Public access, public hate

Los Angeles Times ^ | December 29, 2007 | Greg Braxton

[forkinsocket]

"Robert De Niro" wasn't kidding. As impersonated by Josh Robert Thompson, he warned in the opening minutes of his live TV call-in talk show "Dining With De Niro" that he only wanted to talk about food -- "manly" foods like beef. He discouraged viewers who wanted to discuss "feminine" foods like cupcakes or muffins.

Many of his callers were not having it.

One caller blurted out an anti-Semitic obscenity. Another used the N-word while shouting out that "everyone who lives in Highland Park" loves black people.

"Come on," said Thompson, as he glared at the camera and fired off a blaze of colorful vulgarities. "Shoot your best shot."

Welcome to another slate of live programming that airs Saturday afternoons on the Time Warner cable system.

It's all part of the no-holds-barred, foul-mouthed and uncensored world of public access television, where performance artists, preachers, psychics and aspiring entertainers can produce their own show.

But the loose restrictions governing the shows have unwittingly resulted in diatribes against ethnic and religious groups.

"Wayne's World" it ain't.

Whereas Michael Richards and Don Imus recently got caught up in raging controversies over racist comments, similar sentiments -- voiced by anonymous callers -- are aired live and uncensored each weekend. Cable operators maintain they cannot censor or edit the insults.

[forkinsocket]

I actually like the idea of being able to hear what's really on people's minds. Then again, I'm not easily offended.

[isrul]

"But the loose restrictions governing the shows have unwittingly resulted in diatribes against ethnic and religious groups"

so what? Nobody is forced to watch or listen.

[redpoll]

>>>”Robert De Niro” wasn’t kidding. As impersonated by Josh Robert Thompson, he warned in the opening minutes of his live TV call-in talk show “Dining With De Niro” that he only wanted to talk about food — “manly” foods like beef. He discouraged viewers who wanted to discuss “feminine” foods like cupcakes or muffins.

Many of his callers were not having it.

One caller blurted out an anti-Semitic obscenity. Another used the N-word while shouting out that “everyone who lives in Highland Park” loves black people.

“Come on,” said Thompson, as he glared at the camera and fired off a blaze of colorful vulgarities. “Shoot your best shot.”<<<

The Times story is trying to implicate Americans as loud bigots. What I see is a television program with a foul-mouthed host encouraging people to shout back with the crudest commentary possible.

In other words, everyone wants to be Chris Rock and Lenny Bruce.

I can imagine some guy calling up after shouting some vulgarism and turning to his roommates, laughing loudly, and then saying, “Did you hear that???!!!!”

This isn’t an expose about bigotry. It’s about people thinking that dropping the f-bomb is humor.

I’d personally change the channel.

[I see my hands]

"I actually like the idea of being able to hear what's really on people's minds. Then again, I'm not easily offended"

Oh, you're one of those likers. Like to hear things, huh? Hear what's on people's minds? It figures. You're type is never easily offended. No surprise you're a "then againer" to boot.

[Sherman Logan]

Welcome to another slate of live programming ... Cable operators maintain they cannot censor or edit the insults.

How can one possibly censor or edit truly live programming?

[Izzy Dunne]

Another bad idea in the name of "democracy".

If what they say is worth anything, then let them compete in the marketplace of ideas with everyone else.

Why do we subsidize a channel for such morons again?

The only ones listening are the ones in line for their turn at the mike...

[The Wizard]

As one of the first Public Access "innovators" I can tell you that this is a small part of what happenes on PA and only comes up when people want to silence it's strong voice.....

Before Youtube there was PA and it is the most America thing you can imagine.....

Defend PA and fight for it because if they ever figure out how to silence it, we will not be far behind .......

[timm22]

From my understanding of the article, these "public access" programs are carried by private cable companies, and are not broadcast over the public airwaves. The cable companies are forced to provide these public access channels by the local governments, presumably as a condition for being the exclusive provider in the area or to get permission to bury the cable, etc. No one is forced to purchase the cable services which include these largely unregulated "public access" channels, and these channels can be blocked by any customer fairly easily.

Am I correct so far?

If so, it looks like there are a number of easy solutions available to those bothered by what's on the PA channels. They can:

-Choose not to purchase cable.
-Purchase cable and block the PA channels entirely
-Purchase cable and watch the PA channels when they wish, and change the channel or turn of the tv when they don't like what they are seeing.

Those who are REALLY bothered can organize public boycotts of the cable company.

All of this being true, I'm not really sure that any of this is a big deal.