Posted on 04/25/2002 7:29:09 AM PDT by zandtar
TV News & Gossip - AP All AP TV News
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FX Orders New Season of 'The Shield'
Monday April 22 7:28 PM ET
FX has ordered a second season of its cop series "The Shield," starring Michael Chiklis as a corrupt LAPD (news - web sites) detective.
"The Shield" has drawn critical raves and solid ratings, but several advertisers have pulled out because of its violence, language and sexual content. Burger King, John Deere, the U.S. Army and Gillette are among the sponsors that have left the show since its March 12 debut.
But FX, Fox's entertainment cable channel, picked up a second round of 13 hour-long episodes last week. An average of 3.6 million viewers tune in to the drama on Tuesday nights.
"In the short term, we expected challenges to the show from advertisers," Kevin Reilly, FX's president of entertainment, told Variety for Monday's editions. "But if we keep getting a heavy volume of upscale adult viewers to watch the show, Madison Avenue will follow."
Chiklis, the 38-year-old actor who plays Detective Vic Mackey, starred in ABC's police drama "The Commish" in the early '90s. He also portrayed John Belushi in "Wired," the 1989 movie about the late comedian.
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On the Net:
"The Shield" Web site:
http://www.fxnetwork.com/shows/originals/the_shield/
You know, AppyPappy tried that same argument, trying to make it sound as if it's just an informational process. But, if anyone bothers to really look at their web site, they'll see this is _not_ what is really going on.
It IS that simple.
Otherwise, they would not be trying to gett he shows pulled. The "Million Dads/Moms" can turn off their own damn televisions. They simply do not want ANYONE watching what they disaprove of.
And even more ironic (if you look at the other threads about this) is that's the very same argument those in support of One Million Dads use if you disagree with them in the thread. Apparently everyone is supposed to "change the channel" except for them.
Generally I don't even bother with commercial television due to not finding it entertaining. I vote with the remote. But if I found something sufficiently "bad" in my opinion, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to contact the sponsors and/or the show.
If the "One Million Dads/Moms" try to use the gubbermint to shut off your show, you've got a good complaint. If they try to make it hot for the advertisers, they're well within their rights, whether you like the show or not.
I think the key word in your statement (which I don't disagree with) is *I*. As Appy proved, the 'members' of this group don't even know what they're protesting when they fire off the letters, other then someone told them to do it.
If you look at the 'sign up' you have to provide One Million Dads with personal information before you're 'allowed' to send any of their form letters. And, there is no real privacy statement other then 'trust us'. Secondly, it's just that, a form letter already completed that requires no more thought then clicking a 'send' button. And, if you look at their 'membership' page, it states that if you join, you are agreeing to actively send one letter a week. Which, in itself, implies a membership loss if you don't, otherwise it wouldn't have been clarified and isolated to be pointed out. They encourage their members to 'recruit' other people. They issue 'deadlines' with the threat of boycott for a targeted company to issue a written 'compliance' with their wishes.
It's one thing if you, an individual, decide to make yourself informed about something, and write up your own complaint about something you don't like. More power to you. But if you take a good look at their web site, and what they and their members/defenders are saying, it's almost cult-ish. A group of 'recruited' members who are told what they should complain about, with members not bothering to even become informed.
I have to confess that I know nothing about this show or this group. That said, I'd like to point out that the trash watchers dictate what conservatives have to choose from. I watch VERY little TV. Nor do I go to the movies. Most of what is called comedy isn't very funny and dramas are voyeuristic and violent. There's not much choice for those of us who don't care for strong language, nudity and violence. We watch things like Funniest Home Videos and an occaisional animal special on PBS. Otherwise, our choices are pretty slim.
That said, I'd like to point out that the trash watchers dictate what conservatives have to choose from. I watch VERY little TV
You must remember that "trash" is your definition. What you don't like might appeal to someone else. That's why they have ratings. Just as something you might enjoy watching might be considered "lame" by a different group of people. The key is, as you mentioned, you have the right to change the channel and not watch it anytime you wish.
This particular program is on FoxFX. This is a channel you've got to willingly pay to get via cable or satellite television. You've got to willingly change your television channel to FoxFX at a certain time, one day each week, in order to view this program. But if you listen to the OneMillionDads propaganda, it's being "forced" upon people.
Since you admitted you don't know much about this organization, I'd suggest visiting their web site yourself and poke around, to make up your own mind. From what I've seen, it's pretty close to a cult if you ask me.
One debate thread of the subject
Both of which are pretty lenghty.
No argument from me on that one. Have 60+ channels with my cable set up, and there are some nights there is nothing that interests me on television. How many home shopping channels do we need?
But, it's a supply and demand situation. If enough people demand it, a channel or program can be created to meet the demand. That I see no problem with. Nor do I see a problem with you, making a decision of what you will or not watch within your own home. What I see the problem is, a group of people deciding they don't want to watch something, therefore no one else should be able to watch it either. Simply not watching it is not good enough for them, they have to try to ensure no one else will be able to watch it, even if they wish to. And, when I observe members/supporters of this organization admitting they know nothing about the show they'd attempting to ban, or this group's activities, it also catches my eye. Freedom goes both ways. With the freedom of speech and expression also comes tolerance of those who do this. Without one, you can not have the other.
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