A Republican TV show? Yeah, right...

[7thson]

On Sunday's Reliable Sources, host Howard Kurtz played an excerpt from a panel discussion he moderated, which was held by the Kaiser Family Foundation, about how politicians are portrayed on TV entertainment programs. The panel was made up of former Clinton economic adviser Gene Sperling, Dennis Haysbert, the actor who plays the President on Fox's 24, and Lawrence O'Donnell, creator and Executive Producer of NBC's short-lived Mr. Sterling.

In an exchange brought to our attention by an e-mailer and tracked down by MRC analyst Patrick Gregory, Kurtz inquired of O'Donnell: “One thing these programs have in common, conservatives are practically invisible. President Bartlet is a Democrat. Martin Sheen, in fact, made anti-war ads before the invasion of Iraq. Mr. Sterling is a California liberal based loosely on Jerry Brown. Why aren't there any Republicans?”

O'Donnell replied: “You will never get that TV show. [crowd laughter] You'll never, ever going to get the Republican TV show. The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist. [crowd laughter] And we don't know how to write it. We don't.”

For a bio and picture of O'Donnell, a former Democratic Senate staffer who is currently a semi-regular on the McLaughlin Group: www.mclaughlin.com

[Question_Assumptions]

J. Michael Stracynzski is actually pretty liberal. He's heavily pro-union, he took pride in the fact that B5 was produced in the US with a union crew (note the pro-union first season episode -- the evil old "Rush Act" was named after Rush Limbaugh, by the way). He's also an atheist and has written for atheist publications. I also saw him on stage, next to his friend Harlan Ellison (a consultant on the show) as Ellison told the "What's the difference between Rush Limbaugh and the Hindenberg?" joke (the punchline is "One is a big Nazi gas bag...").

It is a to his credit as an excellent writer more than his personal convictions that he can write believable conservative and religious characters that conservatives and religious people can identify with and like. Unfortunately, all too few television writers seem to have that talent.

[whereasandsoforth]

O'Donnell replied: “You will never get that TV show. [crowd laughter] You'll never, ever going to get the Republican TV show. The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist. [crowd laughter] And we don't know how to write it. We don't.”


What a bunch of no-talents. I could easily write parts for liberals and I am somewhere to the far left of Reagan. They don't want to write any parts for the other point of view. They're all fresh-water big-mouth fish feces (bass turds).

[JimSEA]

The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist.

When these dolts and the actors for whom they write begin practicing "From each according to their ability and to each according to their need", I will listen to them. I really need to drive a Rolls, are you listening Martin, Susan, Tim or Bags?

[Mister Baredog]

We have the VP of the LA Times saying they are being too bias.

WOW I must have missed this one. Can anyone direct me to this story, I didn't read about it in the LA Slimes, did I miss it?

[Mister Baredog]

The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist. [crowd laughter] And we don't know how to write it. We don't.”

Ann Coulter could write it, I'll bet she couldn't get in to this Union though.

[Mister Baredog]

Howard Kurtz played an excerpt from a panel discussion he moderated

CNN's media watchdog told Lou Dobbs yesterday tha M. Dowds "misquoting" BUSH was really no big deal. I wonder how HE would feel if the NYT PURPOSEFULLY misquoted HIM????? I sincerely doubt he would feel the same. HYPOCRITE, media watchdog my arse.

[longtermmemmory]

For years, they've been telling the gay lobby they would include an opening gay cast member, but haven't delievered. I'm sure they like the idea personally, they just feel it would be suicide for the ratings (and they would be right)

***
a group of homosexual actors got their hands on a green screen and made a homosexual character version of star trek. no joke. There is a fanatical fringe which is desperate to homosexuals everything. EVERY dead person was a homosexual figure in history.

I am actually enjoying the new series because it is generally not politically correct. (the episode stigma was a gaypropaganda joke though)

BTW you are absolutly right about the introduction of a homosexual character, it would be the end of watching trek. Besides this is the future, parents would have access to a cure or know how to prevent the development of homosexual behavior.

[Mister Baredog]

Elites can not afford conservativism to flow thus ruining their agenda.

Too Late! The dam has busted. The asylum doors have swung open. Conservatives are on the loose, no one is safe now. LOL

I'm listening to RUSH as I type.

Remember it's our job to "educate" people about conservativism.

Anybody wonder why when pubbies control all of Congress there is no conservative agenda in place

Do you really think ANYBODY controls Congress? Especially the Senate, where ONE Senator can gum up the works.

I think back 10 years, Limbaugh was all there was, now look at the situation. If you don't like any of the media why don't you start your own, DRUDGE has done pretty well, I'll support you(figuratively).

Anyone ready to question the "Two-Party Cartel" and it's 'bought & paid for' puppets which allows no competition.

Question all you want, I for one do NOT see both parties as the same, I'm looking foreward to my tax cut, aren't you?

And I sleep a little better knowning there isn't someone "cleaning out the furniture" from the White House in the middle of the night, or pardoning criminals. LOL

[Mister Baredog]

I'm sure they like the idea personally, they just feel it would be suicide for the ratings (and they would be right)

Unless he's a Klingon, that would be funny, but I'm sure the Klingons would picket the show.(After they ate the gay guy for lunch)LOL

[Mister Baredog]

I believe Mike Stracynzski and Babylon V had a more conservative slant, particularly in the first year. One remarkable episode on the need to respect religious beliefs comes to mind.

How about the one where the guys with the green and purple scarves kill each other, that was instructive. I loved B5, the story line evolved nicely over time. For me it was a break from politics during the Clintoon nightmare years.

[bootyist-monk]

I'm in the WGAw, and O'Donnell is full of crap. I'd say the guild is about 35-40% conservative.

My partner and I are currently working on a number of "politically incorrect" shows. You can't pitch them to them to the big three, minor two. However, FX, SciFi and Spike are interested in shows with a more conservative viewpoint.

[7thson]

O'Reilly had it as a Talking Point a couple nights ago. Said it was an internal memo from one of the head guys.

[longtermmemmory]

Spike will only work if they DON'T go to the sissyfied Man show style. In other words Barbed Wire bad. James Bond good. If it could play on oprah its not for real men.

Spike will never work unless MEN run the shows and channel. (the opposite works for lifetime) and no homosexuals.

[bootyist-monk]

Spike will be very much in the Maxim, Details, FHM vibe. There will also be some lowbrow, but entertaining fare, such as Stripperella. From everything that I've seen, I think that they'll do real well.

[ladyinred]

At last, one of these rats admits to being a socialist. Gee, Hitler was a socialist too, I wonder if....! :-)

[ThinkFreedom]

Like I said earlier, there's deffinately a market for conservative entertainment out there; many people are getting increasingly sick of the cliche politically correct liberal drivel that fills our screens at the moment.

I'm wondering, will you aim for family friendly or politically incorrect? If you want family friendly, you might want to get in touch with L. Brent Bozell's (sp?) Parents Television Council.

Politically incorrect TV would also make for interesting viewing; you would have the freedom to do a lot of things with the show that no liberal minded TV show would ever try. A conservative politician, an abusive gay or lesbian relationship, the kid who misses out while a less intellegent kid gets in because of affirmative action, conservative kids on campus... I'm sure you can think of more innovative, compelling ideas that no liberal would ever touch.

Either way, keep us posted on it!

[Howlin]

I'd like to see the official transcript of this show instead of an email.

I have my doubts that O'Donnell said that.