Posted on 09/29/2006 7:11:35 AM PDT by gridlock
Los Angeles - Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber always had a moral message in their long-running "Veggie-Tales" 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 Sept. 20 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 worldview, not in spite of it. That's the signature to 'Veggie-Tales."'
"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 (9 a.m. on KUSA-Channel 9). 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 nonhistorical 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 "Veggie-Tales" 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
More proof that the Smoke of Satan rules at NBC. They are tolerant of everything--except God.
What, you're thinking there's a little Bert and Ernie vibe there?
}:-)4
Bunch of fish-slappers.
SD
They just need to go to Tarshish. There's nothing like a cruise to clean the sand out of your wicket!
or maybe if we start the rumor that they are gay (ala - Ernie & Burt) they will get a pass.
Here is Phil Vischer's account of the fall of Big Idea:
http://www.philvischer.com/index.php/?p=38
I'm one of the few who takes what I hear very literally. Logical disconnects jar me.
It's a personal problem, is what it boils down to. ;)
Do they have a spinach charachter with diarrhea?
Of course, the multi-million dollar judgment against them was the precipitating cause of the bankruptrcy, but not the only cause. BTW, the judgment was overturned by the Appeals Court. Has it been reinstated by a higher court?
If this is true, why do they continue to air the Peanuts Christmas special every year? It has very specific references to the birth of Jesus.
Also, as a side note, Veggie Tales are all based on the Old Testament.
It should be obvious that vegetables reproduce vegitatively.
Some people get offended when I point out that flowers are the reproductive and genital organs of plants! Ewww!
Unbelievable.. your broadcast standards say God and referencing The Bible are bad! Unbelievable.. only an abject idiot could be offended by anything in a Veggie Tales episode.
How many dead bodies and murders a week do you broadcast NBC?
How many sexual situations?
How many foul words?
Yet you need to censor VEGGIE TALES???????
Liberals stand on their heads, and tell the world its upside down.
I'll take you to the Ball Barbara Manatee!......
Pollen allergies are caused by plants having sex! Ewww!
This will expose more children to the show and then they'll want to buy/rent the other DVD's that DO have the Christian message.
See, it's all good.
Barney did it - with the help of plaintiff's lawyeres. The company that owns the Barney products sued the company that owned Veggie Tales over a distribution deal. The resulting verdict bankrupted the Veggie Tales company, and a large multinational bought the rights to the existing shows and trademarks.
Of course, some folks won't let the truth get it the way of false accusations.
"Hypocrites. These are the same ones who scream bloody murder over the least hint of censorship if it is about complaints over their abuse of the names of God and Jesus."
Great point.
Unless it has sex and profanity, it doesn't make the air waves. Ridiculous.
"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.
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Why choose a Christian program just to edit it? Regardless God will use it to speak to those watching it.
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