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***Fox Movie Channel Cancels Charlie Chan to be Politically Correct***
stardate: 0306.30

Posted on 06/30/2003 5:52:20 PM PDT by The Wizard

In what has to be the most yellow streak of broadcasting in years, the Fox movie channel has canceled the colection of Charlie Chan films because they were afraid a few folks might not understand that Stephin Fetchit was a ROLE played by an actor....

It a gutless move that ranks up there with the other great politically correct moves that show America has turned into a liberal pond of weakkneed corporations under extortion by the likes of jesse jackass and al sharpy sharpton, the Fox movie channel restored the films to perfection, advertised them for weeks, and pulled them because some blacks might be offended by the actions of a single character....

What the hell is America coming too when you can't show a black without a college education.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 20thcenturyfox; charleychan; cpb; culturewar; fmc; fox; freep; pbs; pc; riorden; weaselslist
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To: Mjaye
The rascals are gone I am afraid.

They have been corrected.

61 posted on 06/30/2003 8:06:00 PM PDT by Cold Heat (Negotiate!! .............(((Blam!.)))........... "Now who else wants to negotiate?")
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To: The Wizard
Related post:
Political correctness run amok, Charlie Chan gets canned
about the group who did the complaining:
National Asian American Telecommunications Association [NAATA]

from their website, [definitely see last 2 lines of this post] the following:

The Terrible Return of Charlie Chan
In response to protests and criticism from NAATA and other groups, Fox Movie Channel has discontinued its broadcasts of one of the most offensive Asian caricatures of America's cinematic past.

If you get digital cable or DirecTV, you may have already run across "The Charlie Chan Mystery Tour" featured on the Fox Movie Channel. The films were scheduled to air on Monday nights in June, July and August. However, due to protests and negative public response, Fox Movie Channel has cancelled further broadcasts of the Charlie Chan mystery films.

Twenty years ago, NAATA joined with many other groups to protest the making of "Charlie Chan and the Dragon Queen" which featured Peter Ustinov in yellowface as Chan. Now, with Chan back in reruns, NAATA took up the campaign to urge Fox to stop airing hackneyed racist stereotypes. Here's the open letter we sent to Fox Movie Channel:

June 12, 2003

Mark Devitre
Senior Vice President and General Manager
The Fox Movie Channel, Inc.
10000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Dear Mr.Devitre:

Last month, millions of Americans from many different ethnic backgrounds celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. There were essay contests, community arts fairs, and classroom activities. NAATA, a national non-profit organization, did its part by presenting over ten hours of television programming about Asian Americans on public television stations across the country.

As Americans turn on their televisions in June, July and August on the Fox Movie Channel, they will be greeted not by humanistic, historically accurate, and empowering images but by a hoary stereotype that has dogged Asian Americans for decades: Charlie Chan. Even as a child growing up in the 1950s in Los Angeles, where television stations seem to run the Charlie Chan films endlessly, I could see that Charlie Chan’s shuffling, subservient manner and exaggerated accent and fortune-cookie chatter did not resemble my parents, friends or any Chinese person I knew.

By now, you have probably received several protest letters. In fact, a NAATA staff member wrote to the Fox Movie Channel via your website. The response he received was that the Monday night series was programmed "in response to popular demand." If you follow this logic, you would end up broadcasting the "Amos and Andy Show," which was a top rated show in its day and probably still has legions of fans as does Charlie Chan. However, it is highly unlikely that Fox would televise Amos and Andy because you know that African Americans, along with many other groups, would mount a vigorous protest. Just because something is popular doesn't make it right. Asian Americans feel that Charlie Chan is a demeaning portrayal that is culturally inaccurate and "entertaining" at our expense. Add to it the insult of "yellowface" and the ridiculous and hideous portrayal of African Americans via Mantan Moreland and you have a plethora of reasons to cancel "Charlie Chan's Mystery Tour."

