired, everybody would have probably tuned in just to see what all the fuss was about and few advertisers would want to miss out on that. One possibility, which I have seen mentioned many times, is that CBS' parent company, Viacom, is concerned about the implications for the proposed new FCC regulations that would allow them to expand their markets. Perhaps they don't want to alienate key Republican support for these FCC changes."

Just a conclusion to those following The Reagans. I didn't watch..I had read enough of the screenplay. Those I know did not watch.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[pabianice]

[Capitalist Eric]

Just DAMN.

[MizSterious]

So, would it be ok with the libs if someone made a movie showing JFK beating John John? How about if they portrayed JFK sleeping through the Cuban missile crisis--in Marilyn's bed?

Can you hear the howls of indignation, if such a film were produced?

These people are beyond the pale.

[gitmo]

CBS remains the responsible party for this attack.

[1Old Pro]

The movie was pure liberal trash. Too bad the elite liberals didn't spend more time on reforming the decaying Democrat party and less time trashing and lying about Republicans. Perhaps they would a bit happier and perhaps they could slow the death of liberalism in American policy.

[longtermmemmory]

In an unrelated story: Producer Moore, of the first season of Star Trek Voyager fame, recently re-envisioned the 1970's Battlestar Galactica pilot in order to make it more politically correct for 2003.

Elements of the "updated" version: Female Starbuck, Traitor spy Boomer, Adama is a dysfunctional father, Hilary Clinton-esque President character, Human cylons which were created by humans and human foolishness comming home to roost (envirowacko?), and cinema verte camera shots.

The hollywood PC disease is universal and not limited to "the Reagans." It is a product of arrogance.

[StolarStorm]

There needs to be a NEW epic made about the Reagan presidency, with balanced writers. We can't let the liberals hijack the cinematic history of Reagan's life. However, I can't think of one actor that has enough personality or "gravity" to play Reagan reasonably well.

[onyx]

Brent Baker: "I spent three hours -- two hours and 53 minutes to be exact -- on Sunday night watching The Reagans on Showtime so I could spare you the pain."

---

Since we never know when our last moments on this earth will be, I am in debt to Mr. Baker for wasting his precious time and sparing me mine to enjoy other pursuits.

[VRW Conspirator]

"Nearly all of the historical facts in the movie can be substantiated and have been carefully researched."

Not the whole truth...Herr Matt Blank. "Nearly all"? What a hedge! These people are unreasonable.

I can see what is coming next year - a movie, "The Clintons", where they will make the ex-boy-president and the first enabler look like Superman and Superwoman-er, with a few incidental human flaws for effect.

[fight_truth_decay]

Showtime is counting on continuing controversy. It has a follow-up panel discussion, "Controversy: The Reagans," scheduled for tonight at 9.

[jonalvy44]

I did not watch either, I do not own Showtime. If I did, I'd have canceled my subscription...

I invite all to join us vs the next indecent film out of Hollywood: Fahrenheit911 by Michael Moore

http://www.PABAAH.com

[ghost of nixon]

I am dissapointed that CBS didn't go ahead and show this - the backlash would have been delicious. Plus, that would have paved the the way for "The Clintons" mini-series, which I am dying to see - it will either have to be somewhat true to life and show the Clintons, warts and all, or it will be a laughable attempt at turning them both into saints.

[fight_truth_decay]

REVIEWS:

TV: 'The Reagans' is an offensive, unfair look at the
president - Vince Horichi
TV Columnist
Salt Lake Tribune

Beyond `Reagans' hoopla, a critical,
typical biopic By Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe

Robert Bianco, USA TODAY
CBS did The Reagans a favor - "The Reagans is exactly the film CBS says it was promised: An impeccably produced movie propelled by a strong performance from James Brolin and an extraordinary one from Judy Davis."

Also Showtime is running a poll: Did you watch The Reagans on Showtime?
http://www.sho.com/site/movies/thereagans/controversy.do

[Ichneumon]

"Nearly all of the historical facts in the movie can be substantiated and have been carefully researched."

Translation: In history there really was a Reagan presidency, there really was a hostage crisis, there really was... So therefore our show is "historically accurate", even if it fictionalizes all of the dialog and personal events.

[mewzilla]

And this was shown the day before World AIDS day. What a co-inkydink...

[Eala]

Did anyone get a list of advertisers? It's been too long since my "Permanent Boycott" had any new inductees...

[Eala]

Argh! Did anyone get a list of advertisers? It's been too long since my "Permanent Boycott" list had any new inductees...

[Lazamataz]

I watched it and critiqued it live on this thread. Early on, you will see me taken to task by my fellow freepers because I am cutting them a lot of slack. I don't think I was -- I was simply calling it as I saw it, and it really didn't start out too bad.

But it rapidly degenerated. It quickly became very hateful, ticking off every liberal lie about the man -- and especially his wife -- in their little red book. It was, simply, the most savage hit-piece I have ever seen.

I have taken a personal interest in making sure Barbra Streisand becomes very embarrassed, and, if possible, politically destroyed. She is -- in a pair of words -- pure evil.

[untwist]

I watched the first hour, was repulsed, then came back for the last half hour. Some basic thoughts: Brolin's caricature of Reagan, with always a confused, indecisive painful look on his face, constant shallow references to commies; "Handlers" pushing him into the GOP, pushing him to run for governor (with Nancy's insistence), all these people pushing and feeding a hapless, confused actor. The portrayal of his kids and the "fact" that Patty and Ron never heard of, much less met, Michael or Maureen until Patty was at least about 12, is hard to believe, but in the film they just "show up" uninvited and bringing shock and dismay to the younger kids and Nancy and disrupt the more important business of running for governor. Very disrespectful and bad portrayal, especially since it's obvious the writers didn't consult with the family or those who were close to the family.

The dressing down that John Tower gives the President about what he did in Iran-Contra and the gravity of the issue to his presidency, is extremely overdone in its drama and looks much more like the Left's wish about how the President and Mrs. Reagan reacted. Tower basically reduces the President to tears and has Nancy pathetically lashing back. I remember the time and what I truly recall was the foaming at the mouth of Lawrence Walsh at trying to pin anything he could on the President with no avail, not a desparate Reagan reduced to tears.

All in all, this movie is just a silly, liberal dream of what they wish we all thought of Reagan and what they wanted history to show. The reason this did not go on CBS is because it would have been a PR disaster for them - really a piece of trash.