Fox softens on Charlie Chan ban - WE ARE WINNING!

[Der Blaue Engel]

FMC has changed the pop-up announcement on their website, www.thefoxmoviechannel.com/ . Small changes, but I think we're getting to them. The first paragraph now reads:

"Fox Movie Channel has suspended the broadcast of the previously scheduled Charlie Chan Mystery Tour..."

It used to say "discontinued", now it's been softened to "suspended".

And they've added this:

"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.---> Fox Movie Channel will schedule Charlie Chan films based on the feedback of its subscribers. <---"

That means we're having an effect! It also means that now is the time to really let 'em have it.

Even if you've written before, go ahead and write again. Let them know the zeitgeist.

e-mail: http://www.thefoxmoviechannel.com/contact.asp/

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

(Their site seems to be down at the moment; no idea what that could mean.)

[JohnnyZ]

Why don't they like Charlie Chan?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Because they say he's a silly caricature of Chinese people.

[TheBigB]

Samre reason the Cartoon Network suspended Speedy Gonzales cartoons for a while...a small group of the professionally offended decided that Charlie Chan (regardless of the fact that he was a great detective) was a negative stereotype.

[Servant of the Nine]

Why don't they like Charlie Chan?

They like Charlie Chan.
They bought the Charlie Chan Movies.
They advertized a CC film festival.
Then the PC crowd started yelling about "ethnic stereotyping" and they went all wussie and gutless.

So9

[bonesmccoy]

Asian Americans, in particular the Chinese Americans, note that the Charlie Chan character is played by a non-asian with racial stereotype which was used to define Asians for 60 years.

Basically, it's the Amos and Andy of the black population, the Chico and the man of the Hispanic population, and the "Der ewige Jude" of the Jewish population.

Attempts by media companies to revive such matters are folly. It is time for our nation to stop racial politics. This is clearly a part of that.

[whereasandsoforth]

To deny history is to deny humanity. If everything offensive is purged from pop culture and entertainment all we will have left is reruns of Mr. Rogers. No, that's not right either. Rogers offended me.

[jimt]

It is time for our nation to stop racial politics.

It'll stop when the hypersensitive wussies are no longer listened to and pandered to.

Charlie Chan was always the hero out of all the movies' characters. He was the one who solved the mysteries. The white detectives and policemen held him in high regard. He was the leader in all the investigations.

Stereotype my ass.

[Portnoy]

Just wait...someone's going to complain that MONK is unsensitive to people with obsessive compulsive disorder...

[jimt]

Just wait...someone's going to complain that MONK is unsensitive to people with obsessive compulsive disorder...

When I think of the very real bad treatment suffered in the past by Asians, blacks, etc., today's victim gimmick grows very old very fast. There are some people who will take offense at anything, regardless of the setting or circumstances.

Pandering to it is bad for everyone. It creates divisions where there really are none. It allows bad feelings to surface over non-issues when they should have been gone long ago. It provides excuses for those whose attitude and behavior is self destuctive and destructive to those around them.

[em2vn]

Are you saying that a person should not be able to play a character outside of a particular birth frame work. If so you are going to destroy Hollywood. There will be a lot of outstanding Jewish performers who will be out of work.
How about Denzil Washington playing a black character who's ancestry was from an African tribe different than his own historical lineage?
Actors are actors, no matter who the character is that they are playing.
As a youngster I always viewed Charlie Chan as a genius who outsmarted a bunch of generally dumb ass white folks. I don't remember the white audiences getting disturbed about the way the white characters were portrayed.
To me it appears that the professionally offended are working up a good 4th of July howl about nothing.
Being offended is part of being a mature American. You deal with it every day of your life.If people don't want to watch Charlie Chan movies they don't have to. Simply turn to another channel.

[Bikers4Bush]

BS, it's movies and the rest of the world shouldn't be deprived of watching them because someone gets their panties in a wad.

Same thing with Bill Cosby and Fat Albert. The prick made the shows and let them air when he needed the money and now that he doesn't he won't let anyone watch them. Total crap.

[bonesmccoy]

Chan is a stereotypical asian character...bucktoothed, slant eyes, accent with poor "engrish"...

grow up.

[bonesmccoy]

turning the channel isn't the issue.

The real issue is why is FMC rebroadcasting the movies now?

Trying to create ethnic strife in California???

[bonesmccoy]

"we are winning" ???

Nah, just more WHINING.

[marsh2]

"Tea House of the August Moon" with Marlon Brando has been dropped from viewing. Even "Flower Drum Song" is rarely seen. We are beeing culturally cleansed. It is like knocking all the private parts off statues because a "modern" culture is offended by them.

I believe it is important for adults to view these movies where stereotypes and bigotry are showcased. It reminds us of from where we came and helps us to understand periods in history when the films were made.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

This reminds me of watching a "Get Smart" marathon a while ago. It was a little shocking to see what appeared to me to be some pretty blatant ethnic slurs against Asians coming from Maxwell Smart.

I am not talking about, "Not the CRAWWW!, the CRLRLAWWWW!" (which still makes me laugh), but other slurs which were pretty direct (though I can't quote them now).

It came to me that this show was made for (and probably by) people who still remembered Korea or even the WWII South Pacific and didn't feel the need to hide their feelings.

[TheBigB]

Your screenname offends me. I demand that you change it.

[JohnnyZ]

Asian Americans, in particular the Chinese Americans, note that the Charlie Chan character is played by a non-asian with racial stereotype which was used to define Asians for 60 years.

Yeah, I knew that, but I'm Catholic and I don't whine about how much the San Diego Padres suck.

I think you can still watch a show and appreciate its good qualities while also appreciating its shortcomings. It's really not that hard, and you don't have to censor everything.

[TheBigB]

Fred Sanford actually said on TV, "There ain't nothin' uglier than an old white woman." Outrage? Not a peep. Sanford and Son reruns are still shown ad infinitum. Anyone care to explain why?