Charlie Chan should have retired long ago to the Home for Socially Inappropriate Characters (SIC) where he would commiserate with Tonto, Butterfly McQueen, Stepin Fetchit, the Cisco Kid, and countless others. America is at a different place socially and politically than the 1930s. By running the Chan movies, the Fox Movie Channel reviving hurtful stereotypes instead of helping our society move towards harmony.

Upon behalf of NAATA's board and staff, I urge you to cancel Charlie Chan's Mystery Tour. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Eddie Wong
Executive Director

cc: Misty Wilson, Senior Vice President of Diversity

Now, thanks to public protest, Fox Movie Channel has subsequently decided to cancel the "Charlie Chan Mystery Tour" -- no more Chan movies in July and August. This is the letter they've sent out in response (also posted at the Fox Movie Channel website):

Fox Movie Channel will discontinue the broadcast of the Charlie Chan mystery films.

Originally restored to meet the requests of mystery fans and film preservation buffs, Fox Movie Channel scheduled these films in a showcase intended to illustrate the positive aspects of these movies such as the complex story lines, interesting characters and Charlie Chan's great intellect. Additionally, numerous subscribers to Fox Movie Channel, as well as film historians, have long requested that Fox Movie Channel broadcast these films.

However, Fox Movie Channel has been made aware that the Charlie Chan films may contain situations or depictions that are sensitive to some viewers. Fox Movie Channel realizes that these historic films were produced at a time where racial sensitivities were not as they are today. As a result of the public response to the airing of these films, Fox Movie Channel will remove them from the schedule.

In the hope that this action will evoke discussion about the progress made in our modern, multicultural society, we invite you to please visit our website at www.foxmoviechannel.com to send us your thoughts on the matter.

Sincerely,

Fox Movie Channel

Consider it a victory. Your protests can and do impact these decisions!





NAATA is supported with major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

and receives additional funding from the California Arts Council.

62 posted on 06/30/2003 8:12:56 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: PhilDragoo
I used to love those Charlie Chan movies with Son #1 always screwing up.
63 posted on 06/30/2003 8:13:11 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: TomGuy
Gads! What next, no showings of GWTW because of the portrayal of Prissy by Butterfly McQueen? So much for the 1st Admendment. No more Pink Panther Movies because of the portrayal of an idiot "French" inspector Clouseau? Forget all those great black and white prapaganda movies of WWII and all those great serials made during that era depicting our enemies at that time. What we need is a Non PC Channel, feelings be damned! If you think your feelings will be hurt then don't turn it on! Gotta love those Charlie Chan proverbs!
64 posted on 06/30/2003 8:21:44 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Living History $1.00 at your local Dollar Store by December.)
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To: The Wizard
My comment sent to FOX:

I am very disappointed that FOX has chosen to cancel the "Charlie Chan" movies. This PC move, intended to avoid "offending" some segment of the population, was a dumb business move. I would bet your viewer base leans conservative, given the audience of FOX News. Guess what- you just offended your base of viewers with this decision! If you really want to promote discussion about racial issues, then show the movies and let people discuss them! Shame on FOX.
65 posted on 06/30/2003 8:25:08 PM PDT by armydoc
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To: lawgirl
In the hope that this action will evoke discussion about the progress made in our modern, multicultural society, we invite you to please click CONTACT US to send us your thoughts on the matter.

I sent the following e-mail to the Fox Movie Channel:

In regard to the Fox Movie Channel taking the Charlie Chan movies off of it's broadcast schedule due to a concern over "racial sensitivities", perhaps the Fox Movie Channel ought to quit broadcasting movies that depict stereotypical white characters. Or doesn't the Fox Movie Channel care about the "racial sensitivities" of it's white viewers? I think I'll just quit watching the Fox Movie Channel because I'm sick and tired of all of this PC nonsense.

66 posted on 06/30/2003 8:28:51 PM PDT by judgeandjury (The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state.)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta
Mr. Ailes

Charlie Chan isn't news, of course.

But what IS news is that Fox Movie Channel bowed to NAATA over the desires of a majority of viewers and cancelled Charlie Chan.

