Left Lashes Out at ‘V’, Obama-Friendly ABC Purges Showrunner

BigHollywood.com ^ | November 5, 2009 | by James Hudnall

[Jet Jaguar]

Last night a brave and insightful documentary was aired that accurately portrayed the wave of ObamaMania that swept the nation. It was called “V” and aired on ABC to mostly rave reviews and tremendous ratings.

There was another documentary about the Obama campaign on HBO, but that left out a lot of relevant facts, so spaceships and lizard-people aside, ABC wins the veracity award.

The parable is, an attractive group of aliens show up, out of the blue, and offer universal health care, advanced technology and world peace in exchange for our trust and devotion. All we have to do is believe everything they say without question. Which means, don’t ask anything about their hidden motives or past associations because that would be racist impolite. In fact, one reporter who is offered an exclusive interview with their leader is admonished not to say anything negative or they would be denied access (Hi, Fox!).

SNIP

This is not just a right-wing worldview but the worldview of the paranoid Tea Party movement. I’m really not sure how this made it onto network television. Maybe the calculation is that Glenn Beck will start urging his viewers to watch and a ratings bonanza will ensue. (I don’t expect scientists will be the scapegoats in the new series, as the original “V” alien campaign to tar scientists as a fifth column sits uncomfortably close to the current right-wing view that the world’s leading scientific organizations are conspiring to suppress evidence that global warming is a hoax.)

Naturally, when a show debuts to huge ratings and mostly great reviews, the producer’s career is golden. Not this time.

SNIP

One thing’s certain, I doubt the “V” would find too many people in this administration very appetizing.

[TomGuy]

IIRC, ABC originally planned/scheduled about 11 episodes, but decided to cut back.

Their spin: They weren’t sure the new series would be successful enough to warrant 11 episodes.

[This first episode got about 14 million, making it #2 behind NCIS for the evening.]

Last I read, they will run 2 episodes this fall and delay the remaining episodes (2 or ?) until the spring. [And they wonder why people lose interest in TV programs.]

[Clemenza]

I was a fan of the original V with Mark Singer and Robert "Freddie Krueger" Englund when I was a child. The episodes have not aged very well, but it is ironic that it was originally intended as an update of lefty writer Theodore Drieser's "It Can't Happen Here."

Haven't seen the new version of "V" yet. Will check it out.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Thanks for the tip! :)

[TomGuy]

Even if it makes it to DVD, it could see some serious re-cutting/editing before that.

[TomGuy]

Theodore Drieser's Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here."

The ebook version is online at the Project Gutenberg: It Can't Happen Here.

[dennisw]

Bamster is a reptilian alien...or at least an illegal alien

[Clemenza]

Thank’s for the correction, I frequently get those two confused, which is better than an ex-GF of mine who would get Evelyn Waugh and Flannery O’Connor confused.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

That’s pretty much how I saw it. The “Universal Healthcare” line was a nice twist, but I doubt that the Visitors are an allegory to 0b0z0 and his legion of brain-dead followers.

[tarheelswamprat]

IIRC, ABC originally planned/scheduled about 11 episodes, but decided to cut back. Their spin: They weren’t sure the new series would be successful enough to warrant 11 episodes. [This first episode got about 14 million, making it #2 behind NCIS for the evening.] Last I read, they will run 2 episodes this fall and delay the remaining episodes (2 or ?) until the spring.

There are several stories out there, seemingly a new one each day. That the network's story keeps changing seems to be a clear indication that they're well aware of the popular buzz the show has created and are struggling to find a way to kill it without calling attention to the real reasons. Things were just so much easier for them before that pesky internet thingy... but they're working on that, too... /g

Even if it makes it to DVD, it could see some serious re-cutting/editing before that.

Perhaps, but I'll stick to my bet that it never makes it to DVD because I doubt the full series will ever be broadcast. I think they're simply trying to shuffle things around until people lose interest and then just quietly cancel it.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I think that James Hudnall is delusional. The “Universal Healthcare” line came up because it is a hot topic right now, not because the Visitors are an allegory to 0b0z0’s legions, IMO.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

At least there's no question about whether she was born in America, heh-heh!

[MrB]

The V’s are an allegory to Nazis,
and the 0b0z0 followers see themselves being criticized.

Priceless.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Could be SyFy (they ran some V stuff last Sunday).

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Come to think of it....I think it was, thanks!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Could you repeat that, please? :-)

[Sloth]

[Junior_G]

The parallels to the Obama administration are strong indeed, but I could be persuaded to believe that the makers of the show didn’t intend it as a swipe at Obama (maybe!). Imagine if you knew nothing about Obama, but wanted to make a fictional television show about a charismatic leader who led America on a descent into fascism. It would be very difficult to do so without portraying a lot of similarities to Obama’s totalitarian tendencies and his cult-like following of adoring, starry-eyed millions.

[Jet Jaguar]

Well put.

[70times7]

SyFi

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Thanks! :)