Prime time TV takes aim at President

New York Times (via Houston Chronicle) ^ | April 11, 2004 | JIM RUTENBERG

[Dog Gone]

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Galvanized politically in ways they have not been since the early 1990s, Hollywood's more liberal producers and writers increasingly are expressing their displeasure with President Bush with not only their wallets but also their scripts.

In recent weeks, characters in prime time have moved beyond the typical Hollywood knocks against Washington politicians to calling out Bush directly or questioning his policies, including the decision to go to war in Iraq, the support of the anti-terrorism law and the backing of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

On the NBC show Whoopi, the hotelier played by Whoopi Goldberg delivered an anti-Bush screed when the president appeared at her establishment to use the facilities. "I can't believe he's in there doing to my bathroom what he's done to the economy!" she said.

A wisecracking detective on NBC's Law and Order, played by Jesse L. Martin, referred to Bush as the "dude that lied to us." The character said, "I don't see any weapons of mass destruction, do you?" His cantankerous partner, played by Jerry Orbach, retorted that Saddam Hussein did have such weapons because his "daddy" sold them to someone "who used to live in Baghdad."

But the season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO arguably best conveyed the growing sentiment. On that episode, the main character, played by comedian Larry David, backed out of a dalliance sanctioned by his wife after noticing that his prospective paramour had lovingly displayed a picture of Bush on her dresser.

Network executives and some producers said these were isolated cases, reflecting the political debate dividing the country and coming at a time when television has never had a greater diversity of viewpoints on a wider array of channels.

Still, many in Hollywood's creative community are not shy about their anger and distress with the administration, and some acknowledge channeling those emotions into their shows.

"You want to say to people, `Wait a minute, is this man leading this country as an American or is he leading the country as a Christian?' " said Goldberg, who is an executive producer and writer for Whoopi.

Asked if she would be pleased if her show could contribute to the defeat of Bush, she said, "I would like that."

[Piquaboy]

Whoopi is a big whoopi cushion. She puts the U in Ugly.

[dandelion]

Dear TV:

What did you say? Sorry to miss it, but we aren't watching anymore. We're too busy getting our news from the internet and watching "the Passion" at the movies. Not that we'll go to many more movies, but hey...

Sincerely,
America

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Please FReepmail me if you want on/off this ping list.

[timestax]

The Presdential television debates are on the horizon, and we must be diligent in making sure CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNNBC,etc. do not give Kerry a bigger part of the t.v. screen, than Bush. I remember something about them doing that in the past...shortchanging the Republican candidate out of equal t.v. screen coverage during a debate.

[Dog Gone]

If they don't give Kerry a bigger part of the screen, how will they fit his face in?

[Lunatic Fringe]

On the NBC show Whoopi

Season Ratings:

81. WHOOPI 8,090,000 viewers 2.9 share

[weegee]

The "revived" public Media Schadenfreude and and Media Shenanigans lists:

FReepmail An Amused Spectator to get on/off this list

[timestax]

Right...he's scary looking....might crack lense of t.v. camera!

[DoughtyOne]

And it's our right to watch Woopie's show writing down the name of every sponsor. Then it's our right to notify each sponser that we won't purchase products that advance public exposure of those who try to demoralize our troops and aide the enemies of our nation.

[CatOwner]

This is the same crap that was pulled prior to the 1992 election. The Roseanne show, which was near the top of the ratings at the time, scripted unemployment into the shows. They made it sound like it was desparate times.

[get'emall]

Is there, to anyone's knowledge, a running list of advertisers who support this crap?

[DoughtyOne]

That's a good question. I don't know of any, but someone will probably come by and see your note and let you know if there is one somewhere.

[GOPJ]

Maybe a top 10 list of the worst liberal propaganda shows and their major advertisers? I'm ready to boycott.

[Dog Gone]

If it hadn't been for this story, I wouldn't have known how bad it's gotten on network TV. Except for sports, I just don't watch. It gets in the way of my computer time.

[Paul Atreides]

Whoopi is still around?

[Dog Gone]

I guess so. I thought they just wheeled her out for the Oscars, but apparently bashing Bush is a full time primetime job.

[Paul Atreides]

I think I will start praying for the entertainment industry to collapse. As much as I enjoy a good film, I would not be broken-hearted to see the majority of those people out of jobs.