What a shock to learn NAATA is supported with major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and receives additional funding from the California Arts Council.

It was disgusting to watch CAIR force the change in Tom Clancy's Sum of All Fears filmscript, making the Islamist terrorists into white skinheads.

Now Fox Movie Channel has been spayed.

What a motto:

We report. You decide. We revise, bowing ve-ery low.

I am an adult with a BA in political science (minor in Far Eastern Studies). My roommate in college was Chinese (Kai Chin). I know Oland was not Chinese.

I know that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a steaming pile, as is the Fox Movie Channel cave to its demands.

Save your characteristic terse reply. Confucius say silence speaks volumes.

Phil Dragoo
email address
Phone number
Fax number
Street address
City, State Zip

67 posted on 06/30/2003 8:30:33 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: Bringbackthedraft
What we need is a Non PC Channel, feelings be damned! If you think your feelings will be hurt then don't turn it on!

LOL! I absolutely love your idea! I hope somebody does put a Non PC Channel on TV.

68 posted on 06/30/2003 8:41:23 PM PDT by judgeandjury (The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state.)
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To: Bringbackthedraft
I bet there are millions of disappointed viewers that were looking forward to those movies. Especially those who remain of the great generation who originally saw them at the 25 cent Bijiou. The 30's - 40's were a time when Americans could laugh at themselves as portrayed in the movies (not only Carlie Chan films). We all looked at those old movies and said things like "gee he reminds me of so and so". Those movies weren't serious they were made to make us laugh during hard times. They were made to make "everyone" laugh. Mr Wong needs a sense of humor, but then again how many Asian comics are there?
69 posted on 06/30/2003 8:43:31 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Living History $1.00 at your local Dollar Store by December.)
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To: TomGuy
Eddie Wong needs to be FReeped.
70 posted on 06/30/2003 8:50:11 PM PDT by B Knotts
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To: Bringbackthedraft
"Twenty years ago, NAATA joined with many other groups to protest the making of "Charlie Chan and the Dragon Queen" which featured Peter Ustinov in yellowface as Chan." Well, I have to agree with them on that one! But would certain segments of our population look at it differently if it was Charlie Chan and the DRAG Queen? This post has really ruffled me to no end as I was looking forward to those shows. I'll get the word out to my kids that Daddy wants the Sidney Toler Charlie Chan movies for Christmas. Some enterprising folks out there will see to it that they are made available to the public.
71 posted on 06/30/2003 8:54:41 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Living History $1.00 at your local Dollar Store by December.)
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To: TomGuy
I have contacted Majority Leader DeLay and asked him to remove all funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
72 posted on 06/30/2003 8:56:09 PM PDT by B Knotts
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To: TomGuy
I have also written the CPB and asked them to defund the NAATA.
73 posted on 06/30/2003 8:59:50 PM PDT by B Knotts
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To: All
OK, think about it, bottom line. The choice Fox has is to give in or face LAW SUITS. Its a 1st admendment challenge and the cost of the suit due to the longevity would be excessive. I think that is what cause Fox to cancel the programs.
74 posted on 06/30/2003 9:06:07 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Living History $1.00 at your local Dollar Store by December.)
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Comment #75 Removed by Moderator

Comment #76 Removed by Moderator

To: The Wizard
What's that WWII movie in which Marlon Brando plays an Okinawan? Should that be pulled, too?

Of course, in this age of enlightenment, the concept of Blazing Saddles could not even be whispered. Such progress. (/sarcasm)

77 posted on 06/30/2003 9:24:03 PM PDT by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excessive legislation.)
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To: nickcarraway
ping
78 posted on 06/30/2003 9:26:17 PM PDT by Desdemona
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
Fox Movie Channel website
79 posted on 07/01/2003 3:11:38 AM PDT by The Wizard (Saddamocrats are enemies of America, treasonous everytime they speak)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
indeed
80 posted on 07/01/2003 3:12:14 AM PDT by The Wizard (Saddamocrats are enemies of America, treasonous everytime they speak)
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