"Super-size ME!"
Posted on 05/27/2004 5:51:34 PM PDT by weegee
LOS ANGELES, May 26 (Reuters) - Film documentary "Super Size Me," a critical look at the health impact of a fast-food only diet, has been downsized at cable network MTV which has refused to air advertisements for the film, its distributors said on Wednesday.
Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films said in a statement the cable TV channel targeted to young audiences has told them the ads are "disparaging to fast food restaurants."
The distributors said MTV sister network VH1 was planning to use clips from the movie in a program called "Best Week Ever," but the clips were pulled before the show aired.
An MTV spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment. MTV and VH1 are owned by media giant Viacom Inc (nyse: VIAb - news - people), which depends on advertising for a major portion of revenues.
For "Super Size Me," director Morgan Spurlock ate nothing but food from McDonald's restaurants over 30-day period, and if asked whether he wanted the larger, "supersize" meal, he always said yes.
Over the month, he gains weight and his health declines. Documenting the impact are not only the cameras but also his doctors. Spurlock mixes in various facts and figures about food and dieting as he travels the United States talking to health and food experts in 20 cities.
In March, McDonald's said it would eliminate its supersize menu options by year end. At that time, a company spokeswoman said the decision was unrelated to the movie.
"Super Size Me" has been a hit at box offices, and it earned Spurlock the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary director at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
The film began playing in theaters about two weeks ago and rose to No. 10 on domestic theater box office charts this past week. It has grossed $2.9 million in ticket sales -- a hit for a documentary -- and last weekend scored a per screen average of $6,759, just behind No. 2 film "Troy" with $7,014.
The film expands to 165 screens from 148 for the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday weekend, which the MTV ads had been timed to promote, a spokesman for the distributors said.
Hmm... how many shares of McDonald's is owned by Viacom board members?
They probably get a lot of fast food advertising.
They also get conservative viewers and sponsors but they don't let that interfere with editorial decisions.
Is this Michael Moore's autobiography?!
datum.
yo, B - semi-reptilian ping
Let's go over this real careful..morgan is an idiot..no one..not even myself at my most reckless young life ate at mcdonald's for 30 straight days and asked for the largest portions..I guess we could make a documentary showing people putting guns to their head and blasting their heads off and blaming the gunmakers..an idiot is an idiot..or in this case a morgan..
These people must be stopped..when idiots like morgan can make your choices of food, lifestyles, they will not stop until they have complete control of you...
I'm certain that before and during the 30 day period there was no doubt on how the film would look. There was no chance that the outcome would be less than hyperbole.
Meanwhile, left leaning MTV does show "some" restraint. As I asked, aren't they worried about conservative sponsors?
"Super-size ME!"
I won't pay to see this (even the critics admit it is heavy handed). I don't eat McDonald's (maybe I do 2 times a year on a long road trip, but no fries). I am not worried about being offended about fast food restaurants. This is an anti-meat film. Maybe Atkins Inc. needs to do an anti-Grain food pyramid film. All those carbs makes for fat Americans (and that was officially sanctioned by the government under Bubba).
I can't do "no carbs", I can't do "no sugar" (although if I were diabetic I could force myself to). I can do "moderation". I need to do "exercise" as well.
There are a lot of fat vegans. How is this if the food is so healthy?
With an attitude like that, you're endangering the nanny state the left is trying to create! For shame. . . .
I can minimize but not eliminate. If you eat a meal that is not satisfying, you will always be "unfullfilled". I can "postpone" enjoyment and even go with smaller portions, but I can't eat half-assed substitutes. Cardboard is cardboard and meat substitute is meat substitute (and forget about LIGHT beer).
I've heard about her. She brings up some good counterpoints and it's great to see that people are not letting Spurlock's film be the final word on the subject.
Is this what this world is coming to? Idiotic "documentary" film makers telling us how to live our lives, and corporations caving to them in order to save face?
Newsflash: I could eat about 2000 calories of McDonalds/day and not gain a pound because I work outside and on my feet - and I work my ass off. I WALK or BIKE to the beach, don't drive. I sometimes WALK to the Publix, don't drive.
Bottom line, there are people out there that want to dictate how I live my life - from my view on the War on Terror to a friggin' McDonald's menu. They ALL scare me, and they need to be repudiated at every turn.
If you eat like a pig and don't get any exercise, you'll most likely gain weight. If you drink a 12 pack of Yuengling in one sitting, you'll most likely end up drunk. Wow, what revelations.
God I hope an even twelve pack of people pay to see this movie. It would serve this jagoff right.
Agreed, try getting a little exercise and it could do wonders.
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