VH1's "Warning: Parental Advisory, A Comedy of Censors" (nails Al and Tipper pretty well)

VH1 ^ | N/A | VH1 website

[southern rock]

It's down and dirty, it's rock and roll... and that's the way we like it. But when Senate wives meet Twisted Sister, things get a little weird on Capitol Hill.

It's 1986 and the only thing lobbyist Charlie Burner wants is his blank tape tax passed so he can schmooze his way into a cushy corner office. He thinks it's in the bag until prominent Senator wife, Tipper Gore gets an earful of her kids' latest record collection. Suddenly, Prince doesn't sound so charming and Tipper leads the Washington Wives down the warpath to ban "porn rock." They create a banned song wish list and call it "The Filthy Fifteen." This turns the music industry on its head and Charlie has to choose between saving his job or saving rock music.

Charlie makes a choice and looks for rock and roll rebels to join the cause, amassing the most unlikely crew of freedom fighters ever. What else could bring together Frank Zappa, Dee Snider and John Denver? It's musicians vs. mothers on Capitol Hill. Once in awhile you gotta stand tall, open your mouth and let freedom sing.

[southern rock]

Hey, I caught most of this movie last night, and I wasn't that bad ( it was sort of played for laughs). Has anyone else here seen it?

If you would like to see a not so outstanding movie that does nail Al and Tipper Gore pretty good, you might want to check it out.

Click here for the airtimes.

One warning, however. The riligious right characters are not played very favorably either.

[my4kidsdad]

I missed it...how did they portray Zappa? I remember watching the original hearings on CSPAN and he was EXCELLENT!! He made the congressmen look like idiots, especially when they were questioning him about "suggested ages" on toys. He responded with something to the effect that he thought it was ridiculous that some corporate/governmental person(s) were telling him how intelligent his kids were or were not.....

[Wolfie]

Yes, the congressmen looked like idiots, but in the end, Congress won. It was Zappa, Snider, and Denver who came up a little short in the smarts department by not realizing that once Congress makes up its mind, the rest is just a dog and pony show on the way to getting what they want.

[southern rock]

how did they portray Zappa?

As a free speech zealot, of course. But he was portrayed well. Actually, Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Schneider (who played himself) were all portrayed in a positive light. Al, Tipper, and the "Washington wives" were all portrayed for the phoney, silly twits they were. As I said, there was one "religious right" type character with a slide show of album covers and lyrics that was a little silly, but then the movie was played kind of cheekey anyway. Check it out next airing (see airtimes like above).

[The Green Goblin]

[backhoe]

Zappa? I remember watching the original hearings on CSPAN and he was EXCELLENT!! He made the congressmen look like idiots,

I saw those hearings, and Zappa did a good job. Too bad our "critters" are a bunch of clowns....

[Benson_Carter]

FRANK'S NIGHTMARE!

[MarkWar]

>it was sort of played for laughs

I didn't see it -- and won't.

Hasn't everyone noticed that when 'Rats do things that look like censorship then the media responds by making a joke out of it, but when conservatives try to protect decency and American values, the media presents it as neo-Nazis on the march...

This is just the latest version. Ha, ha, ha. The potential first lady (who raised a son that got kicked out of college for drug violations!) wants to tell Red Nation America how to be good.

Please.

Mark W.

[Looking4Truth]

It was a hoot. Anything that gets some nanny-stater's panties in a wad is OK by me. Well, most anything.

[Looking4Truth]

Hasn't everyone noticed that when 'Rats do things that look like censorship then the media responds by making a joke out of it, but when conservatives try to protect decency and American values, the media presents it as neo-Nazis on the march...

I agree with what you're saying here, Big Media lies. I still enjoyed the movie.

[MistrX]

Frank was trying to tell America that the "Central Scrutinizer" really exists.

[BADROTOFINGER]

Yeah, but did they show the part behind the scenes where MTV surrendered to their demands by basically banning heavy metal music? They brought it back in little segregated doses on weekdays and Saturday nights, but the heavy metal crowd got sold out by MTV big time. If Al and Tipper had been Pubbies ill bet MTV wouldnt have changed a thing. I havent taken anything MTV has to offer seriously since then (oops, except Beavis and Butthead, huhuh huhuh huh) and I havent missed a damn thing...JFK

[southern rock]

Yeah, but did they show the part behind the scenes where MTV surrendered to their demands by basically banning heavy metal music?

No, but it did depict the warning label compromise as a partial surrender.

[zevonfan]

The potential first lady (who raised a son that got kicked out of college for drug violations!)

I am unaware of Al Gore Jr. being "kicked out of college", but I do recall young Gore was suspended from his private high school (St.Albans,possibly?) for using marijuana. Could this be the incident to which you are referring?

[Cobra Scott]

I have read in a couple places that Al and Tipper were closet dead-heads, making the concerts frequently, incognito. Anyone care to elaborate or substantiate? If its true its pretty hilarious

[Hildy]

I remember seeing Tipper Gore on Oprah at the time. I think she was sincere and I saw it as an attempt to get back some control of a culture that was spiraling out of it. I don't think asking for a rating on a record hinders free speech.

[BADROTOFINGER]

It is good (I suppose) that the warning labels were depicted as a compromise, but that is really comparing apples to oranges. MTV folded like origami, wetting their pants at the prospect that some of their Commie Dem friends might be mad at them. Since then, it has become apparent that MTV is just another tentacle of the Dem monster. I wish they would have elaborated on that...JFK

[skeeter]

MTV folded like origami, wetting their pants at the prospect that some of their Commie Dem friends might be mad at them.

Just like they folded when certain parties complained they weren't showing enough hip hop.

Those uninhibited rebels at MTV sure do alot of folding.

[general_re]

Frank was trying to tell America that the "Central Scrutinizer" really exists.

I don't believe it. Show yourself.

;)

[seamus]

At the end of the movie, they noted that one year later -- in 1987 when Gore was gearing up for the Democratic nomination -- Al and Tipper backed away from the PMRC, claiming that the never wanted to hold Senate hearings.

Once a little lying twerp, always a little lying twerp.